Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/chabrador

The Chabrador is a mixed breed that combines the Chow Chow and the Labrador Retriever dog breeds. It is a loyal and loving breed that will form close bonds with family members and loved ones. They do require a moderate amount of exercise, but as long as you can meet these needs, the Chabrador will typically do well living in an apartment, although will benefit from the additional room provided by an outdoor yard or garden area.

However, depending on the individual dog, a Chabrador might exhibit traits like hyperactivity or even aggression, especially if encouraged to act as a guard dog.

Breed Overview

The physical characteristics and traits of this dog will depend on which parent breed it is closer to, as well as the training, socialization, and homelife the individual dog has had.

If you get a Chabrador that is close to the Labrador Retriever parent, it will be loyal, obedient, and intelligent, although it may be prone to bouts of playful mischief. If your Chowbrador is closer to the Chow Chow parent, you will need to watch for signs of potential aggression. Good socialization and early training are essential to help ensure you do not get undesirable traits and that you enjoy the positive ones.

Chabrador Characteristics

Chabrador Puppies

The Chabrador is a mixed breed, and it can be difficult to find breeders who have intentionally created this cross. However, it is worth looking online and searching local directories. Consider speaking to breeders of the two parent breeds and asking if they know of any Chabrador breeders.

Chabradors are also sometimes known as Lab Chows or even Chowbradors, so search for these names, too.

If you do find a breeder, make sure you meet the puppy and at least its mother before you agree to buy. Ideally, the puppy will have been bred and spent its first couple of months in a home environment, rather than out in a barn or other outdoor area. This will help ensure that the puppy has enjoyed some socialization from a young age, which will go a long way to help ensure an amiable Chabrador, rather than one that might be aggressive in later life.

Once you get the puppy home, you will need to keep up with the socialization efforts to ensure that the dog is well-behaved around strangers and safe around family.

You may be able to find Chabrador puppies in rescues and shelters. Make sure you determine the reason why the dog was relinquished by its former owner. Without good socialization and training, the Chabrador can be aggressive, and if one has been put up for adoption because it has shown signs of aggression, you need to know.

Chabrador Dog Breed Origin & History

The Chowbrador is a mixed-breed dog and, as such, doesn’t have a long history. However, the Chow Chow and Labrador have well-documented histories we can learn from.

The Chow Chow is an ancient Chinese breed that was first raised as a guard dog to protect temples. They were also used for hunting duties, and they went by many different breed names. When they were introduced to England in the 18^th Century, they were given the name Chow Chow, and by the early 20^th Century, they had made their way to the U.S. and started to become popular. Their history as guard dogs means that Chow Chows can be aggressive without the proper training and handling.

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most widely owned dog breeds in the world. They are considered good starter dogs and great all-rounders because they are intelligent and eager to please, and they typically get along with all friends and family members as well as strangers. They are also widely used as service dogs in a huge variety of different roles.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Chabrador 🧠

The Chabrador is an intelligent dog that can be easy to train, especially if it takes on the characteristics of the Labrador parent. Similarly, if it is closer to the Labrador than the Chow, it will usually be friendly with everybody, including strangers as well as friends and family.

However, the Chow was bred as a guard dog and can retain some of the aggression that would have been necessary for this type of role. Early training and socialization can help round some of the potentially aggressive edges off, but this will need to carry on throughout the dog’s life. Generally, the breed is intelligent and can be trained, but it does take work and consistency.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Chabrador is a loyal dog that will usually form a strong bond with all family members. If it takes after the Labrador parent, the dog will also be friendly with strangers and can be introduced to new people. If, however, it is more like the Chow parent, it can be prone to aggression which may make it difficult to introduce this breed to other people, even including family and friends.

With good socialization and training, it should be possible to avoid these potentially aggressive tendencies.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Chabrador can get along with other dogs and even cats if introduced at a young age, or if introductions are made very slowly and carefully.

When introducing any new dog to other pets, gradual introductions are essential. Start by letting the animals sniff one another without meeting. This can be done by keeping your new dog in a crate while the animals share a room, or by installing a stair gate. Give all pets their own space to retreat to.

For cats, it is a good idea to provide an elevated platform that the cat can jump up to, out of reach of the dog. For dogs, this means giving the new dog and the existing dogs their own beds, in separate rooms until they have become close.

Never leave your Chabrador alone with smaller animals, such as hamsters or rats, as they will be likely to chase and potentially even attack the smaller animals.

Things to Know When Owning a Chabrador

The Chabrador can make a good pet for the right owner—somebody with experience in training and socializing potentially difficult dogs. If a Chabrador takes after the Chow parent, it has the potential to be aggressive, which owners need to look out for. If it takes the Labrador, it will make a great companion for any owner.

