Is pedigree good for Labradors

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

10 best dog foods for Labradors in 2024

The best dog food for Labradors should be a well-balanced blend of protein, carbs, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals from high-quality ingredients. Following the feeding guide of your chosen food, it can be tailored to suit your dog's age, weight and activity level. It's also important to factor in any underlying health conditions, such as food intolerances or hip dysplasia (which Labs are prone to as a larger dog breed), to ensure your dog is getting the right kind of diet.

From sausage dogs to Great Danes, our canine companions come in all shapes and sizes but trust a Labrador to be the UK's leading dog breed. Whether this affectionate and popular dog is black, chocolate or gold in colour, quality meat, grains and vegetables form their diet. This loveable and loyal breed also has a genetic quirk that means they eat without knowing they are full. Trust them to snaffle anything that's vaguely edible! Therefore, it's important to monitor their portions and make sure your Lab gets lots of exercise. Labradors need at least an hour of exercise every day and they have a large appetite so lots of activity is needed to counter their hearty food intake.

Best dog food for Labradors at a glance:

Best overall food for Labradors: Eukanuba Complete Dry Dog Food for Adult Labrador Retriever View on Viovet Best dry food for Labradors: Royal Canin Dog Food Labrador Retriever Dry Mix View on Amazon UK Best bulk buy wet dog food for Labradors: Winalot Adult Dog Food Mixed Selection Pouches in Gravy View on Viovet

It's important to provide fresh water and ideally offer a diet that combines wet and dry food. The wet dog food offers additional hydration which is essential to maintain good kidney health. Dry food or raw dog food is great for removing plaque and tartar build up on dogs' teeth. Whether you choose a commercial or homemade diet for your Lab, it's a great idea to use a puzzle feeder and portion their food into smaller meals throughout the day.

And, if your Lab is a little older, you may want to consider joint supplements, or a complete food for senior dogs that's packed with protein to help preserve their muscle mass even as they move less in their old age. But for now, here's our pick of the 10 best dog foods for Labs to buy in the UK.

Best dog food for Labradors

Best overall food for Labradors

Viovet/Eukanuba

Eukanuba Complete Dry Dog Food for Adult Labrador Retriever is a balanced dry dog food that's designed to maintain a healthy weight and keep joints healthy. It contains a blend of chicken and turkey, cereals, vegetables, other proteins and healthy fats that are from natural sources. Also, this kibble contains a prebiotic to maintain good gut health.

In addition, Eukanuba have a feeding solution for overweight adult dogs: Eukanuba Overweight and Sterilised Low Fat Complete Dry Dog Food which contains 50 per cent less fat.

Customer review: "If my Labrador could write this he would do so with his tail wagging, he loves it. Worth every penny. His coat is in great condition, so soft and shiny people have remarked on it. Easily digested. Also his muscles are well developed and defined. A really strong and healthy dog. I don't believe this food can be bettered."

Pros

Specially formulated for Labrador Retrievers
Cartilage nutrient for healthy joints
Healthy oils and minerals for skin and coat
Vitamin E for a healthy immune system

Best dry food for Labradors

Amazon/Royal Canin

Royal Canin Dog Food Labrador Retriever Dry Mix is tailor-made kibble that's the designed to slow down food intake. It's a complete dry dog food that's formulated to maintain a healthy weight and body condition. Also, it has an adapted calorie content to counter Labrador Retrievers' tendency to gain weight.

Customer review: "Our Labrador lives on this Royal Canin kibble diet and we weigh it out for each meal twice a day. It keeps his weight stable and he is now six years old and always very fit and healthy. Stomach is perfect with regular formed motions and a wonderful heathy shiny coat."

Pros

Kibble is designed to slow rate of eating
Skin and coat health
Supports bone structure and healthy joints

Best bulk buy wet dog food for Labradors

Viovet/Purina

Price: 36.99 (was 42.22)

Generations of dogs have grown up on Winalot. Like Pedigree, it's a beloved Britsh dog food brand that's been around since 1927. These days it comes in pouches, so portion control and freshness are much improved. Buying in bulk saves money in the long run, especially with a large breed dog. In addition, your Lab gets to enjoy three meaty flavours, including Beef and Potatoes, Chicken and Carrots and Lamb and Carrots. Reviews praise how much their dog enjoys Winalot Adult Dog Food Mixed Selection Pouches in Gravy.

