Labrador Feeding Demystified: A Comprehensive Expert Guide
The best Labrador food is high in fat and protein, but low in carbohydrates. Great diets avoid fillers, and are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals.
Working out how to feed a Labrador isn’t just about picking the perfect menu though. You know Labs are enthusiastic eaters and prone to weight gain, so getting the right schedule and feeding routine can make a big difference to your pet’s welfare too.
My rule of thumb is that puppies up to six months of age need four meals a day. Adult dogs can cope just fine with two meals a day, but many prefer their daily rations to be broken down into smaller amounts.
- Types of dog food
- How often and much to feed a Lab
- The danger of fast eating
- Table scraps and snacks
I’m going to help you choose the right diet for your dog and answer your feeding questions and concerns about how to feed your Labrador. If your dog is under six months old, you’ll probably want to visit our puppy feeding page for detailed information on feeding your Labrador puppy.
*The products linked in this article were carefully selected by me to be shared on The Labrador Site. If you decide to purchase using the links provided, you’ll be supporting our site by allowing us to earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.
Labrador Feeding Guide
The amount you feed your Lab will vary depending on his age and the type of food you are giving him. The Eukanuba Adult Breed Lamb and Rice food suggests these serving sizes:
- 40 – 45 pound Lab, feed: 205 – 230 grams per day
- 50 – 55 pound Lab, feed: 240 – 265 grams per day
- 60 – 65 pound Lab, feed: 270 – 300 grams per day
- 70 – 75 pound Lab, feed: 300 – 335 grams per day
- 80 – 85 pound Lab, feed: 330 – 365 grams per day
- 90 – 95 pound Lab, feed: 355 – 395 grams per day
However, these serving sizes will change depending on the food you use, and only apply to dry kibble! Keep reading to find out how much food your Lab needs if he isn’t eating kibble, and when to feed him.
What’s the best dog food for Labs?
Experts agree that the best food for any dog is a balanced diet that keeps him in excellent health at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, that’s where the agreement ends.
There’s lots to choose from
Even experts differ on which method of feeding is the most healthy, what makes a diet balanced, how easy it is to feed your dog a balanced diet, and which brand of kibble is best. By the end of this article, you’ll know everything about how to feed your Labrador.
Different Methods to Feed your Labrador
There are currently two very different approaches to dog feeding that are popular with many Labrador owners.
- Dry kibble
- Raw meat and bones or BARF
Both methods of feeding Labradors have their supporters and detractors. At one time a lot of dogs were fed on canned food with an added biscuit mixer. Nowadays, most pet dogs have dried meals.
Although majority of dogs are now being fed kibble, a substantial minority are fed raw. Raw feeding (the BARF diet) was once considered an extremist fad. But raw fed dogs thrived, and interest in raw feeding dogs has grown lately.
Labrador dog food choices – dry kibble
The majority of Labrador owners feed their dogs on dried kibble pellets. All major pet food companies now supply a dried version of their brands. You’ll find a confusing range of choice in pet stores and supermarkets worldwide. But some are better than others.
Advantages of kibble
The main advantage of being able to open a packet and instantly pour food into your dog’s bowl is convenience. Busy modern homes are pressed for time. Convenience is an important factor.
Kibble also stores well. It doesn’t need refrigerating or freezing and it doesn’t smell very strong. Most dogs nowadays are trained with food. So kibble has the added advantage of making portable training treats.
The disadvantages of kibble
Kibble doesn’t smell bad, but kibble fed dog poops stink. That is partly because kibble is full of fillers, additional bulking agents that are not fully digested by your dog.
These fillers mean that kibble fed dogs produce much greater quantities of poop and much smellier poop, than dogs fed on raw meat and bones. Kibble fed dogs may also need their teeth cleaning on a daily basis. There may also be a small increased risk of bloat in susceptible dogs fed on a dry food diet.
Kibble fed dogs may also be more likely to snack on their own poop (yes it’s a very common Labrador habit) than raw fed dogs.
Should I feed my dog raw meat?
Natural raw doggy diets of meat and bones have become increasingly popular, despite some experts giving out dire warnings of the dangers of letting dogs consume bones.
