Why Are Labradors Always Hungry? The Gene Behind the Appetite
Updated: 1 day ago
By Nick, co-founder of Doggy Styles Inc and owner of Bruno, a rescued French Bulldog. Last updated 15 October 2026.
Quick Answer
Many Labradors really are hungrier than other dogs, and for some it's genetic. Cambridge researchers found that around one in four Labradors carries a change in a gene called POMC, which affects how the brain signals hunger and how much energy the body burns. Carriers are hungrier between meals and burn about 25% fewer calories at rest, so they want more food and need less of it. Add a breed that was bred to work for food rewards, and you get the Labrador's legendary appetite. It's not a training failure. It is something you have to manage, every day.
Key takeaways
About a quarter of Labradors carry a POMC gene variant linked to hunger and weight gain.
Carriers feel hungrier between meals and burn fewer calories, so they gain weight easily.
Keeping a Lab lean adds years: in a 14-year study, leaner Labradors lived about 1.8 years longer.
If you're still getting to know the breed, start here:
👉 LABRADOR GUIDE — Full Behaviour, Personality & Ownership Breakdown
Why are Labradors always hungry? What people get wrong
Most people assume a Labrador's appetite is greed, or bad manners, or something the owner did wrong. For many Labs it's partly biology. They aren't pretending to be starving. To a degree, their brain is telling them they are.
Owners describe it with a kind of weary admiration. Bruce's owner, on Purina's owner stories, puts it in seven words: "He has no off switch regarding food." Pablo's owner, also on Purina, is most surprised by "Their ability to hear a packet of food opening from 3 rooms away!" Anyone who has tried to open a biscuit quietly in a house with a Labrador knows this is not an exaggeration.
A note on the stories in this post: the dated moments (week one, month two and so on) are illustrative scenes based on common Labrador owner experiences, not the story of one real dog. The owner quotes are real, and link to where they were published.
The bowl
Week one. You put his dinner down. You turn to put the bag away. You turn back. The bowl is empty, and he's pushing it across the floor with his nose in case some food is hiding underneath it. He looks up at you with total sincerity. As far as he's concerned, you have forgotten to feed him.
Hungry, greedy or unwell? A quick guide
What you see | Likely explanation | What to do |
Eats fast, always wants more, but stays a healthy weight | Normal Labrador appetite | Slow feeders, set portions, no extras |
Constantly begging and gaining weight on normal portions | Possibly a POMC carrier, or too many extras | Weigh food, count treats, talk to your vet |
Suddenly hungrier and drinking much more | Could be a medical problem | See your vet promptly |
Hungrier while losing weight | Could be worms, diabetes or another illness | See your vet promptly |
Hungrier on new medication | Some drugs, such as steroids, increase appetite | Ask your vet how to manage it |
Owners recognise the first two rows instantly. The bowl licked so clean it squeaks. The begging at every meal. The audition at the fridge. The last three rows are why a change in appetite is always worth mentioning to your vet.
That bottomless, cheerful, slightly shameless appetite is what Doggy Styles Inc designs around: clean, minimal Labrador pieces for people who've learned to eat their toast standing up and facing the wall.
👉 Shop Labrador women's t-shirts, unisex t-shirts and sweatshirts and hoodies
👉 or explore the full LABRADOR COLLECTION
The real reason: the Labrador hunger gene
What the 2016 study found
In 2016, a team led by Dr Eleanor Raffan at the University of Cambridge studied 310 Labradors and found a change in a gene called POMC. Around one in four (23%) carried at least one copy. Each copy was linked to an average of 1.9 kg of extra weight, and owners of carrier dogs reported more food-motivated behaviour (Raffan and colleagues, Cell Metabolism, 2016). It's a link, not a destiny: plenty of carriers are lean, and plenty of non-carriers are not. But it explains why some Labs find a diet so much harder than others.
