Nutritional requirements: Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever

Below you will find an overview of how the specific nutritional needs of the Labrador can be found within the BF^®Petfood range:

Dry food

1. BF^®Petfood Weight Control & Sterilised - Crunchy large kibble
The food is specifically developed for dogs, such as Labradors, with a predisposition to obesity or dogs that have been neutered/sterilized. An effective Weight Control formula is used, based on a natural composition.

• Weight management: Contains a high protein content (32%) for muscle maintenance and a low fat content (8%) with fewer calories.
• Satiety: Rich in natural fibers that provide a faster and long-lasting feeling of fullness, which counters wolfing down and begging.
• Fat burning: Enriched with L-carnitine to stimulate fat metabolism.
• Joints & Skin: Added salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin protect the heavily loaded joints and nourish the water-repellent coat.

In addition to dry food that is high in protein and fiber, as well as low in calories and fat, a slow feeder (lick mat) can also be useful. Giant: XL adult kibble can be a (good) option if the dog wolfs down its food. 

2. BF^®Petfood Adult Turkey - Grain-free & Mono-protein
This crunchy kibble is a very good alternative for the food-sensitive, allergic or picky Labrador that reacts quickly to traditional protein sources or grains.

• Hypoallergenic & Mono-protein: Made exclusively with turkey as an animal protein source. This significantly reduces the chance of food allergies and skin irritations.
• Grain-free: Completely free of grains, which ensures a calm and optimal digestion.
• Balance: Offers a healthy high protein content with a medium fat content.
• Gut flora & Joints: Contains prebiotics (FOS) for a healthy gut flora, supplemented with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin for flexible joints.

3. BF^®Petfood Pressed Adult - Large kibble
The ideal pressed kibble for the active, adult Labrador without specific allergies. The pressed kibble breaks apart immediately in the stomach, which reduces the chance of bloat in dogs that wolf down their food.

• Nutritional value: A balanced kibble with 25% protein and a low fat content to keep the dog slim.
• Broad protein source: Consists of 30% beef, chicken and fish for a complete amino acid profile.
• Immunity & Digestion: Enriched with salmon oil, yeast, fiber and the specific Echinacea herb to support the immune system and healthy gastrointestinal function.

4. BF^®Petfood Pressed Lamb - For the sensitive dog
When a Labrador has a sensitive digestion or sensitive skin, Pressed Lamb is a very good option.

• Hypoallergenic and gluten-free: For normal and sensitive dogs. The purine content is low to moderate. The healthy fibers support digestion.
• Lightly digestible: Lamb (30%) is a soft, hypoallergenic protein source that relieves the stomach and intestines. Medium protein and fat content.
• Skin and coat: The food with Scottish Salmon Oil, rich in omega 3 and 6, supports the skin, coat, joints and the immune system.

Wet food

Adding wet food to the kibble of a Labrador offers four important nutritional and practical benefits, where the organic range of BIOFOOD, part of BF®Petfood, forms a perfect, pure addition:

1. Better hydration
Labradors do not always drink enough on their own. Wet food consists of approximately 75% to 80% moisture. This supports kidney function and helps prevent bladder stones or urinary tract problems.

2. Faster satiety with obesity
Wet food has a low calorie density but a large volume. The stomach of the Labrador becomes full more quickly without taking in too many calories. This helps perfectly with keeping the weight of dogs that receive the Weight Control or Sterilised formula.

3. Healthy variety and pure quality
Labradors are very greedy eaters. The certified organic wet food of BIOFOOD uses pure raw materials from organic farmers, without artificial additives or foreign substances. The variants are completely grain- and wheat-free and hypoallergenic, which aligns ideally with the sensitive digestion or skin of the Labrador.

4. Ideal for hiding any supplements
Does the Labrador need extra support for the joints (such as loose glucosamine or salmon oil)? This can be done over the food. But wet food mixes perfectly with this, allowing the dog to eat medication or supplements without problems.

The BIOFOOD Organic wet food range for the Labrador:

• BIOFOOD Organic 100% Chicken or Beef: Tasty, pure organic meat from animals that had plenty of space. Excellent to combine with the pressed or grain-free kibble.
• BIOFOOD Organic Beef or Turkey Menu: Complete meals enriched with organic vegetables and herbs, which have a very high acceptance with difficult or picky eaters.

Meat food

For the active and naturally greedy Labrador Retriever, the steamed BF^®Petfood Meat Food offers a healthy, gluten-free and extremely tasty addition to the daily menu. These high-quality, steamed meals are rich in fresh meat, fresh fish and natural herbs. They are ideal to use to counter wolfing down and enrich the meal experience.

