How often should I feed my Labrador

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

How Often Should You Feed a Labrador? (Dog Routines Matter)

Labrador Feeding Schedules

Labrador adults, like most dogs, work well when fed on a schedule. Twice per day is the standard as it allows the dog to eat and digest properly.

Puppies will require more frequent feedings, though, as they expend far more energy and smaller stomachs to hold their needed food.

If you have a Labrador that gets a lot of exercise, you may want to consider feeding them less food more often, as they will likely feel hungry sooner.

Feed Your Labrador At Least Every 12 hours

Remember that your Labrador shouldn't go more than12 hourswithout food to avoid nausea. Age, size, and the food's nutritional content should determine the amount of food given.

Whatever the frequency, it's crucial for your puppy or dog to have a regular feeding schedule. Disrupting this can cause digestive problems that are unpleasant for the dog and the owner.

According to Veterinary Centers of America, dogs are creatures of habit thatneed the security and predictability of their feeding routine. In addition, keeping the feeding schedule consistent helps your pet cope with other changes that may occur within the household.

Lastly, never free-feed a Labrador. While Labradors may not technically eat themselves to death, they can certainly make themselves sick if you let them decide how much and how often to eat.

What to Do If Your Lab Doesn't Finish Its Meal

Some dogs don't eat their entire portion during mealtime, which is okay as long as it's normal behavior for your Lab. This is especially true while you're trying to establish a set routine for when your Lab will eat its meals.

Feed Your Lab Less Food More Frequently

If you find that your Labrador isn't interested in eating the entire meal in a single sitting, you can add more mealtime if it works for your schedule. To do this, you should take the whole day's meal portion and divide it evenly into the desired number of meals.

For example, if you feed your dog 1 cups in the morning and night, that's three cups total for the day. If you add an extra mealtime, you should serve 1 cup at each of the three meals.

In other words, adding another mealtime doesn't mean that you add more food intake to the day's total.

Use Interactive Food Dispensers

Another option is to use an interactive toy to dispense the food, which may help to keep your dog's attention for the entire mealtime.

For example, I recommend buying Outward Hound Store'sNina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Game. It is an excellent option to hide food or treats. This particular item is perfect for a Labrador because it will allow your pet to use its intelligence to solve a puzzle and problem-solve while being rewarded with the kibble hidden inside.

Although it isn't a good option for every Lab's mealtime, it is an idea for a pup that loses interest in their food before finishing.

How Much to Feed a Labrador

Your Lab's portions at each meal should depend on a few different factors. First of all, you need to know if your pup is currently at ahealthy weight.

Dogs are typically considered overweight at 15% over their ideal weight and obese if they're 30% over their ideal weight. So the best thing to do in this case is to ask your veterinarian if your Lab is at a healthy weight.

If your Lab is not at an ideal weight, you'll need to talk to your vet and amend the feeding plan. You may also consider a specialized food designed to help your dog reach the appropriate weight.

Your Labrador's activity level will also impact how much he needs to eat each day. It's always a good idea to consult the feeding guide on your dog food and your veterinarian's advice to make an informed decision.

Labrador Feeding Schedule Examples

To give you an idea of a standard feeding schedule and meal plan, here is a chart based on the feeding recommendation from Royal Canin's Labrador Retriever dry puppy food:

Adult Target Weight:	2 months	3 months	6 months	12 months	14 months
57 lbs. (26 kg)	2 cups	3 cups	3 cups	3 cups	3 cups
70 lbs. (32 kg)	2 cups	3 cups	4 cups	3 cups	3 cups
88 lbs. (40 kg)	2 cups	3 cups	5 cups	4 cups	4 cups

*2-5 months: split into three equal portions per day.*6-15 months: split into two equal portions per day.

Here are the feeding recommendations for an adult Labrador Retriever with an average activity level:

Dog's Weight:	Amount Per Day (in cups)	3 months	6 months	12 months	14 months
57 lbs. (26 kg)	4	3 cups	3 cups	3 cups	3 cups
66 lbs. (30 kg)	4	3 cups	4 cups	3 cups	3 cups
75 lbs. (34 kg)	5	3 cups	5 cups	4 cups	4 cups
84 lbs. (38 kg)	5
97 lbs. (44 kg)	6

*Split the daily amount into two equal feedings, morning and evening.

Food specifically for Labradors

If you like the idea of breed-specific dog food formulas, I highly recommend an adult formula like theRoyal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Breed. For a puppy formula, I recommendRoyal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Breed. Both are great because they are specially designed for the nutritional demands of a purebred Lab.

The kibble is shaped to encourage slower eating and more careful chewing. I also like that the food has nutrients to support a healthy coat and joints.

Sudden Changes in a Labrador's Eating Habits

Because dogs are so routine-oriented, a sudden change in their eating habits can be a warning sign. In that case, you should contact your veterinarian to ensure that there isn't an underlying issue.

Conclusion

Most adult Labradors should eat twice per day, while puppies will eat less food more frequently until they are around six months old. Be sure to follow the guidance printed on the package of the food you are feeding your dog. Every dog food has different ingredients and recommended portion sizes.

Only adjust the recommended feeding schedule if your vet advises something different due to medical or dietary reasons. If you are unsure how much to feed your Lab, consult your vet for appropriate guidance.

6 Month Old Lab Your Puppy Questions Answered

Your 6 month old Lab has nearly reached their adult height, but they are still scrawny. All legs and giant feet, often with disproportionately large ears. They are an established part of the family, but with those teenage hormones and the confidence of being settled in the home, they can also be a bit of a nightmare to manage.

Chewing, biting, pulling on the leash. Ive seen it all, and if youre just entering this high octane period in your dogs life youll probably have a lot of questions. Im going to help you to live happily alongside your 6 month old Labrador. Ill show you what you can expect from a 6 month old Lab, and what they wont be ready for yet. You will find out how they should look, what size they ought to be and what to aim for in their training.

People often want to know what is average or normal for a six month old Lab puppy, so well be looking at some of your questions. Such as:

And much more! Well also be looking at some common six month old puppy problems. I have raised a lot of Labrador puppies, and its no surprise that six months old is a really tough stage for a lot of busy families.

Average 6 month old Lab size?

It seems amazing that the little fluff ball you bought home just four months ago should be so big. And bouncy! Im not crazy about quoting average weights because there is so much variation between healthy Labradors of exactly the same age. But I know you want an answer, so as a very rough guide, many 6 month old lab puppies will weigh around 50lbs. Thats usually at least double what he weighed four months ago, and this very rapid period of growth in his lifetime is now at an end. The remainder of his growth, another 10-20lbs or so will take place more slowly over the next 6 months.

What should my black, yellow, or chocolate Labrador weigh at six months?

People often ask if there is any difference between the different colors with regard to weight and size. The answer is kind of. It isnt so much a color connection as a type connection.

Working type (American or field bred) Labradors are often lighter at six months than show type (English or bench bred) Labradors. And in the UK at least, most field bred Labradors are either black (the majority) or yellow (including fox red).

Most (not all, but most) chocolate Labs in the UK are show or pet bred Labradors and tend to be more heavily built. So your chocolate puppy might well be heavier at six months than your friends black puppy. And your fox red puppy might well be lighter than your friends show bred (cream coloured) yellow pup. Of course, these are all generalisations and youll find a whole range of weights in each color if you look hard enough.

6 month old Lab characteristics?

Although he might not easily fit in your lap any more, at six months your Labrador puppy will still look a little puppyish. There is a softness to his features that will last another couple of months or so. Some 6 month old Lab puppies are a little gangly but as you can see from our photos, many are now quite adult in proportions, a slightly smaller version in fact, of their grown up selves.

How much food does a 6 month old Lab need?

How much food your puppy needs will depend on how much he weighs and what condition he is in. Have a look at our puppy feeding chart and also at the instructions on the packet of food that you are using. If your puppy is a little on the skinny side give him a tiny bit more food than recommended and if he is looking a bit plump, a little bit less.

Remember that it isnt what your puppy eats today, its what he eats over the course of a week that really matters. Consistent overfeeding will make a puppy fat. Consistent underfeeding will see him lose weight.

How often should I feed my six month old puppy?

