Roughly half of the dogs in the UK are estimated to be overweight or obese.
But particular breeds are more likely to be porky pooches compared to others, according to a study.
In what will come as no surprise to some owners, breeds such as Retrievers and Labradors are more motivated by food than other dogs, researchers found.
And it’s ‘vital’ that these owners understand how to help their dogs achieve a healthy weight, they said.
The team, from Texas A&M University, analysed data on more than 13,000 dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project in the US.
They looked at vet records and asked owners to complete questionnaires on their dogs’ physical condition and their appetite.
Analysis revealed popular sporting group breeds – including Retrievers, Spaniels and Setters – are about 10 per cent more likely to be motivated by food than other dogs.
And, unsurprisingly, dogs with higher food motivation were more likely to be overweight.
With their friendly and outgoing nature, it comes as no surprise that Labradors are some of the most popular dog breeds around the world. But they are known to pile on the pounds – and now scientists have found they are 10 per cent more motivated by food than other breeds (stock image)
Spaniels and Setters were also found to be highly motivated by food. Pictured: An overweight Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was too fat to walk and had to be wheeled in a cart
Here, sporting dogs can be seen to have the highest food motivation score compared to other breeds
‘Our study confirmed that dogs in the sporting group — which in our study group were largely Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers — have a greater likelihood to have high food motivation’, Dr. Kate Creevy said.
‘Given that these are two of the most common breeds… it is vital that both veterinarians and dog owners understand the diet management strategies necessary for achieving a healthy weight.’
The data showed that hounds were next most likely to be motivated by food, while dogs living in urban environments and those from multi–dog households are more likely to have higher food motivation.
‘It’s likely that these factors influence the amount of exercise that dogs get in addition to their access to food,’ Dr Creevy said.
‘Some dogs may seek food out of boredom, which may increase in environments where exercise and enrichment are less available.
‘Additionally, owners with multiple dogs may choose certain feeding practices — including free feeding — out of convenience, which can lead to more food being available.’
In contrast, nonsporting breeds such as the Bulldog, Dalmatian and Poodle were least likely to be food motivated, they found.
The study, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, also found that owners are more likely to monitor their dog’s diet closely if they were the ones that reported their dog was overweight, rather than if only the vet recognised the animal’s overweight status.
Unsurprisingly, dogs with higher food motivation were more likely to be overweight. Pictured: A Labrador Retriever (stock image)
Nonsporting breeds such as the Bulldog, Dalmatian and Poodle were least likely to be food motivated, they found (stock image)
Tips to keep your Lab slim include distracting them with toys and walks, avoiding giving them leftovers and taking them on at least one or two walks per day, experts have previously suggested
Even when owners are aware that their dogs are overweight – and are interested in helping their pet achieve a healthy weight – the process isn’t always straightforward.
‘Previous research has shown that weight loss interventions for dogs are not always successful, especially if they’re not followed consistently,’ Dr Creevy added.
‘Sometimes there are issues in communication between the veterinarian and the owner, and given what we learned from this study, it’s also possible that some breeds require even stricter feeding practices.’
While they may look cute, overweight dogs are prone to numerous health problems including skin disease, diabetes and arthritis.