Below are some other factors to consider when considering taking on a Chabrador.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Chabrador will grow to around 70 pounds in weight, and depending on the actual size the dog achieves, will need between 2.5 and 3 cups of good-quality dry food every day. This should be split into two equal meals and fed at roughly equal times of the day.

If feeding wet food, follow the feeding guidelines on the packet to ensure you’re giving the right amount of food. If your vet has recommended feeding more or less than the recommended amount, follow these guidelines above all others.

Also, reduce the amount you feed if you give treats to your dog or use them as training aids. No more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake should come from treats, so try to choose ones that are low in calories and that potentially offer some health benefits to your pup. The breed doesn’t need any specific diet or type of food, although it is beneficial to give food that is appropriate for the life stage of your dog.

Regardless of what type of food you offer your dog, you must always provide clean, fresh drinking water at all times of the day.

Exercise 🐕

The Chabrador has moderate exercise requirements, which means that you will need to provide an absolute minimum of one hour of walks per day. Ideally, this should be split into two walks. If you can provide this amount of exercise every day, your Chabrador shouldn’t need any additional exercise or walks and may be able to live in an apartment or other accommodation even with restricted outdoor space.

The breed can do well in canine sports, including agility as well as events that require greater strength or stamina, as this is a somewhat physical dog breed. The Labrador in the breed means that it can do well in search and rescue, nose work, and even in therapy settings. Being given tasks to perform will keep the pup busy and help provide them with the mental stimulation it requires.

Training 🦮

Training is an important part of canine development for any dog, regardless of breed or any other factor. It will be especially important with the Chabrador because this breed can be somewhat prone to aggression if it does not receive proper training and socialization.

Start training as soon as you get your dog home and keep up with the hard work. Set aside at least a few minutes every day for specific training and use every opportunity to teach good behavior while preventing bad habits. If your dog does show signs of aggression, you should enlist the help of a professional animal behaviorist or dog trainer, who can help overcome the problem.

Socialization is also key to owning one of these dogs and is another activity that should begin as soon as you get your dog home. Take your dog to new areas. Have them meet new people including individuals and groups of people, people wearing uniforms, and young and old people.

Socialization doesn’t just get your dog used to meeting new people, it teaches them that new situations are nothing to be afraid of.

Grooming ✂️

The two parents of this mixed breed have very different grooming and maintenance requirements. The Chow has long hair that takes a lot of maintenance, whereas the Labrador has a short, low-maintenance coat that doesn’t take much effort on the owner’s part.

The Chabrador is likely to fall somewhere between the two breeds when it comes to maintenance needs.

Expect to bathe your Chabrador every couple of months, especially if it enjoys running around outside and getting dirty in the process. Brush at least three times a week to help prevent matting and ensure your dog is comfortable and looks good.

Nails will need trimming roughly every 2 months, as well, and you should brush your dog’s teeth three or four times a week. If you struggle to perform any of these tasks, a professional groomer can help.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Chabrador can be prone to some of the conditions that the parent breeds are prone to. This includes hip dysplasia, which occurs when the bones around the hip do not grow properly, or they do not sit properly in the hip joint.

It can be painful, and it may lead to lameness and arthritis when your dog ages.

Male vs Female

The male Chabrador will typically grow to be bigger and heavier than the female. Some owners also claim that male dogs are more prone to aggression, which can be a problem with this breed. Generally, males are more likely to suffer wanderlust and are more boisterous, but females can suffer from mood swings.

As with any breed, upbringing, socialization, and training, are more important factors when it comes to determining the character and traits of a dog, rather than its sex.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Chabrador

1. The Chow Chow Has an Unusual Walk

The Chow Chow has an unusual and visually very distinctive walk. The breed doesn’t bend its back legs when walking, unlike most other breeds, and this is what gives them that distinctive gait. Your Chabrador may inherit the same walk.

2. Labradors Love the Water

Labrador Retrievers were bred to retrieve birds and other downed game for hunters. They would do so over different types of terrain, including wading through rivers and boggy marshland.

3. The Chabrador Can Be Prone to Aggression

While the Labrador Retriever is known to be an amiable dog that will get along with everybody, including strangers, the Chow has a reputation for potentially being aggressive.

The Chabrador has this same potential for aggression and is not recommended as a breed for first-time dog owners.

Final Thoughts

The Chabrador is a mixed breed that crosses the globally popular Labrador Retriever with the Chinese guard dog, the Chow Chow. The resulting breed can be prone to aggression, although this certainly isn’t guaranteed, and it isn’t recommended as a dog breed for first-time or novice owners.

These dogs have modest energy levels, requiring a couple of decent walks a day, and are considered relatively easy to train, thanks to the obedient, intelligent Labrador parent. With an appropriate exercise routine, the Chabrador can live in smaller accommodations although does benefit from having space to run around outside so would also do well in larger properties.

Featured Image Credit: Left- Debbie Kanders, Shutterstock | Right – Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster