Is Your Lab Obsessed With Food? Here’s Why (And Why That’s A Good Thing!)

The Greedy Gene

In 2016 a team of scientists in Cambridge UK revealed that they had discovered a mutation in a gene. And that this gene was associated with Labradors that had an increased appetite, increased body fat, and higher body weight. 

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The gene was also found in some Flat Coated Retrievers, a breed that’s quite closely related to Labs.

Not all Labs have this gene. And it’s more common in Labs that are bred for assistance work. But if you think your dog is obsessed with food and always hungry, this gene might well be the reason. 

Eating Too Fast

Dogs with a very high motivation for food are inclined to eat very fast. There are a couple of problems associated with this. One is that the dog gets very little enjoyment from their food because its over so quickly. The other is that rapid eating has in some studies been linked to bloat. You can read more about this, in this article about ways to slow down your dog’s eating speed 

Begging For Food

Having a large dog staring at their plate for the duration of their meal is not to everyone’s liking. Especially when long strands of glistening drool start to dangle from the corners of said dog’s mouth, and make their way towards the floor. 

Fortunately begging is fixable and you can train your dog not to beg by putting a bed or basket near your table and throwing treats in there while you eat. Over time you can reduce the number of treats, and move the basket further from the table.

The same applies to dogs that try to ‘help’ while you are loading the dishwasher. 

Eating Too Much

If you are worried that your dog is eating too much, then they probably are. 

And when you have a dog like a Labrador that is so food motivated, it’s really important that you step in and decide how much they should eat. Rather than relying on your dog’s appetite in any way at all. 

We’ll talk about that in a bit more detail, but first here’s why it matters so much

Obesity In Labradors

Obesity is a major health issue in dogs and especially in large dogs like Labs that are prone to joint problems as they age. 

Many Labradors are overweight, and that greedy gene does have a part to play. But its only one of two factors that make Labradors fat

To become overweight a dog needs both a big appetite, and access to food. And you have control over your dog’s access to food.

Managing Your Dog’s Food Intake

Fortunately, our dog’s can be prevented from accessing food and obesity can be reversed in your dog quite quickly. It’s all about managing your dog’s food intake.

I usually recommend reducing your dog’s food intake by a third for a few days, and then reassess their body condition. And you can find out exactly how to do that in this article about helping an overweight Labrador. 

And now for the good part. Here’s why you should embrace and welcome your dog’s greedy gene.

The Benefits Of A Food Motivated Dog

It’s probably not a coincidence that assistance dogs are more likely to have the greedy gene. These are dogs that need to be trained to a high level and have been selectively bred for their cooperative and trainable traits. 

Some of the most challenging dogs I have trained have been dogs with low motivation for food. You know the type. They’ll eat half a bowl and then walk off and leave the rest for the cat, while remaining so skinny that all your friends think you starve them. 

I had an Irish Setter like this. Running was his thing. He wouldn’t get out of bed for breakfast, but pull on your sneakers and reach for a leash and he was at the door ready to go. 

Labradors inhabit another world. And their conviction that each meal might be their last can be turned to your advantage. 

A Labrador is always ready to train. You don’t need to wait until their last meal is a distant memory. You can train right after lunch if you want to. Maybe let their dinner go down for an hour or so, but they’ll be willing to earn treats night and day. 

Training for a few minutes at a time, at regular intervals throughout the day is the secret to a well-behaved dog. This is far more important than people realise. If you’d like some tips and information on training, do join my training tips email list. And also my Dogsnet Facebook Group 

It’s true that Labradors are intelligent and easy to train. But it’s that awesome food motivation that helps to get you there so quickly with a Lab. It makes the whole training journey smoother and more fun. 

So don’t knock your dog’s greedy gene. Just put some of that food in a treat bag and teach your dog a new trick or two!