Customer review: "I have actually found a dog food my dog loves and hardly any waste either. More expensive than regular tins but without the wastage works out cheaper."

Pros

Value for money
Long established and popular brand
Dogs enjoy the taste
Variety of flavours

Cons

This is a bulk buy option

Price: 36.99 (was 42.22)

Best dog food subscription for Labradors

Butternut Box

Butternut Box's most popular flavour is Chicken You Out, which is a wholesome blend of chicken, vegetables, sage, natural oils and minerals. It's grain free and low fat so it's ideal for Labradors who are prone to weight gain. Butternut Box's fresh dog foods are delivered frozen and store in the freezer. There's a superb range of flavours, including some plant-based options. Find out more by reading Butternut Box's guide on dog food for Labradors.

Customer review: "Great choice of nutritious meals and always delivered on time. My Labrador, who can actually be quite fussy, loves all the different meals especially the Game and Beef dinners.

"Its very easy to amend your order or add tasty treats. My dog is currently enjoying the bone broth with his meals and I am able to add this to my order when I need it. An honest and reliable company who seem to genuinely care about your dogs nutritional needs."

Pros

Range of appealing flavours and treats
Fresh food from quality ingredients
Portions specially tailored to your Lab's age, weight and activity level

Best dry food for Labrador puppies

Amazon/Royal Canin

Just like the adult version, this Royal Canin Dog Food Labrador Retriever Puppy Dry Mix has specially designed kibble to ensure your cuddly pup doesn't gobble their food. At a stage where they are growing fast, this complete dry dog food ensures healthy development. It has specially formulated blend of meat, cereals, vegetables, fats, vitamins and minerals support your puppy's immune system, healthy growth and digestive health.

Customer review: "We have fed successive Labrador pups on this food. They've grown really well, they shouldn't get overweight as pups on this food (unless you overfeed them) their coats have always been soft and shiny and they've had no tummy problems. From eight weeks, we started to introduce this food slowly, a small amount at a time until they were having all dry food and no more soft food and milk. We soaked it for a few minutes at first but I don't really think there's any need to. We went by the guidelines for quantity on the Royal Canin website. At three months, our current pup is having 300g a day, three meals of 100g. We put a bit of warm water with it to make a gravy and plenty of fresh drinking water available all the time."

Pros

Specially shaped kibble for Labrador puppies
Complete dry food tailored to the breed's requirements

Cons

Customer comments that it didn't agree with their pup

Best wet dog food for Labradors

Amazon/Harringtons

Harringtons grain-free wet dog food range caters to dogs aged eight weeks and older, ensuring balanced nutrition. The Harringtons Grain Free Hypoallergenic Wet Dog Food Variety Pack multi-pack offers four delicious flavours Beef, Turkey, Chicken and Salmon for dogs with hearty appetites to enjoy. Harringtons employs a unique FreshCook method, using human-grade meat freshly prepared and gently cooked to retain nutrition and flavour, supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals.

Customer review: "Dog started finishing her bowl when we fed her this."

Pros

High meat content
Variety of flavours
Grain free
Balanced and wholesome

Cons

Some customers comment that the trays were damaged during delivery and spoilt

Best dental chew treat for a Labrador

Jollyes/Purina

Baked in an oven to achieve a delightful crunchy texture, these Bonio The Original Dog Biscuits help maintain your dog's dental health. They offer wholesome and nutritious goodness, making them an ideal treat for any time of the day morning, noon or night woof! With a low-fat content, they support your dog in maintaining a healthy body condition. These bone-shaped treats are developed to meet your dog's dietary needs and preferences.

Customer review: "Eddie loved snacking on these crunchy biscuits and if I gave him the chance he would have eaten the whole pack in one go."

Pros

Quintessential bone-shaped biscuits
Keeps dog's teeth healthy
Low fat

Best wet dog food for portion size

Amazon/Pooch & Mutt

This premium variety pack offers a good size portion for large breed dogs, such as Labradors, plus it helps you keep an eye on portion control. Pooch & Mutt - Variety Pack of Complete Wet Dog Food is quality and grain free wet dog food that is made from fresh and wholesome ingredients.