Unfortunately, raw feeding does seem to attract a few extremists. Plus, it can be tricky to find objective and unbiased discussions of the pros and cons of raw feeding on the internet.
The pros and cons
Raw feeding is quite a big topic. It is both complicated and simple. Complicated because we tend to worry about the nutrients our dogs are getting. And we can’t see a list of ingredients on a meaty bone. But the truth is, we don’t need to.
Raw feeding is not as convenient as kibble feeding, It requires plenty of freezer and refrigeration space, a designated preparation surface, and good meat preparation hygiene. (Just as with meat preparation for people).
Small puppies need more research to be raw fed, as they are growing fast and are vulnerable to diets with a poor nutrient balance.
Raw fed dogs and small children
I don’t recommend raw feeding in families with very small children. This is because raw fed dogs get messy. It is hard in this situation to keep raw meat juices containing pathogens, away from children too small to understand the importance of hand washing
The fact is that there is no right way to feed your dog. No ‘best way’ to provide a balanced diet.
Deciding Between Raw and Kibble
- If you have a small puppy you may be happier feeding kibble
- With children under five, it may be safer for you to feed kibble
- If your dog has a close relative that has suffered from bloat, he may be safer eating raw
- If your dog suffers from allergies, he might do better on raw
Choosing a brand for your Labrador
Cost matters, but choosing the lowest price Labrador food is not always the cheapest option. Very often, you will need to feed larger quantities of the cheaper food. Mid range dog food brands are usually a good starting point, but the most expensive brands can come with a hidden health benefit.
Biologically appropriate kibble?
I like the Orijen brand(paid link)*, it is what my dogs have as training treats or when I can’t provide raw. Orijen is perhaps the closest thing to biologically appropriate food that you’ll find in a kibble at 80% meat and 20% vegetable with no grain at all(paid link)*.
Remember that a change in diet can upset your dog’s stomach. So if you decide to switch brands, do it gradually over the space of a few days by adding a little more of the new food and a little less of the old, each day.
How often to feed your Labrador
Many dog owners continue to feed their dogs twice a day throughout their lives. Some people feed their dogs once a day after twelve months of age.
We do know that there is an association between bloat and large meals. Though this may only apply to kibble. Once daily feeding is probably fine if you decide to feed raw meat. But with kibble it may be too much dry food in one go. I recommend that you feed your adult dog morning and evening.
How often to feed Labrador puppies
The amount of food that your Labrador puppy needs(paid link)* to eat each day must be divided into several portions. If you try and give him the whole day’s ration in one go, he will probably give it his best shot. But it will almost certainly give him diarrhoea and could damage his stomach as kibble swells after drinking.
From eight to twelve weeks your puppy will benefit from four meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. Space the meals at least three hours apart to give him chance to digest them properly. And make sure the last meal is a two to three hours before his last trip to the toilet at bedtime.
Once your puppy gets to three months old you can divide his daily ration into three portions, and by six months to two. Breakfast and supper.
How much to feed your Labrador?
Recommended quantities can be found on kibble packaging and these will vary quite widely from brand to brand. They are also often on the high side. If your dog is a little overweight, feed about a third less than recommended for a few days and then re-assess his appearance. Your dog may well need less food than you think.
How long should your dog take to eat his dinner?
Some people leave food down for their dog’s to ‘graze’ on. I prefer my dogs to eat their meals up fairly quickly. Some dogs are more likely to be ‘picky’ if they know they can come back to their dinner later on. I recommend you take up your dog’s bowl after ten minutes if he hasn’t finished. He won’t come to any harm if he hasn’t devoured the lot.
How to feed a Labrador slowly
A much more common problem in Labradors, is the dog that scoffs his dinner in a heartbeat and then begs for more with pleading eyes. There is an association between bloat and rapid eating, so if you can slow down your dog a little, it is probably good thing. The best way to do that is by using a slow feed bowl(paid link)*.
Feeding household scraps and left overs to dogs
Many people will add household scraps to their dog’s dinner bowl. In theory, there is a risk that this will ‘unbalance’ his diet. In practice, most adult dogs will come to no harm if they occasionally get some ‘extras’ in their bowl.
Make sure that your leftovers don’t contain sugar, onions, cooked bones or any common human foods that are toxic to dogs. And to keep the diet balanced, make sure that left overs don’t comprise more than 10% of your dog’s dinner.
