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Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:44 am
by mandy-b
I would keep her on whatever she's used to until she's settled in your home and then change gradually. The stress of moving and an instant change of food could be a recipe for an upset tum.
My Lab does really well on Vitalin Active but what suits one dog may not suit another, it's a case of trial and error.

Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:47 am
by THEOLDMAN
fenboy wrote:Thanks for the replies.
I realize that as a growing pup he will getting through more food , I was really just wanting a rough idea how much they get through as an adult.
Of course I know it will depend to a degree on the quality etc , several people have told me about how greedy labs are , mostly people I work with who keep them as pets , I always say it will need to be trained well to unlock the kennel then the shed and help itself to food
My cocker eats very little and will often leave half until the next morning so I guess a lab is going to be different.
So its looks like 15kg a month or so will be roughly the amount I will need .
Thanks again.
Anything left over by your cocker will be fair game for the Lab if you take your eyes of it. Labs will eat it just because it's there.
You may find your cocker will start eating more just to stop the Lab getting at it also. Keep an eye on them at feed time unless you can feed them in seperate kennels/rooms.
Good luck with the pup, I'm on a waiting list for another Lab at the moment also
DaveL
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:51 am
by THEOLDMAN
Bryn wrote:There's a possibility I'll be getting a 4yr old bitch in a couple of weeks, what dry feed you find works best for them?
I've always used Skinners with my Labs/Cockers but I'd find out what the last owner was using and either stick to that if your happy with the dogs condition or change over slowly to the one you intend to move on to.
DaveL
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 1:53 pm
by fenboy
THEOLDMAN wrote:fenboy wrote:Thanks for the replies.
I realize that as a growing pup he will getting through more food , I was really just wanting a rough idea how much they get through as an adult.
Of course I know it will depend to a degree on the quality etc , several people have told me about how greedy labs are , mostly people I work with who keep them as pets , I always say it will need to be trained well to unlock the kennel then the shed and help itself to food
My cocker eats very little and will often leave half until the next morning so I guess a lab is going to be different.
So its looks like 15kg a month or so will be roughly the amount I will need .
Thanks again.
Anything left over by your cocker will be fair game for the Lab if you take your eyes of it. Labs will eat it just because it's there.
You may find your cocker will start eating more just to stop the Lab getting at it also. Keep an eye on them at feed time unless you can feed them in seperate kennels/rooms.
Good luck with the pup, I'm on a waiting list for another Lab at the moment also
DaveL
That should not be a problem as Flynn my cocker is going into semi retirement and has been moved indoors , the lab will be fed outside.
Your right about him eating more when there is some competition though , we had a couple of cats and he went from always leaving some to eating the lot, unfortunately the cats did not mix with the cars too well ( I did tell the other half they would not last , but her and the kids knew better !) as soon as they were gone he reverted to leaving some again !.
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:40 pm
by Tungulria
patricia t wrote:a 15kg bag of the dry feed I use lasts me 6 weeks - I feed 360g / day.... but it depends on the quality and components of the feeds, I use a high quality one so need to feed less
This is interesting as I feed what most would consider to be a low quality feed (vitalin active and Gilpa super value mix) but my labs are both on 320-340g a day and looking great on it. So this whole quality feeds feed less is an interesting concept.
Fen boy between 2 labs and 2 spaniels we get through 30kg of dog food every 4-5 weeks.
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:01 pm
by Bryn
THEOLDMAN wrote:Bryn wrote:There's a possibility I'll be getting a 4yr old bitch in a couple of weeks, what dry feed you find works best for them?
I've always used Skinners with my Labs/Cockers but I'd find out what the last owner was using and either stick to that if your happy with the dogs condition or change over slowly to the one you intend to move on to.
DaveL
Thanks, will do. I was thinking further down the line really, quite like the look of Skinners and theres a stockist about 5 miles away.
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:27 pm
by Big John
My lab is on Skinners and I 15K lasts me about five weeks, you do have to watch a Lab as they will eat anything including cardboard you also have to watch their weight even with a very active dog.
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:39 pm
by Judy
Tungulria wrote:patricia t wrote:a 15kg bag of the dry feed I use lasts me 6 weeks - I feed 360g / day.... but it depends on the quality and components of the feeds, I use a high quality one so need to feed less
This is interesting as I feed what most would consider to be a low quality feed (vitalin active and Gilpa super value mix) but my labs are both on 320-340g a day and looking great on it. So this whole quality feeds feed less is an interesting concept.
Fen boy between 2 labs and 2 spaniels we get through 30kg of dog food every 4-5 weeks.
One Flatcoat on 300g a day three Cockers and a Flattie 15kg of Vitalin Lamb and Rice lasts about four weeks, there may be something in it after all...

I'll let you know as I've just bought a sack of Duck and Rice as I couldn't get the usual, we'll see if they have to eat more to survive.
Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:59 pm
by PERCE
fenboy wrote:Thanks for the replies.
My cocker eats very little and will often leave half until the next morning so I guess a lab is going to be different.
£5 says your cocker is soon going to learn to eat up

Re: Labs , how much do they eat ??
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:22 pm
by andyshaw
PERCE wrote:fenboy wrote:Thanks for the replies.
My cocker eats very little and will often leave half until the next morning so I guess a lab is going to be different.
£5 says your cocker is soon going to learn to eat up

Thats what my springer did when we looked after another dog! However hes back to his old ways now
