How can I slim down my lab

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 23, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Fat Labrador

Its not unusual to see a fat Labrador. Our perspectives on healthy weights for dogs have been a little skewed in recent years as more pets hit the obesity marker on the scale. And Labradors are very prone to weight gain for genetic and hunger reasons!

Canine obesitycomes with a raft of accompanying health problems. Feeding your Labrador just the right amount can be a bit of a balancing act, but its one that you have a responsibility to try your best to achieve. Not all Labradors need the same amount of food, so you will need to pay attention to your individual dogs needs, and be prepared to change your habits if necessary.

Some dogslikeworking dogs for example, will need quite a lot more food in the winter than they do in the summer. This is down to the amount of exercise he is getting differing dramatically in the changing seasons. You need to adapt your feeding to suit these shifts.

IsMy Labrador Fat?

It is really important that you keep your Labradors weight appropriate for his height and build, rather than following guidelines on food packets or in books too closely. The best way to tell is by eye and touch.

Have a look at your dog and compare him with the picture below of a healthy Labrador. Look at your dog from the side.

Does his belly slope upwards towards his groin, or is it a level line from his front legs to his back, or even worse is it sagging down between his legs?
Your Labrador should have an upward sloping line from the base of his chest, towards his back legs.
Now look at the dog from above. Can you see a waist just in front of his hips? You should be able to! Your dog should not be the same width all the way down his body.
Look at your dog from the side again. Can you see any ribs?
You should not be able to see a labs ribs whilst he is standing still though you may well be able to see the last one or two when he is eating, drinking or bending and twisting.
Run you hands along his rib cages firmly. Can you feel his ribs?

Ideally you should be able to just feel, but not see, your dogs ribs. If you can see ribs when he is standing still he is too thin. If you cannot feel his ribs at all with your hands he is too fat!

How Much Should My Labrador Weigh?

As we have seen above, the best way to tell if you have a fat Labrador is by looking and feeling. The trouble with providing you with a number is that it can give a false impression.

Depending upon whether your Lab is field or bench bred, short or tall, chunky or slight, male or female, will all make a big difference to their ideal weight for the individual.

The average adult Labrador will weigh anywhere between 55 to 80 lbs! Male Labs usually being around 5 to 10 lbs heavier than their female counterparts.

If you are still unsure whether your Lab is the right weight for his or her build having given her a thorough check yourself as described above, then the best thing to do is to pop down to your local veterinarian.

They will be happy to let you know how much your individual Labrador should weigh.

Why Is My Labrador Fat?

So how did your slim little puppy end up as a fat adult Labrador?

There are threecommonassumptions that people make when considering how theirdogs came to beoverweight.

Does the dog need more exercise? Has he got some kind of medical problem? Or am I just feeding him too much at mealtimes or giving too many snacks?

In general if your dog is overweight the real reason is simply that he has eaten too much. Or rather, been allowed to eat too much.

So lets have a look at how we can eliminate these other possibilities where most dogs are concerned.

Does my dog need more exercise?

People often say to me, my Lab is a bit overweight because he hasnt had much exercise lately.

Whilst exercise can help to keep your dog in shape as a part of their daily routine, it is not the critical factor when it comes to putting on weight.

He may well need more exercise, but that is not why he is fat.

He is overweight because when you take into account the amount he exercises along with a number of other factors, he has eaten too much.

The exercise needs of your dog are an important but separate issue, whichwe look at in other articles. The important thing to remember is this:

The less exercise you give the dog, the less you must feed him.

You cant be forever playing catch up with his weight, or hoping to spend more time walking him next week. Once put on, weight is hard to shift and it will simply go up and up over time.

You need to control it on a regular weekly/monthly basis, starting now.

Medical causes of canine obesity

Although most dogs who are overweight have simply had a few too many bites to eat, there are some medical causes for obesity which do crop up from time to time.

Canine medical conditions that can affect your Labs weight include hypothyroidism, insulinoma and hyperadrenocorticism.

If a medical condition is the reason then the weight gain will normally be sudden and unexpected.

If you are concerned by sudden weight gain in your Lab when you have not been giving him more food, then a checkup at the vets is definitely in order.