What the 2024 study added
In 2024, the same group looked more closely at how the gene works, in 87 pet Labradors. Carriers didn't need more food to feel full at a meal. The difference came between meals: in a test where dogs could see and smell a sausage in a box they couldn't easily open, carriers tried significantly harder to get it. The researchers also reported that carriers used around 25% less energy at rest. As Raffan put it, "they not only want to eat more, but also need fewer calories." She added: "It's very difficult to keep these dogs slim, but it can be done" (University of Cambridge, on the study in Science Advances). It's a small study, so the exact figures may shift as more work is done. The direction, unfortunately for Labrador owners, is unlikely to.
Why it's so common in Labradors
The variant is also found in about two-thirds of Flat-coated Retrievers. And in the 2016 study it was strikingly common in Labradors chosen to be assistance dogs: around three-quarters of them carried it. One theory is that food-motivated puppies are simply easier to train with treats, so they're more likely to be picked for training and breeding. It's a neat irony. The trait that makes a Labrador so easy to train is the same one that makes him so hard to keep slim.
That appetite shapes a lot of Labrador behaviour, including how closely he tracks you round the kitchen.
👉 WHY DO LABRADORS FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE? — Six Real Reasons
Why keeping a Labrador lean matters so much
This is the part that makes the appetite a health issue, not just a nuisance.
In one of the longest dog studies ever run, researchers from Nestlé Purina followed 48 Labradors, kept at the company's research facility, for their whole lives. Littermates were paired, and one of each pair was fed 25% fewer calories than its sibling from eight weeks old. The leaner dogs lived a median of about 13 years, against 11.2 for their siblings, a gain of 1.8 years. Hip osteoarthritis was also delayed: by age ten, 42% of the leaner dogs had it, compared with 79% of the heavier ones (Kealy and colleagues, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002). It's one study, funded by a pet food company, in a research colony rather than family homes. But it remains the best long-term evidence we have, and every vet's experience points the same way.
Nearly two extra years, from portion control alone. For a breed prone to joint problems, a lean waistline is one of the most valuable things an owner can give.
The counter
Month two. You turn your back for ten seconds to answer the door. When you come back, half a loaf of bread is missing from the worktop and he's sitting in his bed with an expression of complete innocence and a crumb on his nose. You realise the kitchen is going to need reorganising.
Bread is only the start. Plenty of Labradors widen the menu considerably.
👉 WHY DO LABRADORS EAT EVERYTHING? — Scavenging, Stealing & How to Stop It
Is your Labrador the right weight?
Because so many Labradors carry a little extra, it's easy to lose sight of what a healthy one looks like. Three quick checks help.
The ribs. Run your hands along his sides. You should be able to feel his ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard.
The waist from above. Stand over him and look down. There should be a visible waist behind the ribs, not a straight line from shoulders to hips.
The tuck from the side. His belly should rise up from his chest towards his back legs, not hang level or sag.
If any of those are hard to find, your vet or vet nurse can give him a body condition score and a target weight. Weighing him every month or so catches creeping gains early, when they're far easier to reverse.
The Labrador begging repertoire, decoded
Every hungry Labrador develops a routine. Most owners will recognise the full set.
The chin. Resting gently on the edge of the table, exactly level with your plate. Eye contact is maintained throughout.
The perfect sit. Unprompted, rigid and textbook. He hasn't sat this nicely at training class in his life.
The drool. Two thin strings, lengthening slowly. A Labrador can produce a surprising amount of saliva from a single roast potato.
The paw. Placed on your knee, then removed, then placed again, slightly harder, in case you didn't notice the first time.
The sigh. Deep, theatrical and timed for the exact moment you put the last forkful in your mouth.
The sentry. Lies across the kitchen doorway, so nobody can get to the fridge without consulting him first.
All of it is learned, and all of it gets stronger every time it works. The one rule that matters: begging never pays. Calm, polite lying down somewhere else occasionally does.
Living with a hungry Labrador
Day to day, the appetite shapes life with a Lab more than most owners expect. Bins need lids. Shopping can't be left on the floor. Children learn to hold sandwiches high. Visitors need a quiet word before they sit down.
That said, not every Labrador fits the stereotype. Bonnie's owner, on Purina's owner stories, reports that "Bonnie is a very fussy, and slow, eater!" It happens. If you have one of these, enjoy it, and don't tell other Labrador owners. They won't believe you.
