No longer are Labrador retrievers being utilized as working dogs. More and more are now suburbanites, getting considerably less exercise to meet their needs. As a favorite breed among people in both the U.K. and the U.S., these dogs are slated for middle-age spreads like their owners, according to the Times.
In fact, the latest study by scientists at Edinburgh University shows labs to be ahead of other breeds with their tubby tendencies, with chocolate colored Labs outweighing yellow and black Labs, according to the BBC.
Labrador retrievers in the study gained two pounds and three ounces each year between ages 1 and 4. Chocolate Labs gained even more and were shown to be three pounds heavier, according to the Daily Mail, than yellow and black Labs.
The study group consisted of more than 4,000 Kennel Club registered Labs, assessing their activity levels and size. On average, the dogs exercised around two hours per day.
No surprise that dogs who enjoyed chasing, retrieving and fetching weighed less. But while exercise helps, genetics plays a very important role in why one dog is prone to weight gain early in life more than others.
Another surprising fact this research shows is that dog's exercise more when in homes with a single person or a childless couple. Those in homes with children spent less time exercising.
The extra weight puts dogs at a higher risk of unforgiving ailments like hip dysplasia and diabetes, according to the research.
Dr. Dylan Clements, of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, led the study, published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine. The study was funded by Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the Roslin Foundation and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
"Dogslife is a groundbreaking study of canine health, which is made possible thanks to the incredible dedication of dog owners," said Clements.
