Mary Allen
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 hurt the health of your four-legged friend. Find out below what the optimal diet for your Labrador should look like.
But it’s not easy to refuse a wish from your Labrador. He charms you with his brown eyes, then puts his snout on your knee and looks at you devotedly. Well, think to yourself, a treat can’t hurt. A snack doesn’t hurt, but your dog will try it more and more often. The result: Your Labrador tends to be overweight.
Healthy Nutrition as the Measure of All Things
However, you can prevent this with the right diet. Any packaging dog food package gives instructions on how to feed your four-legged friend. Certain weight units are used as a benchmark. For example, if your Labrador weighs 25 kilograms, 300 grams of dry food per day is usually sufficient. For a 35 kg dog, 400 grams is enough. However, these standards can vary from food to food, so it is always advisable to study the packaging information or, if in doubt, consult the veterinarian.
How Active is Your Labrador?
Because other factors have an impact on what your dog’s diet should look like. If he is very active and agile, he can tolerate a little more food. If he’s sluggish or can’t move too much for health reasons, you should reduce the amount – and especially save on the treats. Age also plays a not inconsiderable role.
Resist Begging
In general, snacks should always be an exception. If your Labrador demands more, subtract the weight of the treats from your furry friend’s food. In this way, he can still be rewarded in between without the risk of your dog becoming overweight. Instead of treats, you can also give him a chewing bone that will keep him busy for a while. However, the following applies: You decide when your Labrador gets a snack – not him.