The Labrador Husky is a unique and special breed of dog. It is commonly mistaken for a Husky-Lab mix but in fact, it is its own breed. The Labrador Husky is a pure bred dog that was originally brought to Labrador, Canada in the 1300s by the Inuit People. Its main purpose was to help the Inuit people survive in a highly demanding environment. To do so, the Labrador Husky was trained to pull sleds that transported goods. Labrador Huskies are known to be big but gentle dogs. It can grow to be bigger than the more commonly known Siberian Husky but is also known to be very friendly around children and families with proper training. This breed of dog does tend to have some serious health problems but in general, they live anywhere between 10-13 years old.
Video Labrador Husky
Origin and History
The Labrador Husky originated in the Labrador portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Labrador is the northern and mainland portion of the province. The breed probably arrived in the area with the Thule Inuit people who came to Canada around 1300 AD. Although they were once very closely related to other Northern breeds, such as the Siberian Husky, they became isolated in Labrador and continued to develop on their own.
Their history of being bred with wolves does not mean that they are wolf-dogs, nor do they have any recent wolf ancestry. However, they still retain some of their wolf-like physical features. Although they have been isolated, some Labradorian people have introduced the blood of the Alaskan Malamute in order to improve its sledding skills and later for trainability purposes, the German Shepherd Dog. This has created another sled dog that looks strikingly similar to the Siberian Husky, but is much larger and more wolf-like.
This breed had helped people to lead sleds until snowmobiles were invented. From then on, it got much less common for the dog to be used as a sled dog to lead heavy loads. These days, it is often the case that the breed is seen in dog races or help to find and save lost people. However, most people have the dogs as their house pets now.
Maps Labrador Husky
Health Issues
The Labrador Husky has several health problems that can impair their bodies. These issues are similar to those that are commonly found in the Siberian Husky. One of the most prominent health issues is musculoskeletal issues. Hip dysplasia is a specific example of what a musculoskeletal issue would be. Although hip dysplasia is common, the effects that it has on the quality of life for dogs is immense. If left untreated the dog will lose mobility of their leg and be in great discomfort. The labrador husky can also be in danger of gastric dilation volvulus, simply known as bloat. Common health problems that associate with this breed are arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, eye and skin disease. Cataracts can affect this breed so, severe the victim can go blind. Heart disease, laryngeal paralysis and epilepsy can affect the Labrador Husky. These health concerns can end the life of the breed early. Despite all these dangers, the lifespan is from 10-13 years.
Domestication
The Labrador Husky had its first contact with humans was when it was used primarily as a working dog. Its job was to pull sleds with goods on them in order to maintain the survival of the Inuit People in Labrador Canada. This dog was not thought of as a pet but rather as an animal used for the benefit of the people who put it to work. It was commonly thought that this type of dog was not a friendly breed and would not be good in a family setting primary because of its past. This notion has been proven to only be a theory as the Labrador Husky has become a fairly common family bet beloved by many. It has shown to be very gentle while around children and does not tend to show any aggression towards them.
The process of domesticating a Labrador Husky does not stray far from what you would do in order to train a more commonly known family dog like a Golden Retriever. Because of its extremely high level of intelligence, the Labrador Husky must be very well trained. This breed of dog is known to respond well to training by an owner or professional who uses positive reinforcement. It is best to start training while they are still puppies so that no bad habits develop. Lack of training and an owner who is not committed to the dog's overall needs will prove to be a recipe for a mischievous dog. The Labrador Husky is a dog who loves to be surrounded by other dogs for companionship. Contact with other dogs and humans is vital for the dogs overall mental health and ability to be able to function in an urban setting.
Temperament
The Labrador Husky has a similar temperament to other Northern breeds such as Siberian Husky, Alaskan Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Canadian Eskimo Dog and so forth. It rarely barks but does tend to howl. The breed can be friendly and not aggressive with strangers and is well behaved if socialized properly. They are also good at getting along with family members because they are basically intelligent and loyal creatures. These dogs often do well with children as well, especially if reared with them together.
Being with other dogs makes them happier because they are bred to work well in a pack. There are no worries that the dog might not get along with other dogs in the process of making a pack. However, its strong prey drive might make it dangerous for owners to have smaller pets with it, but if they meet each other in their early ages, it should be more than safe. Sometimes its intelligence would bring some problems to its owners such as tunnels in a backyard, food missing from even covered containers. The first thing that an owner is going to do for the training of the dog is to gain pack leader status.
In general, it is required for owners of dogs to be the leader of their pack. Especially if you are owners of wolf-hybrid dogs such as this breed, you are encouraged to understand the importance of being pack leaders more deeply. In addition, owners need plenty of time to take care of the dogs because they require a good deal of exercise and owners' attention as well as mental stimulation. Therefore, owners had better make sure that they can devote much of their time to their dogs. In short, this breed will be a very nice member of a family who has enough time to look after the dog because it is basically loyal and lovable animal but sometimes can be a hard to handle pet.