Giving leftovers to puppies
Puppies need a very well balanced diet, so it is not a good idea to feed your puppy on household scraps.
Dog feeding equipment and storage
Good dog feeding bowls are dishwasher safe and not easily breakable. Cheap and colorful plastic bowls can look tired after a few trips through the dishwasher, so I like stainless steel(paid link)*. Although I admit it is quite noisy, and not as pretty as some of the ceramic products. Avoid raised bowls if possible as some studies have associated these with bloat.
For kibble storage I recommend sealable bins(paid link)*, which you can fit large quantities of dried dog food into and keep fresh.
(paid link)Giving water to your Labrador
Puppies and older dogs need water available to them at all times during the day. It is ok to take your puppy’s water away an hour before bedtime to help with housetraining.
Kibble fed dogs drink quite a lot of water, raw fed dogs drink very little.
When feeding problems need veterinary help
All puppies need regular veterinary check ups and when you take your puppy to the vet for his vaccinations. This is a great time to ask any questions you might have on his diet and welfare generally.
All dogs may eat less in very hot weather. But changes in appetite, especially sudden changes, can be a sign that your dog is not well. If your Labrador goes off his food, don’t just put it down to old age.
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hi pippa, first of all i want to thank you for your help you give to us in taking cares of our lab
i am owning an 3 months labrador female and i am feeding her with hills science plan puppy dog food along with calcium,multivitamin,and skin conditioners i want to ask that should i also feed him some home made food as the quantity prescribed is only 180gms a day and my lab always feels hungry and secondly his neck is looking thinner in comparision to his body although i always use chest belt for taking him out for walk and last my vet has warned me that my house floor surface will result up in crippled legs so should i take any extra precaution to prevent that?
hi pippa, first of all i want to thank you for your help you give to us in taking cares of our lab
i am owning an 3 months labrador female and i am feeding her with hills science plan puppy dog food along with calcium,multivitamin,and skin conditioners i want to ask that should i also feed him some home made food as the quantity prescribed is only 180gms a day and my lab always feels hungry and secondly his neck is looking thinner in comparision to his body although i always use chest belt for taking him out for walk and last my vet has warned me that my house floor surface will result up in crippled legs so should i take any extra precaution to prevent that?
when do I stop giving my lab (6 months old) puppy food ?
Hi there , our almost 2 year old black lab is fed csj complete tripe which I have always covered with water , whilst staying with friend they forgot to do that and said she chewed kibble and took he time when eating something she dosnt do when it’s covered with water . Just wondered what implications to her are by covering food with water ? Thank you. Carol
Hi
My 7 mth old black lab wolfs his food down. I know labs are renowned for being hungry but he can go thru 250g of kibble in a few minutes – if that! He doesn’t choke but I wondered if soaking his food could help him? He always has water available.
Thanks
Caroline
Hi Caroline, try a slow food bowl. They have knobbles in and this helps to stop the dog gobbling up his food so quickly. Pippa
Hi Pippa ,
We were just planning to get a labrador puppy , but wer really worried if we’ll be able to take care of it since , we never had a dog before . But after looking at your web site and the support you have been offering we feel very confident . if every thing goes well hopefully there should be a puppy home next week . and lots of questions hahaha ..Thank you .
Hi,
I own a 3 months puppy Lab. Recently, I see my dog limping. I got some information that puppys need 4 times calcium than human. Is that true?
Would I have a question that how much Phosphorus calcium (mg) my dog need per day? I know that it depends.. But, generally, could you tell me the approximate interval of that?
Hi Logan, if your puppy is limping, he needs to see a vet. Hope he is ok. Pippa
I have a 4 week old puppy he got separated from his mother so the guy who had him told us to give him cows milk with a little bit of water in it..so that’s what I’ve been giving him 4 times day..after reading this I realised that was wrong.. Can you tell me what to give him instead?
Hi!
I own 5 month old puppy. Started serving him food from stage one.But he is becoming thin everyday.Except his thinness everything means his color coat, activeness all is upto the mark.
Please suggest him balance diet accordingly.