You may also find that your dog puts on weight after having been neutered. If this is the case you will need to adjust your feeding habitsaccordingly.

However, for most dogs weight gain is a simple result of over feeding.

My Labrador is always hungry

People are often concerned because they worry that their dog is still hungry after eating his dinner. Here is an important truth:

Most Labradors are always hungry.

You cannot win this battle. These are greedy dogs and your Labrador will always want more food than you give him. No matter how much that may be.

If your Labrador is overweight he really needs to eat less and he will get used to his new regime quite quickly.

Are Fat Labs Less Healthy?

If you have looked at your Labrador and decided he is overweight, you might be wondered whether that actually matters.

You still love him and he doesnt care what he looks like so why should you bother?

Is it really worth the effort of ignoring those puppy dog eyes and whines for extra food? Arent chubby Labs just even more cute and cuddly than their skinny friends?

Whilst its true that your dog has no interest in his outward appearance, he will be the one suffering on the inside if you allow him to get fat.

Slim dogsare healthier

Being overweight predisposes you to an awful lot of unpleasant health problems. This is true regardless of whether you are a human or a dog.

Carrying extra pounds can also make existing problems your dog may have worse. For example joint problems like arthritis and hip dysplasia can beexacerbated by having more weight to lug around.

As well as joints and bones suffering from obesity related issues, increased body fat can also make your dog more likely to have problems with their organs including those needed for breathing and digestion.

Scarily, in order for these risks to be increased your dog doesnt even have to be very over weight. Just a bit of extra fat can havea host of unwanted consequences.

Being a fat Lab puppy can potentially make your dog more likely to suffer from joint problems later in life.

Slim dogs live longer

Not only will a slim dog have a better level of fitness and a lower likelihood of becoming unwell, they will in all probability live longer too.

Purina PetCare carried out a lifetime study on 48 Labradors, where they were divided into two categories, one of which was given 25% more food than the other.

Those Labs on the largefood ration had a median lifespan of over 11 years old. Those on the smaller food ration lived to be over 13 years old.

When you look at the difference which can be made in these terms, by helping your Lab to stay slim you could be giving him an incredible two more years with you!

So, if you are going to help your Lab to lose weight lets have a look at the best way to go about it.

How to Reduce your Dogs Food

The first thing to cut out of your overweight dogs diet is any snacks or fillers that you give him in between meals. If he gets a lot of household scraps these may have to go too.

If you use food as rewards in dog training,this should be deducted from his daily food allowance.

It could also help to find healthier alternatives to your usual training treats.

Bear in mind that if your dog is unwell, old or very young, it is sensible to consult your vet before tampering with his diet. It is also a good idea to have a chat with them beforehand if your dog is very overweight and has a lot to lose.

Record your Dogs Weight Loss Progress

If your dog gets nothing to eat but a complete dog food then you can safely simply reduce the quantity you give him by about a third for three to four days.

Take a photo of him from above and from the side before you start.

At the end of the three to four days, check the dog over as described above and ask yourself if he is still fat.

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If you think he has improved a little but needs to slim down a bit further, keep going for another three to four days then review the situation.

Compare the photo you took a week ago and you should see some improvement.

Keep going until your dog has a waist again and you can feel his ribcage when you press firmly along his sides.

You may need to increase his food slightly in order to maintain his new slim figure and ensure he does not get thin.

If the dog is not losing weight after a couple of weeks on two-thirds of his previous food allowance, you may need to cut his food down even further.

This is a good point to check in with your vet, let him know what you are doing and get his opinion on cutting down further on the dogs daily food rations.

The Labrador Site Founder

Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.

She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program

Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website

15 Ways To Help Your Labrador Stay Slim

Helping your Labrador stay slim isnt just about looks its important for their overall welfare too. Labradors are meant to be fit and healthy. Allowing your Lab to get overweight isnt just bad for his health, its also bad for your bank balance. Unfit dogs have more medical issues, which means more trips to the vet and expensive bills each month.

Life with a Labrador should be fun. He will be the most able to enjoy spending time with your family if he is physically well. Weve been having a look at some of the ways you can help your Labrador stay slim, happy and healthy.

