Labrador: optimal nutrition for the dog breed
The Labrador is a master at begging for small snacks. However, this can lead to excess pounds in no time, which in the long run will have a negative impact on the health of the four-legged friend. Learn below what should be the optimal diet for your Labrador.
However, it is really not easy to deny your Labrador a wish. He charms you with his brown eyes, then also puts his snout on your knee and looks at you quite devotedly. All right, you think to yourself, a treat can’t hurt. A snack really doesn’t hurt, but your dog will try it more and more often. The result: your Labrador tends to become overweight.
Healthy nutrition as the measure of all things
However, you can prevent this with the right diet. Every package of dog food gives instructions on how to feed your four-legged friend. Certain weight units are used as a yardstick. For example, if your Labrador weighs 25 kilograms, 300 grams of dry food per day is usually perfectly adequate. For a dog weighing 35 kilograms, 400 grams is sufficient. However, these scales can vary from food to food, so it is always advisable to study the packaging information or consult your vet if in doubt.
How active is your Labrador?
Because there are other factors that have an impact on what your dog’s diet should be. If he is very active and agile, he can definitely tolerate a little more food. If he is sluggish or cannot move too much for health reasons, you should reduce the amount – and especially save on the treats. The age also plays a not insignificant role.
Resist begging
In general, snacks between meals should always be an exception. If your Labrador demands more, subtract the weight of the treats from your four-legged friend’s food. This way, he can still be rewarded in between without the risk of your dog getting too fat. Instead of treats, you can also give him a chewing bone, with which he is occupied a little longer. Basically, however, you decide when your Labrador gets a snack – not him.
