Whippet Lab Mix (Whipador): An Ultimate Guide

When looking for the perfect dog for your family, one of the critical things you must keep in mind is if the dog can naturally blend into your lifestyle. If you lead an active lifestyle, you must find an equally active dog, like the Whippet Lab Mix. 

The Whippet Lab mix is a crossbreed of a purebred Whippet and a Labrador Retriever. This dog is athletic, outgoing, active, loyal, friendly, and loving. It is the right balance of gentle and charming; therefore, a perfect fit for families. 

If you have your eyes on a Whippet Lab mix, this article will give you insights into the dog, including its history, appearance, temperament, care, and health. Read on to find out if the dog suits your needs and preferences.

An Overview of the Whippet Lab Mix

The Whippet is known to be a gentle dog with a mellow personality, qualities that make it the perfect family dog. It is loyal and friendly to its family, and despite being bred as a working dog, it is a breeder’s favorite to create unique family-suitable crossbreeds. 

According to AKC, the Labrador Retriever is among the most popular breeds. It is outgoing, friendly, kind, and affectionate. Its even temperament makes it an ideal choice for breeders to create crossbreeds with calm temperaments for family settings. 

The result of these two dogs is a friendly dog that balances the calm temperament of a family dog and the energetic, outgoing personality of a working dog. The Whippet Lab mix brings out the best qualities from both parents, making it a high-quality, valuable dog. 

Whippet Lab Mix Background

Like most crossbreeds, there is not enough information on the background of the Whippet Lab mix. The good thing is that both parents, the Whippet and the Labrador Retriever have a rich history dating back to their earlier days and how they evolved to what they are today. 

Here are the backgrounds of the Whippet and the Labrador Retriever; hopefully, these can give you an insight into the kind of mix these two create. 

Whippet Background

Whippets can be traced back to the 1800s, with their origin believed to be England. These medium-sized dogs are known to be part of the sighthound family, descendants of the greyhounds. 

Dogs in the sighthound family are similar; however, whippets are smaller than regular-sized greyhounds. Whippets, in this case, were bred as working dogs to chase rabbits and other small animals. 

They were trained to hunt small animals and chase them out of their burrows. Thanks to their high speeds, Whippets outdid themselves in hunting and were popularly kept as working dogs for a long time. 

Today, Whippets are kept as home pets, although some people still utilize their working capabilities. 

Whippets’ popularity grew in England more than in other parts but eventually made their way into the United States. They were recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1888. This followed recognition by the Kennel Club in England in 1890. 

Labrador Retriever Background

Like Whippets, Labradors date back to the 1800s. They were bred as hunting dogs; however, they were not as fast as whippets and were not as popular as their hunting counterparts. 

Labradors are believed to have originated from Newfoundland, Canada. Their popularity grew in England when the British visiting Newfoundland appreciated their hardworking and easygoing personality. 

They became popular in England but returned to North America in the early 1900s. American sportsmen admired their positive qualities and brought them back. They became popular, and this followed recognition by the AKC in 1917. 

Today, Labrador Retrievers are some of the most popular dogs and the best award-winning hunting dogs worldwide. Even so, they are still charming and gentle, qualities that draw people to keep them as family pets.  

Whippet Lab Mix Appearance

The appearance of Whippets and Labradors is significantly different; therefore, the Whippet Lab mix has a unique appearance, a blend of features from both parents. 

That said, a Whipador can be a 50-50 mix but still look like one of its parents. This entirely depends on the dominant gene in the mix, which means that puppies from the same litter might not look alike; it all depends on the outstanding gene in each puppy. 

Generally, Whippet Lab mixes have an athletic look that has a striking resemblance to that of Whippets. However, this could also be a contribution from the Labrador, which has a robust body shape; much more pronounced than the Whippet. 

Whipadors will take the Whippet’s facial features to a great extent featuring a long snout, ears that can hold up, and a curious expression. They have the Labrador’s fuller face, so as much as they look like Whippets, the petite and pointy head is not evident in Whipadors. 

Size

Whipadors are averagely sized; the Labrador is much heavier than the Whippet, so the mix tends to be bigger than the Whippet but smaller than the Lab. On average, a Whipador can weigh between 25 to 80 pounds.

The weight range is significant; therefore, you are bound to find some Whipadors smaller than others even though they might be close in age. This wide range in weight can be attributed to the varying size of the parents; the mix can lean to the weight of one parent. 

An average Whipador has a height of 19 to 24 inches; therefore, most of the mixes will have the same height. It is rare for a Whippet Lab mix to take the size of the Labrador, so you cannot expect a robust mix. 

Coat Type and Colors

The coat of the mix varies with the parents’ colors. The Labrador retriever comes in black, chocolate, and yellow, while the Whippet comes in white, blue, fawn, black, tan, and brindle.

If the Whippet Lab mix takes after the Lab parent more, the coat color can be black, yellow, or chocolate. If it takes after the Whippet parent, it can come in solid blue, blue, fawn, black, or brindle. It can also have a mix of fawn brindle, white, and another color. 

Whipadors come with a double-coat like Labradors or a short single coat like Whippets. Like most physical features, the coat type depends on the mix’s dominant gene. 

Whippet Lab Mix Temperament

Whipadors take the temperament of either parent or get a mix of both. Labradors are outgoing and friendly and present a kind and affectionate character. On the other hand, Whippets are gentle and loving; they enjoy spending time with their family. 

