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Lab Owners - Feeding question

Posted on 12/20/22 at 4:10 am
Posted by 23parker
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2011
243 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 4:10 am
For an 80 pound male, 1.5 years old, 2 questions below.

I have looked all over and find so many varying things. I’ve seen between 2 and 4 cups, and some people only feed in the morning, while others do morning and evening.

Just curious how the OB lab owners do it. Growing up we only fed in the mornings probably around 2 cups and always had healthy dogs.

1. How many total cups a day should he get?

2. How many times per day should they be fed?

TIA
Posted by BeerThirty
Red Stick
Member since May 2017
898 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 4:57 am to
6 year old, 75 lb chocolate here. I do 1.5-2 mornings and evenings. Mine is also a high energy monster so every now and then I have to bump it up a little if he starts looking skinny.
Posted by RichJ
The Land of the CoonAss
Member since Nov 2016
3118 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 5:36 am to
I’ve had several labs over the years, earlier hunting dogs, later house pets. Currently have 2yo female, 70lb Dudley yellow. Depends on brand of food & weight of dog. My Charlie gets 1.5 cups, morning & evening, of Purina Pro Plan and is moderately active…
Posted by mylsuhat
Mandeville, LA
Member since Mar 2008
48938 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 5:37 am to
3 year old - 80lb chocolate


Feed him a to-go / mardi gras cup sized scoop morning and evening

Science Diet Large Breed
This post was edited on 12/20/22 at 5:38 am
Posted by 9BREES9
Thibodaux
Member since Jan 2009
1372 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 6:41 am to
90 lb 8-year old male chocolate lab. We give him a Mardi Gras cup of food in the morning (6-6:15) and another in evening (5). We feed him Purina Pro Plan chicken and rice formula.
Posted by Success
Member since Sep 2015
1723 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 6:53 am to
60# black male. 2.5 years. Very active. Feed him 2.5 cups 2x a day. Purina pro plan
This post was edited on 12/20/22 at 6:54 am
Posted by BeerThirty
Red Stick
Member since May 2017
898 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 7:02 am to
Just goes to show how many calories an active dog burns! When mine was in training as a pup, they were up to 8 cups a day, thought he might have worms, etc. After they watched him a bit, they realized the crazy mfer was running laps in his kennel because he got so excited when other dogs came through for their sessions. His kennel was 4’ long.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
14285 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 7:14 am to
Premium foods will have more calories.
Posted by Sparty3131
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2019
646 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 7:21 am to
65# pit mix
1.5 cups in the morning and evening of Purina Pro plan
Lazy as hell unless you open the fridge drawer with the cheese.
Posted by LSUDUCKMAN67
DTB
Member since Sep 2020
895 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 7:59 am to
6year old yellow lab. He’s an 80lbs monster.
I feed him one 32oz yeti cup right before dark. If we are hunting hard and he’s making a lot of retrieves then when we get back I’ll give him a little just to boost him up.
Posted by OntarioTiger
Canada
Member since Nov 2007
2118 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 8:15 am to
On my 4th male lab. Generally about 4 cups a day depending on dog. If they get fat cut it back half a cup. When hunting they get extra cup or 2. Generally feed morning and evening. Use hq food purina pro plan, fromms etc 30% protein.
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
2930 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 8:40 am to
I fed once a day for years used a Mardi Gras go cup not sure what size.
My wife says it’s not fair to feed them only once a day so he gets fed twice a day now. He gets about 1.5 to two cups per meal and cut back or add based on waist size.
Posted by JamalSanders
On a boat
Member since Jul 2015
12135 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 8:42 am to
100# intact 6 YO male, gets 2 cups Puro Plan Large Breed Adult morning and evening plus whatever he can get from his 6 MO Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy ridgeback brothers bowl.

In general, if there is an empty bowl I fill it up.
Posted by Stitches
Member since Oct 2019
869 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 9:09 am to
quote:

1. How many total cups a day should he get?


I give my male Lacy 3 cups and my gyp 2, plus 3 pumps of salmon oil each. Depending on activity and weather, this may change as required. I like to see some rib but no hip bones. I imagine that's hard to do with a Lab though due to their coat.


quote:

2. How many times per day should they be fed


I feed them once per day, in the evening after all their work is done. I don't want to risk feeding early in the day and the dogs getting a twisted stomach.
This post was edited on 12/20/22 at 9:10 am
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
11283 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 10:15 am to
48# female lab that never stops moving gets 2 cups of Purina Pro plan morning and evening.

80# mutt that sleeps most of the time gets 1.5 cups of Pro Plan morning and evening.

Both dogs are in good shape.
Posted by Mac
Forked Island, USA
Member since Nov 2007
14656 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 1:47 pm to
70lbs female. Feed her 3 cups of Purina Pro Plan Sport in the evening.

Will feed her a snack after hunting if she worked a lot
Posted by TigerDeacon
West Monroe, LA
Member since Sep 2003
29298 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 2:03 pm to
110-120lb black lab. 2 years old in September.

He is long and long legged. Not fat at all. I keep expecting the him to thicken up but he doesn't.

I just free feed him all day and he eats what he wants. Usually gets a small treat of soft food in the morning and whatever food he can beg off of Mrs. Tigerdeacon during the day.

He gets to run and swim a lot and once a week goes to "doggie day care" where he gets to run all day with their other big dogs. Comes home and sleeps on the couch the whole next day.
Posted by oleyeller
Vols, Bitch
Member since Oct 2012
32021 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 3:29 pm to
80lb black lab

Feed him call of the wild

In hot months about 3 cups afternoon of the lower protein which is made of bison/venison

In cold months about 3 cups in afternoon of the higher protein which is duck/fowl
Posted by Clyde Tipton
Planet Earth
Member since Dec 2007
38734 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 3:46 pm to
quote:

mardi gras cup sized scoop


The only true dog food measurement.

Posted by 4EvEr Bo REIN
Member since Oct 2016
583 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 3:59 pm to
Depends on what brand you go with, the serving sizes are always on the back with the weights of the animal. It will show the total cups per day so just spit it if you want to feed morning and afternoon. If he’s active and you hunting him hard in the winter feed him a 30/20 and in summer I would go to a 25/16 around that. Victor or Joy brands are the best out there. Go to their websites and research them. Joy has never had a recall in 70 plus years. It’s hard to find. Victor around my area hear the duck hunters use on their labs. I run coonhounds I need the best feed there is. Just research and you’ll find what’s good for your dog, when you feed the heavy food in the winter and they are super active they need a lot of kcalories. Remember they are athletes and need the best to perform at top levels. Also get you a size scoop that measures a cup that way you know you are feeding them what they only need. Good luck.
This post was edited on 12/20/22 at 4:02 pm
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