Thanks
Abhishek
hi pippa,
i recently got a 45 days lab to my house..in two days he got stomach inflation which the vet says is due to feeding him with lactol. but now i dont see him very active as before. also i dont know wether i am hallucinating but i have seen little color change in him from white to yellow gold…can u please explain this??
and how can i potty train him quicker than usual coz in few days i would be leaving him home alone for 3 4 hours…
Hi Shivani, if your puppy is not recovering from his stomach infection, or seems lethargic, you need to go back to the vet. Puppies coat colour may change slightly as he grows. And you cannot potty train him quicker than usual, you will need to get someone to come and let him out whilst you are out.
Pippa
Hello Pippa,
Our black lab Poppy is fed on 3 meals of complete natural kibble mixed with 1/2 tin pedigree puppy food. Over the last 3 days her motions are a bit loose. She is perfectly well and loony . She is up to date with jabs etc and on advocate. Last week she weighed 19kg at 7 months , not a big girl but very athletic ! We have had some rare hot summer days here lately. She has also jumped in the local lake with our terrier. I am wondering if maybe she doesn’t need 3 meals now – hence the faster passing of stools or if the rare hot weather has upset her stomach ( she still runs around like a loony in the heat but rests longer and drinks more ! ) Or …. could she have become intolerant of the pedigree tinned puppy food ? Thank you
Kay
I wish I’d found this site sooner! We have an 8 year old golden lab who has a problem with allergies in that he over preens himself especially his paws which develop irritations between the toes. He also scoots on his bum although we’ve tried worm tablets and having his anal glands checked but nothing seems to make any difference. Just recently he has been scratching round his jaw and upper chest a lot and he is now on a short course of prednisone and antibiotics. So far he’s been on a diet of rice, gluten free kibble and tinned meat but we’re wondering if the corn in the kibble could be a problem for him. Maybe even the rice? We are changing him to Orijen kibble next week which is grain free, but honestly, I don’t know how much to feed him or how often. We always took the view that he’s part of the pack and when we eat, he eats. He weighs 38kg and so far we have been feeding him 3 times a day, a total weight of 645 grams on the mixed diet daily. I want what is best for his health and I just don’t know what to do for the best. Could you possibly advise me please?
Many thanks for taking the time to read this!
Hi Rose, I am sorry but it really is a question of seeing your vet, and if you are not happy with his diagnosis, seeking a second opinion. It can be tricky to pin down the cause of allergies, and I do wish you all the best.
Pippa
Hi I am first time owner of choc lab. He is 9 weeks. The breeder didn’t give me any food so I tried him on pedigree dry food. He wasn’t eating so I gave him pedigree puppy canned food which he loves. He has really runny poos now. The pet shop said canned food is no good for him so I tried to reintroduce dry food and he won’t eat it. I mixed canned with dry and he eats around the dry food and leaves it. I’m really stuck with what is best to feed him
Hi Katie, first stop is to check with your vet that the upset tummies are not caused by a parasite or infection. Many puppies have a bit of an upset tummy for a few days after moving home, and it could be nothing to do with the food at all. Find out what the breeder was feeding the puppy and try to stick with the same diet for a few days until his tummy has settled. Then you can gradually change over to the food of your choice.
Pippa
Hiya, I’ve got a 16 month choc lab fed on royal canin neutered large breed. I’ve become concerned about what is in the food and am looking for a more natural dry food have been looking at Eden but my vet said they are concerned by 80% protein food such as this, was also considering James well beloved. Any advice would be appreciated. I just want to do the best for belle.
Thanks
Hi Folks,
I am no experience owning a dog before until now. I have a 45 days old lab puppy. I need your guidance to take care of it. We have got him his first vaccination and deworming also done. He is very active. Always on the look out to bite my legs or any house furniture. He will do potty n pee all over the house. Can I tie him with a leash ? & can put him in crate ?
Please advise
Regards
Chetan
Thanks a ton Pipa…
Also if you could help as my pup is around 42 days but the black fur is not on best shine and the vet has told me that with good diet and in the age of 3 months plus,, he will have a shining fur. Is that right?