• Optimal weight management: Thanks to the pure, steamed ingredients, it offers a full-fledged volume in the stomach without unnecessary fats or fillers, which perfectly aligns with the Weight Control or Sterilised kibble.
• Support during transition: Labradors switching from a crunchy kibble to a pressed variant can be extra supported by this meat food for a smooth transition.
• Practical and shelf-stable: The meals in the Chicken/Duck, Chicken/Salmon and Chicken/Lamb variants are shelf-stable outside the refrigerator. This makes them very convenient as a treat after intensive training or a long walk. Suitable for every dog, from puppy to senior. Also available as 800 g sausage.

Guideline for combining

Combining wet food or meat food with dry food ensures variety and a balanced diet. This can be done by mixing it but it can also be given separately. For example, kibble in the morning and wet food in the evening. If you add wet food, you must reduce the amount of kibble to prevent obesity. A general rule of thumb is: replace 100 grams of kibble with approximately 300 to 400 grams of wet food.

Complementary products

The complementary products of BF®Petfood are extremely suitable for the Labrador Retriever, because they are specifically developed to support dogs in a natural way without burdening them with unnecessary additives such as sugars or excess carbohydrates. This makes the range of BF®Petfood ideal for this breed, which is known for its large chewing need and sensitivity to joint problems, but at the same time has a quick predisposition to obesity.

• Low-carbohydrate meat snacks (Meat Chunks & Meat Bars): These pure meat snacks are completely grain- and gluten-free. They contain exclusively high-quality proteins, making them perfect as a healthy reward during the training of the eager-to-learn Labrador, without the dog gaining unnecessary kilos.
• Nourishing fats and salmon oil (Sheep Fat & Liquid Fat): The sheep fat bonbons (with salmon, among others) and liquid fats are rich in essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They nourish the typical dense, water-repellent Labrador coat from the inside, support the heavily loaded joints and protect the gastrointestinal flora.
• Functional 3-in-1 biscuits: These lightly digestible, low-fat biscuits offer a triple effect. They support the digestion of the often greedy Labrador, help maintain firm stools when eating grass and poop (Grass and Poop), provide a calming effect (Bark & Relax) or make the Labrador less attractive as a host to "unwanted guests" (Look & Herb).
• Rawhide chew sticks: Made from high-quality, natural subcutaneous connective tissue. These sticks are completely digestible and low in calories. They force the Labrador to chew for a long time, which stimulates the production of calming hormones and ensures an effective cleaning of the teeth.
• Supplements: Labradors are active, often sturdy dogs that intensively load their joints. The Souplesse products protect the cartilage and keep the joints of this active, heavy dog flexible. Because Labradors often wolf down their food, Probiotics restores the gut flora and reduces flatulence. In addition to the natural garlic yeast tablets, which make the dog less interesting as a host, BF®Petfood also offers tablets for the support of teeth & fresh breath, skin, coat and stress.

Labrador retriever vs. Golden retriever

The Labrador retriever and the Golden retriever are very similar in terms of nutritional needs, but there are a few important differences that do make a difference in practice. The Labrador has naturally a greater tendency to overeat and gain weight. It often has less satiety and will continue to eat faster if it gets the chance. Therefore, the emphasis for the Labrador lies mainly on strict portion control and a moderate energy content in the food. This also plays a role with the Golden retriever, but usually to a lesser extent. There, the focus is slightly less on restriction and slightly more on the quality of food and sensitivity.

The Golden retriever distinguishes itself mainly by its skin and coat sensitivity. It has a more frequent predisposition to itching, dull coat or mild allergic reactions. Therefore, food with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and highly digestible ingredients is extra important for this breed. The Labrador is generally more robust and less sensitive in this regard.

Suitable food

For both breeds, there are overlapping choices (see wet food, meat food and supplements), but with different accents:
- For the Labrador, you rather choose a slightly lighter food (lower fat) to prevent obesity, more focused on weight control and energy management.
- For the Golden, you rather choose a stable, high-quality food that supports skin and digestion.

Healthy food options for Golden retriever are:
- Pressed Lamb (gluten-free) or Pressed Salmon (grain-free, more sensitive type of Golden)
- Adult Turkey (grain-free, mono‑protein, for allergy sensitivity)
- Weight Control (provided the dog is overweight or needs to stay on weight: high protein and fiber, low in fat and calories)
- Giant. XL adult kibble can be a (good) option, if the dog wolfs down its food a lot. 

More information about mixed feeding can be found here.

For more information, feel free to email: info@bfpetfood.nl or use the contact page.