With a name like this, the Labradane can only be the offspring of the Labrador Retriever and the Great Dane! Labs are the most popular (and certainly one of the most well-known) dog breeds in North America and are known for their active and outgoing natures. Great Danes are famous for their enormous size, patience, and gentleness. Labradanes are the combination of two amazing breeds, which makes them gentle giants with loving and exuberant personalities!

Breed Overview

Since Great Danes and Labs are relatively similar in appearance, you can expect Labradanes to closely resemble these breeds. They have floppy triangular ears and high-set tails with slender but sturdy bodies. Labradanes have short and smooth coats that could be brown, black, white, or brindle and might be mantle or possibly Harlequin.

Labradane Characteristics

Labradane Puppies

Labradane puppies tend to be affectionate and energetic as they will likely inherit the playful nature of both the Labrador and Great Dane parents. Due to the guarding tendencies of the Great Dane, these puppies can have strong protective instincts, so it’s important to socialize them well from a young age to ensure they are comfortable with other animals and strangers. Being on the larger side (when compared with other breeds), you may need a bit more space for them and they’ll require more food than other smaller breeds. In general, though, these pups are loving, affectionate, playful, and of course adorable, and they’ll make a great addition to any pet-loving family!

Temperament & Intelligence of the Labradane

Labradanes are joyful and playful goofballs that might knock you over accidentally through exuberance and their large size. They are affectionate and devoted dogs that will happily play with other dogs and enjoy meeting people, although they are occasionally wary of strangers.

This breed is quite intelligent and enjoys spending time with their families. Their personality does depend on which parent they take after the most, so you should be familiar with both the Labrador Retriever and Great Dane breeds.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Labradanes are fantastic family dogs! They love playing with children and spending time with their humans! However, due to the Labradane’s size, it’s recommended that older children are better suited for them. Their over-enthusiastic personalities and large size might see little ones getting accidentally knocked over.

You should also be sure to teach your children to treat your Labradane with gentleness and respect. It might be tempting for children to ride these dogs like a horse, but this behavior should not be allowed.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

Labradanes get along well with other pets. Sociazlizing your Labradane puppy early will undoubtedly make the relationships that they form with other animals much easier. Just have the time and patience to introduce your Labradane to any other pets in the household with plenty of supervision and caution.

Things to Know When Owning a Labradane

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

You’ll need a large amount of food for this giant dog! Great Danes can eat an average of 6 to 10 cups of dog food every day, so if your Labradane is as large as the Great Dane, you can expect about the same. Just be careful to not overfeed this dog. They tend to eat too much, and too fast, and you could end up with an obese or sick dog.

Start by purchasing high-quality dog food that is right for your dog’s current age, size, and activity level, and speak to your vet if you aren’t sure how much you should be feeding your Labradane.

Exercise 🐕

Exercise is key for this breed. You’ll probably want to walk the Labradane twice a day. Brisk walks and hikes will keep this breed healthy and happy. There is a tendency for Labradanes to gain weight as they get older, so be sure to stay on top of this. They also are prone to destructive behavior when bored.

Training 🎾

Training is not too much of a challenge with this breed. Their intelligence and eager-to-please temperament make training relatively easy. However, bear in mind that the Labradane’s size can also make training somewhat of a challenge. Always keep training sessions fun, and only use positive reinforcement as this breed is also quite sensitive.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming Labradanes is relatively easy with their short coats. However, they do shed frequently, so you’ll need to brush them several times a week and daily during the heavier shedding seasons. You should bathe the Labradane no more than once a month (unless it’s necessary) and use a good dog shampoo.

You should trim your Labradane’s nails every 3–4 weeks, and their floppy ears need to be cleaned and checked for possible infection at least once a week. You should also brush their teeth about two to three times a week.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Labradanes tend to be a healthier breed than their purebred parents. That said, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the health conditions that their parents tend to experience because there’s always the possibility that your Labradane could inherit some of these conditions.

Minor Conditions:

The veterinarian will check the Labradane’s eyes and skin and run a complete physical exam to determine if your dog has inherited any of these conditions.

Serious Conditions:

The vet will check the Labradane’s hips and knees and run X-rays and blood tests if any conditions are suspected.

Male vs. Female

Female dogs tend to be smaller than males, but the height and weight of each dog will completely depend on which parent they take after the most. Labradanes tend to weigh 80 to 170 pounds and are 24 to 30 inches in height. The females might be a little slenderer than the males, but everything else does depend on whether they are closer to the Great Dane or the Lab in appearance.

When you take your Labradane in for surgery, having your female spayed is a more tricky operation than having the male dog neutered. This means paying more and your female requiring extra time to recover.

Some people also believe that there are temperament differences between male and female dogs. While this might sometimes be the case, the real establishment of a dog’s personality happens during socialization as a puppy and how they are treated for the rest of their lives.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Labradane

1. Labradanes needs a large amount of space

This shouldn’t be that surprising, given that one of their parents is the Great Dane. As long as they get outside to get the exercise that they need, they can do okay in smaller homes, but you can also expect more accidental breakage. They don’t mean to cause damage, but they are large dogs, after all.

2. Labradanes need to be with people

They might suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long or too often. They form strong bonds with their families and seem to prefer a busy household with many family members.

3. These dogs tend to overeat

Labradanes tend to gulp down their food like they’re starving at all times, which can have consequences for their health. Obesity and bloat are always risks with this breed.

Conclusion

If you’re trying to locate one of these dogs, you might want to start by speaking to Great Dane and Labrador Retriever breeders. You can also post through social media, which will get your message out to a much wider audience.

If you’re interested in adopting a Labradane, keep an eye on your local animal shelter or check out breed-specific shelters, such as Great Dane Rescue and Lab Rescue. Sometimes, these kinds of rescue groups will take in mixed breeds.

Labradanes are gorgeous ginormous dogs that will make excellent playmates for your kids and wonderful running and walking companions for you. They also make the perfect dog if you happen to love Great Danes and Labs but can’t choose between them!

Featured Image Credit: Claudia Naerdemann, Shutterstock