Profile
The Labrador is known for its balanced temperament: playful with children, easy to train, very sociable with other pets. It's also prone to weight gain, worth watching closely.
Feeding
- Puppy (0–12 months): large-breed growth formula, 3 meals/day
- Adult: 2 meals/day, measured portions (marked tendency to overeat)
- Senior (8+ years): joint-support formula, stricter weight control
About one in four Labradors carries a POMC gene mutation that genuinely increases hunger and lowers resting energy use, according to University of Cambridge research. In practice, trusting the dog's appetite to judge portion size is a bad idea in this breed — measuring food by scale or measuring cup, rather than by eye, makes a real difference to long-term weight.
Grooming & care
- Brushing 1–2 times/week, more during shedding season
- Daily exercise is essential: 1.5 to 2 hours minimum
- Joint monitoring recommended (predisposition to hip dysplasia)
Daily life
Thrives with a yard but can live in an apartment if daily exercise is well managed and the appetite management described above is taken seriously from a young age — it's often the combination of under-exercise and overfeeding, more than the breed itself, that causes problems.