Your 6 month old Lab can drop down from three meals a day to two without any problems. This means that you will be giving the same amount of food as before, but in two larger meals instead of three smaller ones.

Be aware that this can upset some dogs tummies. So, if your pup gets diarrhoea when you switch to twice daily feed, skip a meal to let his tummy settle, then go back to three meals a day for a few days. When you next try going down to two meals a day, give him two small meals to begin with and increase the meal size gradually over the next few days

How far should my six month old be walked every day?

If youve been keeping to the five minute rule you may be wondering if you can slacken off on this now, and take your Labrador jogging. If you are not familiar with it, the five minute rule says that a puppy needs five minutes of exercise per day for each month of his life.

Like many young Labs, adorable six month old Myles loves everyone: by Ericka from the USA

Most experts would divide that into two sessions. So thats a total of thirty minutes a day at six months old (fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes in the evening). This refers to formal walks, not playing in the garden or messing about with other dogs.

The truth is, we dont have much evidence on the effect of exercise on puppies over six months old, but my personal view is that it still pays to be cautious. And the reason for that caution is that your puppy is still growing and the growth plates in his joints are still vulnerable to damage. So my advice would be to avoid hard exercise until your puppy is well past his first birthday and then to build up gradually over a period of several weeks.

Sexual maturity in Labradors

Puppies become sexually mature before they are physically mature and long before they are mentally adults. Some six month old puppies are capable of breeding. And definitely should not be allowed to do so.

Apart from the ethical and moral implications, it may be physically harmful to breed from such a young female.

Many female Labradors will have their first season sometime between six months and a year, so this is something you need to be looking out for.

Neutering

Some of you will have already had your 6 month pup neutered, others will be thinking about doing so in the next few months. It is a good idea to read up on the pros and cons of neutering before you go aheadas recent evidence shows that it isnt as clear cut a decision as was once thought.

If you decide against neutering, this is a good point in time to review the security on your property and make sure it is thoroughly dog proof. Labradors are surprisingly agile and can often jump higher, and dig deeper, than you imagine.

Beautiful Poppy at just seven months old: by Karen R from Germany

Once sexually mature, many a Labrador, particularly (but not only) males, will make more effort to explore beyond the boundaries of your property. And if you have a female in season, other enterprising males will do their best to find a way in!

Whatever your intentions, the time for breeding is a long way off right now. Bear in mind your dog is nowhere near grown up. In many ways he is still a baby. Which brings to on to other baby matters.

Has my 6 month old Lab finished teething?

Most puppies have shed the last of their baby teeth by six months of age. And will have cut many of their adult teeth by this point too. Most will have all their adult teeth within the next month or so.

GrowingIndependence

At six months, many young Labradors are on the verge of a big surge in independence. This is the point at which most young dogs start to lose their fear of losing you. This has some big implications for those that exercise their young dogs off leash in open country, where there are temptations such as wild birds and animals to chase. So if you havent done much in the way of training yet, there is no time like the present. Which brings us to the next question.

Sam looking quite grown up at six and a half months: by Kate R from Cornwall UK

6 month old Lab training?

As a trainer of working retrievers I can tell you that I have had six month old Labradors that were quite advanced with their training and others that had barely started. All reached the same standard eventually. So dont panic if you havent done much yet in the way of training. However, it is important to get started with training now.

Six or seven months is often the age that people realise they need to do something about their Labradors behavior, simply because he is getting so big. And while there is no set standard your puppy should have reached, it is definitely time to get some safety cues installed. Ill explain below.

What commands should my six month old puppy know?

Most six month old pups have only quite basic obedience and are not yet reliably obedient when there are lots of distractions about. While many six month olds will sit when asked, and come when called in the house and yard.

Outdoors at the dog park, on the beach or in the countryside, its a bit of a different story. And a lot (the majority) of six month old Labradors are still pulling on the lead. Professional or serious hobby trainers aside, this is fairly normal.

Safety cues

The two commands you should really focus on now are what I call the safety cues And that is come and heel. Most importantly, you need to focus on proofing these cues against distraction. Ill explain that too.

