Labradors are commonly thought of as highly trainable as well as food motivated. Now researchers have discovered why.
If you are familiar with Labs you know the loving, intelligent dogs can be trained to do all kinds of things, from a basic sit and stay command to sniffing out explosives for airport security. But the reason Labs are so successful is partly due to their appetite.
Cambridge University researchers wanted to know why it seemed that Labrador retrievers were prone to obesity. Were Lab people more prone to giving treats? Or Are Labs more prone to weight gain? It turns out both are responsible. Twenty-three percent, about 1 in 4, of these highly trainable dogs carry a gene called POMC. The POMC gene is also found in humans and is strongly associated with obesity and appetite.
Scientists looked at 310 Labrador retrievers, some pets and some were service animals, each dog was weighed as part of the study and their caretakers were questioned about the dog’s behavior regarding food. Pet parents and trainers all agreed that Labs more than any other breed, in general, were so easy to train because they are so motivated by food. Therefore, the more the dog trained and the more skills they learned the more they ate.
To help manage your pet’s weight while training, try using smaller pieces of treats, lower calorie treats like small pieces of carrots and incorporate clicker commands as well as more exercise into your routine. Remember obesity in pets and humans can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and joint pain.
If you are unsure if your pet is overweight try this, stand over your dog and look down, if you cannot find their waist and they are becoming more barrel shaped it’s time to back off of the treats and increase your walking time. I’m Lisa Chelenza, take care of your pets and have your dogs and cats spayed or neutered.