Appearance
The Labrador Husky is a fairly large dog that can weigh between 60 and 100 pounds and can grow to 20 - 28 inches. Thick, double coated fur protects these dogs from the bitterly cold temperatures that come with Labrador's long winters.
The husky's head is broad and has a long, narrow muzzle. The chest is wide and heavy boned. The husky's muscular and stout body is a unique physical trait, especially when compared to a Siberian Husky. Coat colors include solid white, solid black, black and white, red and white, and grey and white. There are two rare coat colors that can also be found in this breed: wolf grey and solid grey. Any coat color can appear in any litter; the most common colors are black and white, gray and white, and solid black.
This breed has existed for hundreds of years and has become a unique breed due to its isolation from other northern dog breeds over this time. Labrador Huskies were used for transportation for many years until the advent of the snowmobile. They are now often kept as loving pets. However, there are Labrador Inuit and Metis who still use them for recreational dog sledding and some even prefer the dog team to a snowmobile. Sled dog racing continues to be a winter pastime in Labrador, with long races similar to the Iditarod still happening today.
Today, in isolated communities in northern Labrador, spaying and neutering is extremely expensive and logistically difficult. Dog breeding is therefore largely unmonitored and uncontrolled. This has resulted in a great variety of Labrador Husky mixes. It is unclear how many "purebred" Labrador Huskies are left in their region of origin, but many of the mixes retain that distinctive wolf-like facial shape.
Of all the northern dog breeds, the Labrador Husky is one of the rarest, with less than an estimated 50-60 purebred Labrador Huskies currently identified in Labrador. As a result, the breed is not well understood by many dog breeders.
Coat
- similar to that of a Siberian Husky.
- Both dogs have a specific type of coat known as a double coat to help them bare the cold weather.
- The Labrador Husky is normally black, red, white, grey or, a combination of these colors.
Eyes
- When a litter of puppies is born, eye color can differentiate between them.
- Labrador Huskies can have blue eyes or brown eyes.
- Some of the breed have one brown eye and one blue eye.
Nose
- The nose of the Labrador Husky is long and narrow and can differ in color.
- These colors range from black, brown and a flesh color.
Size and Body
- This large breed sizes between the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute.
- This breed ranges from 20 to 28 inches between the shoulder blades.
- The weight can be massive up to 100 lbs and can be as low as 60 lbs.
- The body was bred for sledding, which makes the breed have strong swiftness that allows for aerodynamic conformation.
- The Lab Husky was bred for a strong body and legs.
- Their paws are webbed for better traction on the snow.
Grooming
Labrador Huskies require extensive grooming during all parts of the year. It's extremely thick and durable coat, also known as a double coat, was made to be able to withstand harsh winters in Labrador Canada. Brushing the dog daily would be the proper way to maintain the Labrador Huskies coat. In addition to brushing the coat, a bath is sometimes the best way to fully groom and clean the dog. Bathing the dog does not have to be done on a regular basis but, it is important in order to ensure a clean and well-groomed dog. It is also vital that an owner of a Labrador Husky checks for fleas and ticks during the warmer months. Because this dog has such a thick coat, it is the perfect place for a tick or flea to nestle in. Not checking for these things can lead to serious problems such as lime disease and can be life-threatening to the dog. The Labrador Husky sheds constantly throughout the year and this is why it is so important to keep up with the grooming as this will improve the overall life and happiness of the dog.
References
Works Cited
Burke, A. (2017, May 31). Hip Dysplasia in Dogs. Retrieved November 05, 2017, from http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/
Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position. (n.d.) Retrieved October 27, 2017 from Dog Breed Info Center: https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules.htm
Labrador Husky. (n.d.) Retrieved October 27, 2017 from PetGuide.com:http://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/labrador-husky/
Husky Appearance. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2017, from http://www.siberescue.com/breed/husky-appearance
Labrador Husky Information. (n.d.) Retrieved October 27, 2017 from GreatDogSite:http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Labrador_Husky/
Labrador Husky Information and Pictures. (n.d.) Retrieved October 27, 2017 from Dog Breed Info Center:https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/labradorhusky.htm
Labrador Husky. (n.d.) Retrieved October 27, 2017 from Sarah's Dogs:https://www.sarahsdogs.com/breeds/labrador-husky/
Labrador Husky. (2015, December 17). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/labrador-husky/S. (n.d.).
Labrador Husky. Retrieved October 29, 2017, from https://www.sarahsdogs.com/breeds/labrador-husky/Labrador Husky. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from
http://www.petyourdog.com/breed/Labrador_Husky
Tips For Taking Care Of Labrador Husky Puppies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://animalcaretip.com/tips-for-taking-care-of-labrador-husky-puppies/
See also
- Gray wolf
- Sled dog
- Greenland dog
- Tamaskan dog
- Wolf hybrid
- Siberian Husky
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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