Come

The come cue, or recall, is important so that your dog can be allowed safely off leash and recalled if any hazards appear. You can find information on teaching recall here:

Even if you have made quite good progress with recall, now is quite a good point at which to be thinking about the about turn walk this is a technique to prevent your dog from getting too far away from you on walks.

Heel

The heel cue is important because until your Labrador can walk nicely on a loose lead, he is a danger to both himself and to you. This is especially important as he grows bigger. Labradors are strong and often friendly dogs. This makes pulling on the lead very common as your puppy does his best to engage every passing stranger in a game.

Gorgeous Charlie enjoying a run at six months of age he also appears in our feature at the top of the page: by Julie T from Cornwall UK

I have seen grown ups pulled clean off their feet by large dogs on leash. Being pulled off your feet, or losing control of your dog at the roadside is a very real risk. So, loose lead walking is a must and youll find the information you need here

Is my 6 month old Lab too friendly?

Many young Labradors are very friendly and while this is a great thing overall, it can cause some problems with training at this age. I mentioned proofing earlier, and proofing is the process which teaches our dogs to come away from other dogs or people.

To walk on a loose lead past your neighbours cat, and to sit (rather than jumping up) when visitors arrive. Its all about following your cues, even when there is something else your dog would rather do. And proofing is the way to succeed.

The main problem with proofing is that it takes time and help. You cant do it on your own. Youll need to use my fake it till you make it strategy it will make sense when you read the link. You might also find proofing Labrador obedience helpful. A good sense of humour and some supportive friends wont go amiss as you work your way through this tricky stage in training!

What is the best way to train my 6 month old?

Training methods are changing. We are in something of a new era with regard to dog training methods and there are now plenty of good trainers who can show you how to train your dog effectively without fear or pain. If you cant get to a good positive reinforcement dog training class, youll need to follow a good training guide.

Behavior problems

Most six month old pups are through the housetraining phase, though there may be very occasional accidents if a your dog is left alone for a lot longer than usual. Female dogs may have an occasional accident during their first season too, but these are usually isolated incidents.

What about chewing?

Something a lot of people expect to be over at six months but isnt, is destructive chewing. If you are expecting chewing to stop at the same time as teething coming to an end, you may be disappointed. We look at destructive chewing in more detail in this article, but it can be at its worst between 6 and 9 months of age. Which brings us to a common question

Can I de-crate my six month old Lab?

The six month milestone is a popular time for people to review the whole crate situation After all, the puppy is sleeping through the night now, and he is probably clean all day. It seems mean to shut him away at bedtime. Why not give him the freedom of the kitchen during the night?

Well, this can work. But often it does not and results either in a bad chewing problem or occasionally, in a relapse in house training. You can find out more in this article which includes detailed de-crating instructions. The other big issue for many puppy parents with six month olds, is excitable behavior. Particularly jumping up, and sometimes nipping

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How do I stop my six month old Labrador from jumping up?

Jumping up is a common problem in young labs. These are friendly and affectionate dogs who enjoy close contact and like to greet their friends up close! The reason many people dont discuss this until the six month milestone is simply one of scale.

It isnt a big deal if a three month old puppy jumps up at you. You and your visitors not only tolerate it, but actually reinforce it by petting the puppy as he does it. Its often only when he can put his paws on your shoulders that it occurs to you this might not be such a good idea. You need to nip this problem in the bud now, and youll find the information you need in this article.

Over excitement

The last issue were going to look at is excitement. Or rather over- excitement. This is the age at which excitable behavior can become quite a challenge again. Partly because the dog is now physically bigger, stronger, and more difficult to control. You cant just pop your six month old under your arm and carry him home. Now, more than ever, you need your dog to listen and respond to your voice.

Playing safely

More often than not, excitable behavior that has got out of control, started out as a game. People say to me I cant play with him any more he just gets too excited And this is common. Its more important than ever as your dog grows to learn how to play safely with your dog. And I think youll find that link helpful.

I dont want to make it sound as though six month old puppies are a nightmare because they are not. And many puppies wont have any significant behavioral problems at this age. However, if you are struggling a bit, you are not on your own. Drop into the forum and say hello to all the other puppy parents. Its often a great comfort to talk around these problems.