Black Mouth Cur Lab Mix

What is a Black Mouth Cur Lab Mix?

A Black Mouth Cur Lab mix combines the Black Mouth Cur with a Labrador Retriever. Though this mix isn’t one of the most popular crossbred dogs, they can still make a great companion for an active family. Let’s take a brief look at what you can expect from this combination:

Height:	16 – 24.5 inches
Weight:	35 – 80 lbs
Coat type:	Short, dense, double-layered coat.
Colors:	Wide range of colors. Can have a black muzzle and some white patches.
Temperament:	Intelligent, loyal, family-oriented.
Average puppy cost:	$500 – $1200

As a mixed breed, these puppies can be quite varied. In fact, they can inherit any mix of traits from their two purebred parents. And, you won’t know exactly which until your puppy is born. So, it’s a good idea to research both parent breeds well to ensure you’re happy with any outcome.

Black Mouth Cur Lab Mix Appearance

Since a mixed breed can inherit traits from either parent breed, these puppies can be quite varied. The Labrador and Black Mouth Cur share some common traits. For instance, both have floppy, triangular ears, muscular bodies, long legs, and a low-set tail. Both breeds also have a short, dense coat, so you can expect puppies to inherit this trait.

Black Mouth Curs are often slightly smaller than purebred Labs. The United Kennel Club breed standards state that the minimum height for female BMCs is 16 inches, and 18 inches for males. The minimum weight for females is 35 lbs and 40 lbs for males.

Labradors, in contrast, are larger, with a minimum height of 21.5 inches for females and 22.5 inches for males. Weight is a minimum of 55 lbs for females and 65 lbs for males. A Black Mouth Cur Lab mix can grow up to be anywhere between the minimum and maximum sizes of their parents. So, they could be as small as the minimum Black Mouth Cur stats, or up to 24.5 inches tall, weighing up to 80 lbs!

Coat Colors

The Labrador comes in three official colors: black, yellow, and liver/chocolate. Yellow Labs can vary from a deep fox red, to a creamy white. Labradors can also come in dilute shades, but these colors are much more controversial.

Black Mouth Curs have a wide range of colors, including:

• Black
• Red
• Yellow
• Fawn
• Brindle
• Dilute colors

These dogs can be solid colors, or they can have black muzzles or white markings. So, a Black Mouth Cur Lab mix puppy could be any of the above colors and markings. It will entirely depend on the genes they inherit.

Black Mouth Cur Labrador Mix Temperament

Temperament can vary amongst mixed breed dogs, just as appearance can. The Labrador and Black Mouth Cur breeds share some key traits. Both breeds have histories as working dogs, and their shared traits go back to the requirements of these original working roles.

Both are energetic, playful, and intelligent dogs. Though this can make training a breeze, the downside is that they can easily become bored, and need plenty of exercise every single day. If left alone for too long, or under-stimulated, these dogs will usually try to entertain themselves. This can lead to unwanted or destructive behaviors like barking, digging, chewing, and so on.

Though both of these breeds form very strong bonds with their owners, Labs are more friendly to strangers than Black Mouth Curs. The BMC can be quite protective of their owner, especially if they are not socialized well as a puppy. So, make sure to socialize your mixed puppy well before they are 12 weeks old, particularly to strangers and other animals.

Exercise and Training

Although you won’t be able to predict some elements of this mix, a Black Mouth Cur Lab puppy is bound to grow up to be an energetic, loyal dog. The upside of this is that training can be a breeze! Both parent breeds have worked alongside humans for generations. So, with the right training methods, your dog will love training sessions and pick up new cues quickly.

Labs are very food motivated, so this mix will usually learn best with positive reward methods. Just make sure you subtract the calorie allowance of training treats from their daily food allowance to prevent obesity.