Products included in this article were carefully and independently selected by the Labrador Site team. If you decide to make a purchase from one of the links marked by an asterisk, we may earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.

1. Watch his waistline

Your Labrador should have a nipped in waist, just before his hips.

There should also be an upward sloping line going from the base of his chest to his thighs.

2. Feel hisribs

If you are concerned about your Labs weight, then run your hands down his rib cage. You should be able to feel the definition of his ribs as you do so. If you cant, he is carrying too much weight. This is a good sign that it is time to review his food and exercise plan.

3. Change food quantities with age

As your Labrador gets older, his metabolism will slow down. If he seems to need less food, it is probably because he does. Dont become complacent and keep giving him the same amount you always have done.

4. Give healthy snacks

If you love giving your Labrador treats, then why not substitute carb and calorie packed dog biscuits for something more natural.

5. Account for treats and snacks in his daily food ration

If you are giving your dog extra food, then its important to account for it in his daily total. If you are using kibble as daily training rewards for example, make sure to deduct theamount you have already given him from his food bowl* (paid link)that evening.

(paid link)6. Dont give table scraps

Its tempting for a lot of people to feed their dogs from the table. Those doe-eyed looks and small sad whimpers tug at their heart strings as they sit tucking into their Sunday lunch. Aside from the issue of whether what you are eating is actually good for your dog, is the fact that you have no way of accurately monitoring the amount of food your dog is being given. Its therefore best to avoid this all together.

7. Get your family and friends on board

There is no point in trying to help your Labrador get in shape, if you are being constantly thwarted by well-meaning, kind-hearted friends and family members. Helping your Labrador stay slim is everyones responsibility! If you notice them slipping table scraps or treats to him, its important to kindly explain to him that whilst it might make them feel nice to do so, its not in your dogs best interests. If you cant stop them from doing so, you will have to stop them from having access to your dog until they learn that you mean business.

8. Exercise

The crux of any weight problem is in diet, and it is possible to solve your fat Labs problem by restricting his food intake alone. However, exercise can really help to boost the results, and be a fun way of keeping your Labrador happy and healthy.

9. Have a set routine

Remembering to walk the dog each day is often easier if you have a set time to do so. This doesnt mean you need to walk the same way, or do the same thing each day. But giving yourself a timed structure can remind you to make sure you have done something.

10. Dont be put off by the weather

If you find walking your dog in the rain unpleasant, it can be hard to get yourself out the front door sometimes. Try investing in some waterproof trousers (paid link)and a warmer jacket. Remember, your dog doesnt mind getting wet, so just do what you need to in order to make the experience more pleasant for you to.

(paid link)Failing that, play some indoor games to help him bounce off some energy as well as a few pounds!

11. Get some company

Another great way to motivate yourself to take your dog out, come rain or shine, is to get a friend involved or join a dog walking group. If you and your neighbour have an agreement to go on a dog walk every day at 10am, you will find it much easier to encourage yourself to do so.

12. Play fetch

If you struggle walking long distances or finding the time to really get out and about, its important to find other ways to get your Labradors heart rate up. Retrieving is a great way of helping your dog to run those cobwebs away, without you having to exert huge amounts of time or effort. You can even do it in your back garden!

13. Play tug

Another great way to help your dog expend some energy is through tugging games. Although it does require more of an active part for you than playing fetch normally does, a lot of Labradors love the one on one interaction. In fact, many dogs find tugging (paid link)games so rewarding that some people even use rope tugs in their training!

(paid link)14. Go for a swim

Swimming is another great way to help your Labrador stay slim. It is especially good for labs with more mobility or joint pain, as it isnt weight baring. If you find your Labrador struggles with going for walks, taking him to a pet hydrotherapy pool could be a great way to keep him moving.

15. Change his food ration with changes in exercise

On a day to day basis small fluctuations in the amount of exercise your Lab gets wont matter, but big changes do need to be accounted for. For example if your Lab is a gundog and running around all day in the winter, but spends most of his time lounging with the family in summer, he will need a decreased diet to stay slim.

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Summary

Keeping your Labrador slim is important, but there are still plenty of ways that you can make it fun. From substituting treats for healthier alternatives, to finding new ways to get out and get some exercise. The possibilities are endless!

Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.

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