Both parents were bred for their incredible hunting skills. Whippets are considered the fastest hunter dogs and have a strong drive to chase. Labradors have a strong prey drive and are excellent at sniffing and retrieving game. 

These qualities result in Whipadors that are equally gentle as they are fierce. When they are out, they can be wild and overly active; at home, they can be calm and peaceful, a balance that most crossbreeds do not have. 

Generally, Whippet Lab mixes are affectionate, loving, and friendly. They are shy and occasionally anxious like whippets, especially around strangers and in new environments. 

They are energetic and appreciate an excellent playtime session in the outdoors. That said, Whipadors are high-energy dogs that need to be with active people. Therefore, they need physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and loving. 

Watch this video to see a high-jumping Whippet Lab playing fetch outdoors:

How to Care for The Whippet Lab Mix

Your gentle Whippet Lab mix will give you as much love as you give it; therefore, it is crucial to understand how best to care for it. Whippets Lab mixes are generally easy to care for, but like other dogs, they have a set of needs that must be met to lead a happy and active lifestyle. 

The vital needs are feeding, exercise, training, and grooming. 

Whippet Lab Mix Feeding

Each dog requires a specific diet and amount of food each day. This varies depending on the dog’s age, size, and breed. For the Whipador, a diet curated for medium-sized dogs will do, as long as it has all the essential nutrients that the dog needs to grow and stay healthy. 

It is important to note that Whipadors are susceptible to elbow and hip dysplasia. To keep this at bay, your dog needs a diet rich in glucosamine, chondroitin, and fish oil—these support bone and joint health, especially in aging dogs. 

You should remember that Whippet Lab mixes are highly active dogs; therefore, the diet should provide enough energy to stay active and healthy. Be careful not to overfeed your dog as it could easily become obese. 

If you have challenges finding the right dog food for your Whippet Lab mix, talk to your vet for advice on an appropriate diet. They can advise on the right amount, type, and quality to support your dog’s health. 

Whippet Lab Mix Exercise

Both parents, the Labrador and the Whippet are energetic and highly active dogs. Its offspring will take after this quality; Whipadors are playful, full of energy, and outgoing. 

This dog requires adequate daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. They need to exercise their hunting instincts and chase drive while expending built-up energy from staying home all the time. 

Their high energy active characteristic makes them only suitable for people that can meet their high exercise demand. If you have a busy schedule, you might need to hire a dog walker or take your dog to a daycare where their exercise needs can be met fully. 

Whippet Lab Mix Training 

Whippet Lab mixes are easy to train, as they are intelligent and obedient. However, you should ensure that the training sessions are engaging and fun to keep them attentive to the cues and commands. 

The best way to do this is by implementing positive reinforcement by giving treats during training or praising the dog each time it makes a step in the right direction. Your dog will likely focus on the training if you encourage it with praises, treats, and fun games. 

Socializing your dog to ensure it can stay with other dogs freely and comfortably is essential. Whipadors tend to be shy in new environments and with new faces, but with early socialization, they can handle unfamiliar situations better. 

Whippet Lab Mix Grooming

Whippets do not shed as much, but Labradors do; therefore, your Whipador might require more care than the Whippet when it comes to grooming. However, remember that the kind of care your dog will depend on the coat it has, depending on the dominant gene. 

Generally, a Whippet Lab mix will need grooming at least once a week to eliminate loose hairs and dander. Since it is a shedding dog, you ought to keep up with grooming and regular vacuuming to care for fur on surfaces around the home. 

Whippet Lab Mix Health

Like other crossbreeds, the Whipador can inherit health issues from either parent or both. Labradors and Whippets are generally healthy dogs but susceptible to some illnesses. 

Here are some of the health conditions your dog may be predisposed to: 

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Cancer
• Obesity-related complications
• Deafness
• Hemangiosarcoma 
• Allergies
• Mitral Valve Degeneration
• Sinus problems

These conditions are rare, so if you keep up with your dog’s health checks, it should be able to keep this at bay. 

FAQs

Is a Whippet Lab Mix a Great Family Dog?

A Whippet Lab mix is an excellent dog for families, thanks to its friendly, affectionate, and friendly personality. It enjoys time with its family and, with early training and socialization, relates well to other people, pets, and new environments. 

What is the Lifespan of Whippet Lab Mixes?

A Whippet Lab mix has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years with a healthy diet, exercise, and regular health checks. 

How Much Does the Whippet Lab Mix Cost?

The Whippet Lab mix cost varies depending on several factors, including the breeder’s reputation, location, generation of puppies, and availability. There is no standard range as these factors come to play in varying measures from one breeder to the other. 

The Bottom Line

The Whippet Lab mix is an incredible dog to keep as a pet. It is loyal, friendly, affectionate, and gentle, qualities that make it a sought-after dog for both individuals and families. It enjoys time with family and appreciates playtime outdoors, making it perfect for a family leading an active lifestyle. 

If you’re simply in love with Whippets and can’t get enough, then check out our other posts below:

• Whippet Border Collie Mix (Whollie): An Ultimate Guide
• Whippet Beagle Mix (The Whipbeagle): An Ultimate Guide
• Whippet German Shepherd Mix: An Ultimate Guide
• Whippet Dachsund Mix (Whiphund): An Ultimate Guide