Customer review: "Not cheap, but my dogs adore all of the flavours. The food has a firm texture, and there is a good quantity of savoury juice as well. The cartons are easily opened and fully recyclable. Much to my dogs' disgust they don't get this at every mealtime, but they are very, very happy when they do."

Pros

Wholesome and natural
Grain free
Recyclable packaging
High protein content

Cons

Bulk buy so takes up storage space

Best supermarket dog food for Labradors

Sainsburys/Pedigree

The Pedigree Adult Wet Dog Food Pouches Mixed In Gravy 12-pack offers gravy offers delicious, complete and balanced recipes crafted from natural ingredients. Pedigree claim that the "total meat and animal derivatives content is up to 65%" in their wet dog foods. It's a complete food, ensuring your dog receives healthy nutrition for all their needs. The pouches are perfect for serving as a fresh meal on their own or as a delectable wet food topper for dry food. Enriched with natural fibres, Pedigree helps maintain your dog's digestive health. Additionally, the succulent recipes are fortified with Vitamin E and minerals to bolster your dog's natural defences.

Read more facts about Pedigree dog food.

Customer review: "My Lab Retriever loves these. We always give him a little bit of something for his breakfast as softies that we are it always seems rotten to just give him one meal a day. We make sure we adjust the evening meal accordingly so he doesn't eat too much he's part Labrador he doesn't think there is any such thing as too much and he seems to really enjoy these. He can hardly wait for it to come out of the pouch but then that's Labs for you."

Pros

Good variety of flavours
Value for money
High percentage of meat

Cons

Small quantity in an individual pouch

Best dog biscuits for Labradors

Amazon/Pedigree

Pedigree Markies Biscuits Dog Treats with Marrowbone are crunchy on the outside with a deliciously tasty marrowbone centre. Offer these as a treat or reward to avoid your Labrador wolfing them down. They contain Omega 3, Vitamin E and added Calcium to keep your Lab fit for life.

Customer review: "Dogs like them, so I assume the flavour is good. Buying them "bulk" rather than a box at a time makes them a lot better value."

Pros

Amazon's Choice
Large biscuits
Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Cons

Portion control these treats

FAQs: Best dog food for Labradors

How much do Labradors need to eat?

The amount of food a Labrador needs to eat can vary depending their age, weight, activity level, metabolism and overall health. Male Labradors can be up to 57cm tall and weigh between 27 and 34kg. Females can be up to 56cm tall and weigh between 25 and 32kg. Prodog Raw advise that a Labrador Retriever that's 25kg36kg needs 500720g of food per day. However, this can vary based on individual factors and the specific nutritional content of the food.

Always refer to the feeding guide on whatever food you (and your Lab) decide on.

What are health problems associated with Labradors?

Labradors have a genetic predisposition to overeating. In new research by the University of Cambridge, it was found that a quarter of Labradors have a genetic mutation which means they eat without feeling full. The POMC gene (Pro-opiomelanocortin gene) is associated with regulating appetite and metabolism in mammals, including dogs. According to research at the University of Cambridge: "Around 25% of Labradors and 66% of Flat-Coated Retriever dogs have the POMC mutation, which researchers previously showed causes increased interest in food and risk of obesity."

Therefore, it's important for Labrador owners to monitor their dog's food intake and provide appropriate portion control and exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

Labradors are susceptible to certain health issues, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, obesity and eye conditions like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. In Purina's guide to Labrador health problems, it's advised to source Labrador puppies from reputable breeders. Ensure screenings and tests have been done so that puppies don't carry gene defects.

Finally, regular vet check-ups, a balanced diet and exercise can help mitigate health issues associated with Labradors.

How much exercise do Labradors need?

Labradors are an active breed and require regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing. They typically need at least an hour of exercise per day, which can include walks, runs, swimming or playing. Adequate exercise helps prevent obesity, promotes muscle tone and prevents behavioural issues stemming from boredom or excess energy. Labradors are intelligent and easy to train, therefore it's a breed that can benefit from dog agility equipment.

Natalie Knowlesis a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things cats and dogs.In her other life, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.