Feeding a Labrador Retriever Articles | Dogs

By: DoggieDetails.com Admin

Feeding a Labrador Retriever comes down to three questions: what, when and where.

What to feed your dog is probably the most significant decision you can make on his behalf. A good diet is vital to a dog's health and lifespan just as it is for a human. However, they have very different nutritional needs than you and me. A dog needs a diet that is high in protein with some carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals. Select nutritionally complete dog food products and you will have no difficulty supplying these needs.

It is best to give your dog a mix of semi-moist and/or canned dog food and dry food. Never use canned as the only dog food. It does not give the dog's teeth enough exercise, contains indigestible additives and has a high water content that means you are not getting much for your money and will lead to frequent urination. This can make a puppy difficult to housetrain. Canned food should only be a small part of the diet, around 25%. It is better to buy canned food that is specifically formulated for the age and type of dog.

Semi-moist food does not have the high water content and it can be much better value for your money but again your dog's diet should not consist only of this. Dry food is also required for the sake of your dog's digestion, teeth and gums. If you read labels and take advice from your veterinarian or breeder it should be easy to work out a good ratio of dry to semi-moist or canned food.

When to feed your dog will depend on its age. Young puppies, like babies, need frequent small meals, four or five a day. After four months old you can reduce to three meals a day at around the same times that you would feed the rest of your family. At nine months change to morning and evening only and when the dog is a year old you can start giving him just one large meal a day, usually in the evening, plus some kibble in the morning.

Many Labradors will eat as much as they are given, so be careful not to over-feed your dog. How many calories he requires will depend on age and level of activity. Requirements can vary widely in two dogs of the same age if one is much more active, so you may need to experiment a little. A correctly-fed dog will be well-toned with a shiny coat and some flesh over the ribs and hips but not plump.

Set aside a place for feeding your dog and keep to it. Dogs like to enjoy their food alone and in peace. Having people around will make them anxious that their food may be snatched away and they are likely to eat too fast and digest it poorly. This results in the food being vomited up and eaten again, which is not pleasant to watch but normal for the dog. Hence feeding a Labrador Retriever is best done in a quiet corner of the house, not right next to your dining table at family mealtimes.