Hi I have a 7 months old lab. Lately he has been eating his poop a lot. I spoke with the vet,he told me increase the vitamin to two tab and that did not help. I tried putting chilli powder also on the poop, but he eats it before I even see it. Help me please. He eats 1 cup ragi and rice and curd for breakfast, rice ,pedigree, little curd for lunch and rice ,veg, and boiled egg for dinner. Hope I am giving him the proper diet…?
Hi we have an eight week old yellow lab that we only just brought home two days ago. We have been feeding him premium dry food that the breeders were giving him but last night decided to cut up some chicken necks (only 1 and a hald) in to small pieces and put in with half of his dried food. He ate them and was fine but this morning he threw up a big mushy tube shaped log and was choking on it but then ate it….. is this normal? I thought maybe too much food or not use to raw meat? Help!
Hi, it is best to avoid cutting necks or other items containing bone, up into small chunks. This just tempts the puppy to swallow them whole instead of breaking them down with his jaws. There are several raw feeding articles in this section which will help you. Pippa
Dear Pippa,
I am the first time proud owner of a super cute black lab pup. He is around 45 days old, and I am wondering if I can start him on Kibble( Royal Canin etc), so far i have been told from his previous owner as well that he is been kept on milk and water 3 times a day…
Also I see him picking scrap and chewing, so dont know how to stop that.
Plz help.
Regards
AK
Hi Ankush,
All puppies like to chew and eat things left lying around. You need to buy your puppy some chew toys, and pick up things you don’t want him to have. Pippa
Thanks a ton Pipa…
Also if you could help as my pup is around 42 days but the black fur is not on best shine and the vet has told me that with good diet and in the age of 3 months plus,, he will have a shining fur. Is that right?
i read all the suggestions and answers in this website and one of my questions are answered…so thank you pippa..
Hi,
I have a 2 and a half year old Labrador. Hes quite active but is a drama queen when it comes to eating, i have to feed him like a kid.
we only feed him Royal Canin, twice a day.
he loves ice cream, is it an indication that he may be bored of eating Royal Canin..?
Any advice or help will be much appreciated.
Thanks
Derek.
Hi Derek, pretty much all Labradors love ice cream 🙂 It has nothing to do with his kibble. Pippa
Hi pippa
I have a 3 month old lab puppy. I am not sure how much pedigree to fee him. Can you please tell me how many grams of pedigree is enough per day? And i also feed him royal canin. Should the quantity be same or differ according to the dog food brand. He is just around 5kgs.
Hi,my labrador frudo is 8 months old and we feed him nearly 4 times a day.Also i wanted to tell he is vegetarian we don’t feed him with non-veg, Is it ok or should we change his diet ??
Hi there, I’m afraid in my opinion it is not ok to feed a dog on a vegetarian diet. Pippa
So you want me to feed him with non-veg or do we have any other option to opt for ?
Hi Jyotsana, dogs are carnivores, and in my opinion should be fed accordingly. Pippa
Hi. Its me again I’m realy getting worried about what my dad has been feeding my dog. He has been getting sick and looks like he wants to vomit but he only spits out foam. Can this me caused by the bones my dad ceeps giving him? He is only 10 weeks old.
Hi, your puppy needs to see a vet asap. Pippa
Thank you so much pippa.
I was wondering that feeding puppies raw meat might do something to their tummy..
Hi Pippa,
My Labrador puppy is about 8months old and I really need some suggestions on what to feed her for breakfast, lunch and dinner… please could you give me few suggestions. . I really have no idea..
Thank you
Hello Pippa
I am getting an 8 week old lab on sunday and I bought her a 12 kg bag of Royal Canin (labrador retriever junior 33) dry food. But my breeder has now told me I cannot use this food because she has been using Supercoat and if i change to Royal Canin it will make puppy sick, Is this true?. I am really confused as I know Royal Canin has much better ingredients than Supercoat so why would it make her sick? any suggestions to what I should do?
Thanks so much
Annie 🙂
Hi Annie, I cannot comment on the superiority of specific brands. However, it is important to carry on feeding the same brand as the breeder has been giving your puppy for the first week or two. You can then change over to the brand that you have purchased, a little at a time.
The reason is that the stress of moving homes is enough to upset some dog’s tummies, changing food at the same time is asking for trouble.
In the long term, it is up to you what you feed, just make the change gradually.
