Labrador Retrievers are helping to spread the word about the plight of the world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah. Living in Africa and Iran, the cheetah can sprint up to 65 to 70 MPH. Their total adult and adolescent populations in the wild are estimated at 1,700. Some countries consider them an endangered or vulnerable species according to Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Experts list several factors contributing to the cheetahs’ population status. Cheetahs’ reproduction numbers are low. Although these cats have litters of three to five cubs, others whelp only one. Mothers in the wild abandon their single clubs, says Shawn Brehob, Animal Director at the Columbus (OH) Zoo and Aquarium. Ranchers kill cheetahs to protect their livestock, and poachers capture and sell them as pets in some African countries, he says. Other poachers hunt these magnificent cats for their fur.

Full-grown cheetahs weigh between 80 and 140 pounds and stand about 30 inches at the withers. Their predators are lions, hyenas, and even vultures. 

How do Labradors help cheetahs? First, as puppies, they may be paired with a cheetah cub in a zoo setting to give confidence to this very shy species of cat. Second, as the pair — puppy and cub — grow up together, their heart-warming story is shared with the public as an educational opportunity to learn more about cheetahs and how humans can help protect them.

Over the years, cheetah-Labrador pairs have been important zoo ambassadors in educating the public about the world’s fastest cat and creating lifelong memories for zoo guests, Brehob says.

“Often, the public is just as excited—if not more so—to see the dogs, who are with their cheetah,” he notes.

Guests may notice that the cheetah ambassador will look to his/her paired Labrador to get assurance that the particular situation is okay, he says. The dogs give the cats much-needed confidence. “We never do anything the animals don’t want to do.” Of course, the Labradors also love interacting with people! Brehob adds.

Columbus Zoo Cub-Puppy Program

The Columbus Zoo is one of the few zoos nationwide that have raised cheetah cubs and puppies together and is so well-known for these efforts that other zoos have asked if the Columbus Zoo can handle another orphan cub, Brehob says. Eleven of his 19-person staff have experience raising cubs with puppies. The Columbus Zoo currently has 12 cheetahs. Labradors have played a part in raising 19 cheetahs, Brehob says.

The cub-puppy program is the brainstorm of Suzi Rapp, now retired, but formerly Vice President of Animal Programs at the Columbus Zoo. More than a decade ago, the zoo acquired two Anatolian Shepherd puppies and paired them with two young cheetah cubs.

The cheetahs and shepherds did well together but an unforeseen problem arose, Brehob recalls. The shepherds became possessive and protective of their cats, which made it challenging for humans to interact and care for them.

Labradors Chosen as Cub Raisers

Rapp huddled with her team. They needed puppies with a foolproof temperament to raise cheetah cubs and to comfortably mingle with the public. That’s when Labradors Retrievers came to mind.

She reached out to Sally Bell, who calls herself the “Labrador Retriever woman of the Columbus OH area.” Bell’s bred and shown her Borador Labradors for the past fifty-three years. The two women met.

Bell recalls that she immediately liked Rapp and recognized she was a “common-sense dog person; a good dog person.” Rapp was very specific that she wanted a nine-week-old old yellow male pup. Bell didn’t have any puppies meeting that criterion so she referred her to another Labrador breeder. Labrador Carlisle came to the zoo in 2010, Brehob says.

Over the next several years, Carlisle successfully raised and bonded with four cubs, Jake, Eddie, Bella, and Moyo.

In 2013, Rapp again asked Bell about selling a pup for the cheetah cub-puppy program. At the time, Bell had a litter that she co-owned with Chris Kofron, DVM of Valleywood Labradors, that met Rapp’s criteria. She suggested one pup to her but Rapp chose another pup.

“She knew intuitively which pup would work,” Bell recalls. The pup was named Coby. He partnered, one at a time, with cubs Bibi and Zemba. Colby became the beloved zoo ambassador dog appearing with his cheetahs at zoo-sponsored functions at the time.

He not only helped raise and socialize cheetah cubs but also warthogs, foxes, and otters, Brehob recalls. Coby’s recent passing from health issues was met with deep sadness and a show of support from the public who offered their kind condolences and fond memories of Coby. More than 11,000 responses, 667 comments, and nearly 1,000 shares of a post announcing his passing appeared on the zoo’s Facebook page.

In 2014, Rapp chose another young pup from one of  Bell’s litters. Bell recalls that Rapp observed several pups at Bell’s property before picking Cash who was paired with Misi.