Training will offer some much-needed mental stimulation, but also some physical exercise. However, your mix will need at least an hour each day dedicated to exercise. This could be a retrieving game, a run around a dog park, swimming, hiking, and more. The Black Mouth Cur Lab mix is ideal for an active family, but won’t suit homes with a very sedentary lifestyle.

Black Mouth Cur Labrador Health

Mixed breed dogs tend to live longer lives, on average, than purebred dogs. So, a Black Mouth Cur Lab mix could live well into its teens, exceeding the purebred average of about 12 years. However, the mix will also be vulnerable to any hereditary issues that are found in its parent breeds. Here are some of the most common health concerns for this mixed breed:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis
• Gastric dilatation volvulus
• Exercise Induced Collapse
• Centronuclear myopathy
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Cataracts

Many hereditary health issues can be tested for before breeding takes place. So, make sure you’re choosing a reputable breeder that only breeds the healthiest dogs.

Is a Black Mouth Cur Lab Mix a Good Family Dog?

In the right home, this cross breed can make a wonderful companion. But, it won’t suit everyone. This mix needs a lot of exercise every single day to keep it happy and healthy. Without adequate exercise, Black Mouth Cur Lab mixes can become stressed and depressed. These dogs will also need plenty of training and mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors.

Though this mix won’t require as much grooming as some breeds, they can be heavy shedders in the hottest months. And, since they require so much time outside, they can require more frequent baths than some breeds!

A Black Mouth Cur Labrador mix can have some quite unpredictable traits, including their size. So, before committing to one of these puppies, you must make sure you’re happy with absolutely any outcome.

Finding Black Mouth Cur Puppies

A Labrador Black Mouth Cur cross is not a hugely popular mix. So, it might take you a while to find one. The upside of this is that puppy mills and backyard breeders, people just looking for a quick profit, are less likely to breed them. But, you must still be cautious and do plenty of research when choosing a breeder.

Choose a breeder that prioritises the health and temperament of their puppies above all else. They should show you evidence of health testing in person, and will be happy to let you see where the puppies are kept. Make sure to meet the mother dog too, to get an idea of her temperament.

If you can take a look at both parents, this will give you a better idea of the potential appearance your puppy could grow up to have. Their size will often fall somewhere between that of their parents. If you’re struggling to find breeders for this mix near you, it’s a good idea to also check local rescue centers.

Similar Breeds

If you love the Black Mouth Cur Lab mix but are currently struggling to find a puppy near you, here are some similar breeds that you might have better luck finding:

• Black Lab Australian Shepherd Mix
• Labrador Retriever Dog Breed Information Center
• Border Collie Lab Mix – A Guide To The Energetic Borador Dog Breed

Black Mouth Cur Lab Mix – A Summary

Are you thinking about bringing a Black Mouth Cur Labrador mix into your home, or do you already have one of these energetic, intelligent dogs at home? We would love to hear about your pets in the comments!

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References and Resources

• ‘Black Mouth Cur Official UKC Breed Standard’, United Kennel Club (2000)
• Howell, T. (et al), ‘Puppy Parties and Beyond: The Role of Early Age Socialization Practices on Adult Dog Behavior’, Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports (2015)
• Cutler, J. (et al), ‘Puppy Socialization Practices of a Sample of Dog Owners Across Canada and the United States’, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2017)
• Hiby, E. (et al), ‘Dog Training Methods: Their Use, Effectiveness, and Interaction with Behavior and Welfare’, Animal Welfare (2004)
• Deldalle, S. & Gaunet, F. ‘Effects of 2 Training Methods on Stress-Related Behaviors of the Dog (Canis Familiaris) and on the Dog-Owner Relationship’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2014)
• Urfer, S. (et al), ‘Risk Factors Associated with Lifespan in Pet Dogs Evaluated in Primary Care Veterinary Hospitals’, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (2019)
• Keijser, S. (et al), ‘Quantification of the Health-Status of the Dutch Labrador Retriever Population’, Preventive Veterinary Medicine (2014)