Friendly, large, and energetic the Great Dane Labrador Retriever mix, also known as The Labradane, is an absolute unit of a dog. But don’t let their big size fool you because these big lugs are some of the sweetest, most gentle dogs around.
So is the Lab/Dane mix the right dog for you? Does their ginormous size make them a good fit for families? Today, let’s meet this incredible designer breed and find out.
The Basics
Because the Labradane is part Lab and part Dane, it will likely display a mix of both parents traits. However, there is always a chance it could favor one of the other parents more.
For example, Labs usually don’t get taller than 25in at the shoulder, Great Danes, on the other hand, can hit 32in. Most Labradane will likely fall between 25-30 in, but this won’t always be the case, and there are Lab/Dane mixes that have hit over 30in. So keep that in mind when you look at the stats chart below.
| Personality / Temperament | Gentle, Sweet, Smart, and Loyal |
| Feeding | High |
| Colors | Black, Fawn, Yellow, Cholate, White |
| Height | 25-30 in |
| Weight | 100+ |
| Lifespan | 8-12 Years |
History
The Great Dane was first bred to hunt wild boars at the turn of the 17th century in Germany. But the Great Dane gentle nature quickly took over and by the end of the century, they were more popular among royalty where they received endless pampering. If we go all the way back to 3,000 BC and 2,000 BC, we find drawings and pictures of a similar-looking dog in both Egypt and Babylonian respectively.
So what about the history of the Lab Dane mix? Well, we don’t really know much as there is little information. As well, there have been several dozen new hybrid mixes created in the last two decades due to the designer breed craze.
Appearance
Like many designers breeds the appearance of The Labradane can vary with some looking just like the Great Dane, others like the Lab. However, the majority will dawn a unique blend of the two.
Both parents are larger dogs, with the Great Dane being particularly tall, so you can count on their puppies being big and most likely weighing around 100lbs. As well, with both dogs having genes for a black coat, the majority of Labradanes have a short and silky obsidian coat.
However, since Labradane puppies can take either side of their parents’ genetic makeup, and come out looking like one over the other, let’s go over what both the Lab and Great Dane look like.
Labrador Retriver’s Appearance
A medium-large to large dog, the Labrador Retriever stands between 22 to 25 inches and weighs between 55 to 80lbs depending on the sex.
They have large block-shaped heads that sit on an equally bulky body.
The AKC recognizes three coat colors: yellow, chocolate, and black, but sometimes you will see coats that are more red, white, or sliver. Their coat is short, but dense due to its double layer.
Great Dane’s Appearance
A large to a giant dog, the Great Dane stands between 28 to 32 inches tall and can weigh anywhere from 100 to near 200lbs.
They have a large block-shaped head like the Labrador, but unlike them, they have a very lean and hard body with a big chest that slopes into a tight stomach. Oh, and they also have those incredibly long legs that define their appearance.
Their ears naturally hang flat against their face like the Lab, and when you see one with their ears pointed up, it’s usually due to someone cropping their eyes to stand upright.
The AKC recognizes six varieties of coat colors: fawn, brindle, harlequin, black, mantle, and blue. The Great Dane can come in several colors not recognized by show arenas, however: white, fawnequin, brindlequin, merle, merlequin, blue merle, chocolate, and fawn mantle.
Temperament
Both the Great Dane and the Labrador Retriever are known for their intelligent, loyal, and friendly nature. The Great Dane is often called a gentle giant, and the Labrador is easily one of the best family dogs around.
The biggest difference in temperament is the Lab loves to run and be active while the Great Dane prefers to relax. Now, Great Dane puppies are very active, but this naturally goes away with age, as well, hyperactivity is discouraged because it puts their rapidly growing bones at risk.
All-and-all, the Labradane is a designer dog whose personality is easier to predict because the Lab and Dane share so many traits.
Lifespan
Lifespan can really vary with designer dogs making it hard to predict how long your Labradane will live for. Unfortunately, Great Danes have a very short lifespan with most only living between 6-8 years.
The Labrador Retriever, on the other hand, typically lives between 10-14 years. The Lab/Dane’s mix lifespan will likely fall in between.