Pippa
HI
I am getting 2 labbies this weekend. I just got a huge fright because I am not home to feed the pups 4 times a day…..!?
Hi Monique, puppies need a lot of attention, especially for the first few months. Have a look at some of the articles in the Caring For Your puppy section
Pippa
hi i have labradog black puppy 1 month dog what i give diet for my puppy??,,,.,how many day puppies start feeding royal canin.?royal canin is gud for puppy?
hi,
I got a 1 month old beautiful lab puppy. He is playful too. I just want to know is it okay to feed him pedigree(puppy) with milk and rice mix with vegetables. At the moment we are giving both meals rice for lunch and pedigree for breakfast and dinner. Please help me with this he is my first lab puppy….
Thanks!!!! 🙂
Good Day!
This website seems to be very helpful and am glad I found it.
I’m from India and have a 6 months old Lab, “Zoe”. She is very playful and stays active all the time. She gets 30-45 minutes walk every morning and when she gets back home, she becomes too tired and remains at the same place with her tongue out for an hour or two, I hope that’s normal. We generally fed her trice a day. Morning starts with Rice mixed with canned food, afternoon she eats boiled vegetables or fruits (watermelon/bananas) and late evening dry kibble (Royal Canin, Eukanuba, Drools). I also used to give her cow’s milk at times for a change, however will stop it now. Last visit to vet (last weekend), for her vaccination found that she was over weight, (21 Kilograms). For the past few days she has stopped eating rice, and her bulky stomach has shrink. I gave her bread once again for a change and she seems to enjoy it. Should I just feed her dry kibble or should I continue the change diet.
Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Sunny.
Hi Sunny,
Just feed the kibble. All complete puppy foods are designed to fulfil all your puppy’s nutritional needs. Supplementing with rice, vegetables and fruit is unnecessary and likely to unbalance the diet. Puppies over eight weeks old do not need milk of any kind and are better off without it.
If your puppy is overweight, simply reduce the quantity of kibble until her waistline re-appears 🙂 .
A six month old pup doesn’t need much more than half an hour’s exercise, you can increase this gradually by about 5 minutes a month, provided it is not too hot.
Pippa
What is the right diet of a 42days old lab puppy.how many times gives food in a day.is a royal cannon with curd right food for him.I am in india
thanks
Yes, had him checked. Vet says he looks great, looks very fit, teeth are great, nice pink gums, strong heart, great form, he really praised how good he looks and how good his weight is. Had stool checked twice for parasites, both negative. It just seems when I make his bowl it looks like a lot of food to be putting into his tummy compared to the amount of the dry when we fed him kibble. I do like to supplement with vitamin/mineral and the Stella patties and Honest Kitchen turkey to be sure he’s balanced, but I think I’ll check out the raw info to see if there’s anything more I can be adding/taking away. Since he is rather active I’m going to do some research on agility dogs and see what the guidelines are in that case. Just for comparison I did research on wet feeding instructions, and I was a little surprised at how much is recommended with some of the wet foods, so maybe I’m concerned for nothing. Thanks for your help!
Looking at different kibble foods, some (chudleys, science plan) have 26% or 30% meat content. Others, Bakers, have as low as 4% meat content. What difference does it make (other than cost, maybe). I have a 12 week old Fox Red lab who is enjoying chudleys at the moment (what the breeder fed her on) and am just interested in the effects of different food.
Thank you so much for this site. We have a 4-1/2 year old yellow lab that is very healthy aside from occasional stool issue, most likely due to his insatiable desire to eat the landscape at every chance. We feed him boiled meat…..deboned chicken, beef, ground turkey…….chicken gizzards/hearts (sometimes raw), homemade 24 hour fermented yogurt (to digest the lactose), some pureed green veggies, minimal fruits, and we add rice when he does have stool issues. We supplement with Dancing Paws multivitamins, cooked eggs, occasionally a Stella’s beef patty or 1/4 cup or so of Honest Kitchen turkey with veggies. I had been adding ground flax seed but last bout of stool issues I stopped. He eats 3 times a day, and we exercise him 30-60 minutes almost every day. He seems to do well on the diet, however it seems like I have to feed him a lot to maintain his weight. I’m talking at least a cup, sometimes 1-1/2 cups at each mealtime. I get concerned it’s too much to eat at one sitting and am wondering if spreading his meals to 4 a day would be a good idea, or would that not be good for an adult Labrador? Thank you so much for your time….
