The Beagle Lab cross-breed, otherwise known as the Labbe or Labeagle, is most definitely one of the cutest pets you can hope to own. It takes on many of the admirable qualities of its parents, resulting in an often strongly willed, exceedingly intelligent and extremely friendly pet. One of the most popular cross-breed designer dogs today, you might be considering adopting or purchasing one. In this article, we’ll look at its appearance, characteristics, temperament and whether it will suit your lifestyle and family environment so you can have a better idea of what to expect.

​Appearance

​Similar to all cross breeds, the Beagle Lab mix may more obviously reflect more the features of either of his parents. It is, therefore, a little uncertain as to the exact appearance your Labbe puppy will take on as an adult.

In many cases though, it will share many of its distinctive facial features with the Beagle; big floppy ears are likely to be accompanied by a long and narrow muzzle. Likewise, it is likely to adopt the lean body shape of the beagle.​I​ts coat is certainly more comparable to its Labrador parent – it is extremely short, smooth and supple. This is usually good news for owners as it’s certainly very easy to maintain and doesn’t shed as much as some other breeds.

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Origin

T​he parents of this adorable offspring are themselves incredibly popular with dog owners: the Beagle, beloved floppy-eared hare hunter and the Labrador Retriever, the loyal family dog found in countless homes of western society.

The attentive will, quick reactions and sharp sense of smell which define the Beagle make for a great hunting dog. In the past, Beagles were extensively bred for the sport of hare hunting in the mid-1800s. This was their introduction into modern society as we now know it​.Today, the friendly canine has the much less blood-thirsty occupation of loveable household pet. They love to indulge in playtime with human and fellow canine companions alike but are known to be (sometimes annoyingly) obstinately willed.

Our immensely popular friend, the Labrador Retriever, also received an introduction into human society in the name of hunting in the early 18th century in Newfoundland, Canada. They had a more practical role in society, toiling alongside fisherman and hunters. In modern times, the common Labrador has often taken up the working spirits of his ancestors, cooperating in police & rescue work, as well as proving to be exceptional guides to the blind. However, a Labrador is more widely regarded as a loving and devoted pet, a traditional family favorite who has an amazing amount of enthusiasm.​The Lab-Beagle mix is then, as you can well imagine, brilliantly adept at pulling on a dog lover’s heart strings. It is a breed believed to have origins in the United States Throughout the last few decades, its reputation as a designer dog has been well warranted as its popularity has grown a tremendous amount.

How Big Will it Get​?

​As you may readily expect, the Lab-Beagle mix will tend to grow to the height and length of a mid-sized dog, somewhere in the range between the size of a small Labrador and a big Beagle.

It tends to be categorized in the medium sized breed category. It’s usually a little bit bigger than the Beagle but somewhat smaller than the Labrador. If you need a ballpark figure, expect your Labeagle to stand around 17 to 25 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 21 to 51 pounds.

It should be noted, however, that there has often been observed great discrepancies in these factors among siblings. In fact, puppies from different litters of the same parents sometimes display distinct contrast in their general appearance.

So bear in mind that it is difficult to get an accurate prediction of how big your Labeagle will eventually turn out.

Temperament

Being a modern breed, it is harder to characterize it accurately than a more traditional breed. Nevertheless, its popularity in recent years can help us in making some assumptions about its character in general.

Just like his parents, the Labbe is a remarkably good hunter. In fact, the breed has been known to possess the better qualities of hunting of both the Labrador and the Beagle which will make hunting enthusiasts proud. One potential drawback is the tendency for the Labbe to inherit some of the more agitated personality traits of the Beagle. This highlights the importance of appropriate training.

Ultimately, though, its knack for hunting represents an intelligent kind of heightened curiosity. It loves exploring new territory and is a great fan of the outdoors in general. It thrives in all sorts of interactive play. For example, the Labbe is particularly keen with water and is known to be an enthusiastic and capable swimmer. It’s also known to have a certain playfulness that is quickly endearing. It also means that it is good with kids and particularly suitable for bigger families.

While fun loving and playful, the Labbe does have some stubborn and demanding traits. It does demand attention from its owners and likes to follow its owner around in a loving way. It is a positive sign to note though that it is almost never aggressive. Being extremely tolerant towards little children, it simply walks away for some rest and silence if children get too rough. Of course, it goes without saying that you should always still supervise dogs around children.

The Labeagle is also known to be calm in general, although it does have a somewhat surprising loud bark that often takes people by surprise. A trustworthy watchdog for your home, the Labbe does a good job in barking to ward strangers off or to notify its family members of visitors.

Shedding and Grooming

The Beagle Lab hybrid makes for an incredibly low-maintenance pet. Its short coat almost doesn’t shed regularly at all and requires minimal effort to keep in shape – once a week will do most Labbes. Shedding does tend to increase twice a year but in general, expect shedding to be quite rare. If you do somehow find your dog shedding more regularly than expected, then do book in for a visit to the vet as your dog may have an underlying health issue that needs to be monitored and treated.

A potentially tricky grooming obligation may be to regularly cut their nails, which are disposed to growing long. However, depending on where it will be walking, you may not have to cut his nails at all, because they may naturally wear away. If he is a regular concrete pathway walker then you may avoid the duty. Otherwise, the same grooming habits are required i.e. regular eye, ear and teeth checks and so forth. Wipe its ears gently once a week with a damp cloth and do brush its teeth at least two to three times a week. To know when it’s time to trim your dog’s nail, keep an ear out for the familiar ‘click-click’ sound when it’s walking.​Give your dog a bath once every month. Do be aware that you shouldn’t give your Labbe baths too often as it may cause its coat to feel dry as its natural oils are stripped. Of course, if your Labbe gets dirty from splashing around in muddy terrain, then a bath is certainly warranted.

Training

Training may be the most challenging aspect of owning a Beagle Lab mix. Due to his wily and inquisitive nature, it may prove difficult to demand of him to stay in the same place. Moreover, he will likely possess the obstinate temperament of the Beagle.

Despite these challenges, do remain firm, confident and patient so your dog still sees you as the ‘alpha dog’. This is important with training any dog since you don’t want your dog to see you as less confident or not in control.

In order then to stop your dog from wandering off into potentially dangerous situations, you may find that an equal degree of stubbornness is necessary from you. It takes a great deal of patience and resolve to tame a Labbe.

Feeding

Due to this Breed’s inherited tendency from the Beagle to be lethargic in old age, you should be cautious of feeding a Labbe too much. It does have a tendency to become obese. You should give him enough food as appropriate for its size and weight to stay healthy and lively, but try to avoid giving it too many treats. About 2 cups a day of dry dog food of a good quality should do, interspersed into a few meals.

Conclusion​

If you are willing to devote a little time to keep your Labbe motivated, and a little more time to keep him disciplined, this breed will undoubtedly become a beloved companion of yours. Due to its lively and active nature, the Labbe will feel happiest outdoors. If you live in a house, the best environment you could provide for your dog is a large, fenced yard for its to run around and keep active. If you can provide what a Labbe needs, you will both complement each other well​!Front page picture Beagle Lab mix. Reposted from i.be.xuxa / instagram