Appearance of the German Wirehaired Lab
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Your German Wirehaired Lab may adopt the physical characteristics of one parent more than the other, but in general, these hybrids, like their parent breeds, will have a dense, water- and weather-resistant coat. These coats can be a mixture of stiff or straight fur with feathering, stiff hair concentrated on the muzzle area, often giving the dog a bit of a moustache. Ears are flat and floppy with a rounded tip. The head is of medium length and slightly broad. His good dark eyes will always be alert and generally almond-shaped. The German Wirehaired Lab will be muscular and may have a slightly arched neck. His chest may be deep and his legs will be athletically built and strong. He will hold his tail high, there may be feathering here, in addition to the legs and belly. |
Temperament of the German Wirehaired Lab
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Both parent breeds are outgoing, playful and people-pleasers. You can expect your hybrid to retain many of these personality traits. This lively hybrid makes an excellent addition to a home with children and other pets, but because of its size, it needs to be supervised when interaction takes place. They are gentle and generally not considered aggressive towards people. When strangers approach, your hybrid, if more like a German Wirehaired Pointer, will show some form of aggression and alert you with vigorous barking. But if your dog looks more like a Labrador Retriever, chances are he's simply greeting a stranger. |
Needs and activities of the German Wirehaired Lab
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Water-loving and outgoing, this hybrid is a fast, playful dog with lots of energy. He'll need an active family who will take him to the lake or for a run, and who are willing to spend time bonding with him through a game of retrieve. Give him a chance to try obedience classes and maybe participate in a few trials. He has the power and intelligence to succeed at flyball, and activities like these will also allow him to use his mind. Your German Wirehaired Lab is best suited to urban and rural living, an apartment may be too small for his temperament, he loves to run, so a house with a fenced back yard is the best choice. |
Maintenance of the German Wirehaired Lab
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Labradors tend to be heavy seasonal excretors, so this may be a trait inherited from your hybrid. German Wirehaired Pointers also tend to shed all year round, but not as much as Labradors. For the most part, your German Wirehaired Lab is a low-maintenance dog, it will need brushing every week at least twice to remove dirt and loose hair. They have water- and weather-resistant coats, and won't need regular bathing unless they run through mud or roll in something nasty, as most dogs like to do. If kept active, most dogs will wear down their nails. Check them several times a month for length and condition. Brush his teeth three times a week to prevent tartar build-up and keep his gums healthy. |