Hi Lisa, a four and a half year old dog would not normally need as many as three meals a day. Twice should be fine. I have no idea whether or not you are feeding a balanced diet, and I personally wouldn’t normally feed a dog some of the things you are giving him. If his diet is imbalanced, then that might go some way to explaining why your dog is struggling to maintain his weight. There could be other explanations though, diahorrea, or parasites for example, or other health problems. have you spoken to your vet about this?
Pippa
Hi , l have a 5 month old lab he’s been on Jwb puppy turkey & rice with no problems he is fit and healthy with a lovely shiny coat but the last few months his first couple of poo’s are fine but get very loose as the day goes on, is this ok or should l change food ? thanks Sandra
Hi Sandra,
There can be lots of reasons for loose stools, including but not limited to, dietary intolerance or allergies, parasites, infections, anxiety and even overfeeding or feeding too much at one sitting. If your vet is happy with the health of your puppy, then you could try dividing his food into smaller portions spaced throughout the day. If this doesn’t help then the next step would probably be to try a different food.
I hope you get it sorted out.
Best wishes
Pippa
I just got two labs and they are two months old,
They are very active and each weights about 5 pound,I took them to the vet and they got their first shots , now one of them eats very well but the other one is not eating. It’s been 36hours since last time he ate as good as his brother and active like his brother I don’t know if its a side effect from the vaccination .
I been feeding then dry food for puppies recommended by their vet.
What can I do to make my second puppy eat or what can I give to him
Thank you
Pablo
Quito-Ecuador
Hi Pablo,
Refusing to eat needs to be taken seriously in such a young puppy. You need to take your puppy back to the vet. I hope he is ok.
Best wishes
Pippa
Can we feed egg for my 45 days old lab puppy, now we are giving puppy food(pedigree)soaked in curd.
Hi ,
My Labrador puppy is 53 days old, he was very active when we brought him home last week but on our vets advice, we gave him bath to remove ticks as he was always engage in scratching himself to get rid of itching. But just after that day he stopped eating his royal cannin, though we are giving him ORS and multivitamins, we even gave him powdered milk , which he liked alot. But we are worried as he is not at all active and doesnt eat his food at all. Kindly advice.
Hi Sarita,
A young puppy that stops eating and becomes lethargic needs to see the vet urgently. I hope your puppy is ok
Pippa
Hello, have just joined the site. Is really useful and good to read other lab owners comments.
We have a year old lab who weighs 23kgs. Since a puppy have fed him Arden Grange dry complete food which he has thrived on. Are now gradually making the switch to Arden Grange adult. He has a small build and is lean. At moment not particularly enthusiastic about his food and will eat less than we give which is 400g per day approx. have been thinking of combining the occasional wet food pouch to make food more interesting or should we just cut back a bit. Exercise consists of 20 min on lead week days and and 30 mins with frisbee or dummy retrieve weekday evenings. Spends days in office. At weekends 2 good off lead walks.
Does this sound ok? He is our first dog and we are new to all this !! Vet nurse weighed him and did not say he seemed under weight.
Hi Brenda,
Glad you find the site helpful. Try not to worry about exact quantities and weights. No-one can predict exactly how much your dog should have, as individuals vary so much. The important factors are is he too fat, or too thin? If he looks good, feels good (not too bony!) and is active and well, he is getting enough to eat.
You might find the forums helpful too, they are a good place to meet and chat to other labrador owners.
Best wishes
Pippa
Hi! I just got an 8 week old chocolate lab and he’s doing great! Everything is easy with him so far but I do have one question. How much should he be fed at each meal time. I had him on twice a day with about a half cup each time but I will be changing that based off this article. Thanks!
Hi Amber, start by using the guidelines recommended by the manufacturer, and than adjust according the appearance of your dog.
Pippa
My lab puppy is 5 months and he does the same thing. Its like he dont chew. He just swollow. I need answers also. This is my family first big dog and i need advice Good luck and i hope we get answers
Hi there
Our adorable Jessie is a 10 month old golden lab. She is adorable, and annoying at the same time. I’m a bit concerned about how fast she eats a relatively big raw meat bone, this afternoon she devoured one in under 5 minutes, is that normal? What happened to chew on it for a few hours? Has anyone else had this?