A Labrador probably isn't the right fit if:
you'd struggle to say no to a begging dog, every day, for years
several people in the house would feed him extras
you like to leave food on worktops and low tables
you'd rather not weigh food and count treats
The family meeting
Month four. At his check-up, the vet nurse runs her hands along his sides and says, kindly, that he could lose a kilo. On the way home you work it out: the crusts from breakfast, the cheese from your partner, the biscuits from your mother. That evening, there's a family meeting. There are new rules. He attends, sits beautifully, and is visibly disappointed by the outcome.
Exercise helps, but it's no substitute for portion control. You can't walk off a Labrador's snacks.
👉 HOW MUCH EXERCISE DOES A LABRADOR NEED? — Daily Routine, Age & Energy
Treats and extras: the calorie maths
Most overweight Labradors don't get there through their dinner. They get there through the small things. A fairly typical neutered adult Lab needs somewhere around 1,000 to 1,300 calories a day, depending on size and activity, and vets generally suggest treats make up no more than about 10% of that. Here's roughly how fast the extras add up.
The extra | Roughly | Share of his day |
A plain digestive biscuit | 70 calories | About 6% |
A cube of cheddar, about 10g | 40 calories | About 3% |
A slice of buttered toast | 100 to 120 calories | Around 10% |
A dental chew for large dogs | 80 to 100 calories | Around 7% |
A pig's ear | 200 calories or more | Close to 20% |
The figures vary by brand and dog, so treat them as a rough guide. The point stands either way: a 'small' daily habit can quietly become a fifth of his food.
How to feed a hungry Labrador
The aim is a dog who's lean, healthy and not miserable. Most of it comes down to routine.
In the moment
Don't respond to begging. Look away and carry on. Respond only to calm.
Feed meals in his bed or crate while you eat yours, so the table isn't a show.
Keep food off low surfaces, and bins behind closed doors or lids.
Long term
Weigh every meal. Use kitchen scales rather than a scoop, and start with the feeding guide for his ideal weight, not his current one. Adjust with your vet's help.
Make meals last. The Cambridge researchers suggest spreading the day's food out, using puzzle feeders or scattering kibble in the garden, so eating takes longer and keeps him busy. A Labrador who works for ten minutes for his breakfast is a happier one than a Labrador who inhales it in nine seconds.
Split the ration. Two or three smaller meals feel like more food than one big one, without adding a single calorie.
Count the treats. Take training treats from his daily allowance. Use his own kibble for easy rewards and keep the good stuff for hard ones.
Use low-calorie extras, with care. Small amounts of plain vegetables such as green beans or carrot can add crunch without many calories. Check with your vet before making big changes, and never feed grapes, raisins, onions, chocolate or anything with xylitol.
Agree the rules as a household. One person slipping him crusts undoes everyone else's effort. Make sure grandparents and visitors know the rules too.
Weigh him regularly. A monthly weigh-in at the vet's, or on your own scales with and without him, catches gains early.
Food is also one of the best training tools you'll ever have, as long as it comes out of the daily allowance.
👉 HOW TO TRAIN A LABRADOR PUPPY — Calm, Reward-Based Foundations
The puzzle feeder
Month ten. Breakfast now comes in a puzzle feeder. He nudges, rolls, sniffs and paws at it for a quarter of an hour, then flops down, satisfied, on the kitchen floor. The vet nurse says he's spot on. He still checks the bowl after every meal, just in case. He's still a Labrador. He's just a lean one.
When to get help: if your Labrador's appetite suddenly increases, especially with drinking more, weeing more or losing weight, see your vet promptly, as conditions such as diabetes can cause these signs. Ask your vet too if he's gaining weight despite sensible portions.
A step-by-step plan for an overweight Labrador
If your vet says he needs to lose weight, this is the approach that works for most Labs. Slow and steady is the whole trick.
Step one: get a starting point. Ask your vet or vet nurse to weigh him, give a body condition score and agree a target weight. Many practices run free weight clinics.
Step two: work out his new daily amount. Your vet will usually base it on his target weight, not his current one, sometimes using a dedicated weight-loss food that's higher in protein and fibre to help him feel fuller.