Hello, I am so glad I found this site. I have a female Lab 2.5 yrs old. Switched to raw since she’s 7 months old. Everything is fine with her diet – good variety, balanced meaty bone + organ+fat of either chicken,beef,pork/turkey, 2 meals a day(small meal at noon and bigger one in the evening ). However she hasnt been eating properly for 5 days now. I had to force food into her mouth, and she would reluctantly swallow it. At first I thought she’s being clingy, so I stopped doing that the 2nd day. She doesnt seem to bother if she doesnt eat anything . She’s not ill at all, Her droppings is fine too and when we take her out she’s her usual active self. I wonder if you have any suggestions other than going to the vet ? Thanks
Hi Jess, not eating for five days is serious. You need to take your dog to the vet. Good luck
hey thanks for the reply, i didnt mean to sound like a irresponsible dog owner but i did decide to let nature to take its course. I am pleased to tell you that she did start eating volunturily again 6 days later and everything is fine now. She eats like a horse 🙂 . I suppose they know themselves the best, when they dont want to eat, perhaps they need some sort of detox (i know 5 days is a bit too much). Anyway all the best to you Pippa. I love your site !
Hi Irene
James Wellbeloved is a complete food. Tripe is not and needs to be balanced with a certain amount of bone, organ, and muscle meat. Dogs fed on kibble often have slightly mushy droppings. As do dogs fed on raw meat that does not contain sufficient bone.
My suggestion would be to drop the tripe and stick with JW, or to switch to a balanced raw diet which will include some tripe.
To increase weight feed a larger quantity of food divided into several meals.
Pippa
Hi,
My 18 months old Lab “Bruno”used to eat by himself by now he doesn’t so I have to soak Pedigree in water and spoon-feed him,also because I work I can’t feed him in the afternoon.So he has boiled eggs with rice at dinner.
How can I change his feeding habits and most importantly what should I feed him with.
Please help me.
A healthy (check with your vet first) dog will never starve himself, all you have to do is stop spoon feeding him and he will give in and feed himself. A check up with the vet is important before you attempt this in case he has a dental or health problem that is making eating painful or difficult. Pippa
We have a 18 month Labrador dog, occasionally wets his bed at night! We feed him once a day in the late afternoon, then he drinks a lot of water. His food is dry food with some meat. Is there a optimum time of day to feed the dog, should it be once a day or twice, he prefers to eat only once a day.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks
In theory it is ok to feed a dog once a day if he is able to maintain a good body weight, is not at risk from bloat, and has no problems with upset stomachs after a large meal. With a kibble fed large dog I would be tempted to err on the side of safety and divide the meal into two.
With regard to the bed wetting, there could be various reasons. He could be being left too long at night. He might have a bladder infection or some other physical problem. He may have got into the habit of wetting his bed through being unable to leave it and wee elsewhere at some point in the past.
It may be worth a check up with the vet to exclude any physical or health problems.
Pippa
my black lab is 28 days old and he is not able 2 stand properly.is this ok?and when does a lab stand on his own feet and start moving
Hi, your puppy should be able to walk by now. He should also still be with his mother and breeder. He is far too young to be away from the litter. If you are looking after him please get him to a vet. Pippa
Hey there , my lab puppys is about 8 weaks old and he runs walk and play
my Labrador puppy is 8 months old .The breader uses cerlac wheat flavord and i continued feedind it for 2 days it stop eating it and i brought pedigree for my dog and it is not eating it amnd now it is drinking only milk .Can u plz suggest me wat to do and when do i dewarm my puppy ..And vaccine too..
Hi there, whereabouts are you? UK? USA? I am not familiar with the food you mention. Is your puppy eight months or eight weeks?
Glad you found the information helpful Sheila 🙂
Good to see that we’re feeding Nevis corrctly! I was becoming a bit paranoid, feeding him 4 meals a day!
Now he’s over 12 weeks, we’ll now start changing his feed (gradually) and change from 4 meals a day to 3 meals a day – Once he’s used to the new feed!!