Step three: weigh everything. Every meal on kitchen scales, every treat from the daily allowance. Put the day's food in a tub in the morning. When the tub's empty, the kitchen's closed.
Step four: aim for gradual loss. Around 1 to 2% of his bodyweight a week is the usual veterinary target. Faster isn't better, and crash diets just make him hungrier.
Step five: weigh in every two to four weeks. Weight loss in dogs often stalls. If it does, your vet will adjust the amount rather than you guessing.
Step six: add activity gently. Longer sniffy walks and swimming are kind to joints that are already carrying extra weight. Build up gradually.
What not to do with a hungry Labrador
Don't free-feed. Leaving a full bowl down for a Labrador isn't trusting him to regulate himself. It's a buffet.
Don't measure by eye. Scoops and 'about a cupful' are how a Labrador gains two kilos without anyone noticing.
Don't rely on exercise alone. An hour's walk burns far fewer calories than most people think. You can't out-walk a pig's ear.
Don't crash diet. Cutting his food drastically makes him miserable, desperate and more likely to raid the bin.
Feeding an older Labrador
As Labradors age, they usually need fewer calories, while their appetite stays exactly the same. That's a dangerous combination for joints that are already stiffening. Keep weighing his food, switch to a senior diet if your vet suggests it, and watch his muscle as well as his fat: an older Lab who's losing muscle over his back and back legs needs his diet and exercise reviewed, not just his portions cut. Sudden weight loss in an older dog always needs a vet check.
Are Labradors hungrier than other breeds?
Compared with most breeds, yes. Labradors are among the most food-motivated dogs there are, and the POMC variant is far more common in them than in most breeds. Flat-coated Retrievers are the notable exception, with the variant in around two-thirds of dogs. Golden Retrievers are often very food-keen too, though the POMC variant isn't the explanation there. Compared with fussier breeds such as many toy breeds or sighthounds, a Labrador's appetite is in a league of its own.
That appetite is one of the best-known Labrador personality traits, along with the friendliness and the love of water.
👉 LABRADOR PERSONALITY — What Labs Are Really Like
What Labrador owners realise over time
Most owners stop taking the begging personally. A Labrador who acts as if he's never been fed isn't being dramatic, or not only. Some of it really is in his genes. The job is to love him enough to say no.
The bowl, a year on
A year after that first nine-second dinner. You put his bowl down. He looks at you, waits for the word, then eats. It still takes about nine seconds. He still pushes the bowl across the floor afterwards. But his ribs are easy to feel, his waist is visible, and he'll be bouncing round the park long after the dogs who got the crusts have slowed down.
The verdict
Why are Labradors always hungry? For about a quarter of them, a POMC gene variant makes them hungrier between meals and helps them burn fewer calories, and the whole breed was shaped by working for food. Their appetite is real, not just greed.
Keeping a Labrador lean takes weighed meals, slow feeders, counted treats and a united household. It's worth every bit of the effort: in the best long-term study we have, leaner Labradors lived nearly two years longer.
If you're still getting to know the breed, the guide covers the full picture.
Living with a Labrador means never eating a sandwich unobserved again. The Labrador range is for people who've made their peace with that.
👉 Explore Labrador women's t-shirts, unisex t-shirts and sweatshirts and hoodies
👉 or explore the full LABRADOR COLLECTION
Got a Labrador who can hear a crisp packet from the end of the garden? Show us. Tag @doggystylesinc on Instagram or find us on Facebook at Doggy Styles Inc, and your Labrador could feature in a future post.
Continue Understanding the Labrador Breed
FAQs
Why are Labradors always hungry?
Around a quarter of Labradors carry a POMC gene variant that makes them hungrier between meals and helps them burn fewer calories. The breed is also very food-motivated in general.
Why are Labs always hungry even after eating?
Carriers of the POMC variant feel full at a meal like other dogs, but get hungrier again sooner and look for food more between meals.
Is there a gene that makes Labradors hungry?
Yes. Cambridge researchers found a change in the POMC gene, carried by about one in four Labradors, linked to hunger and weight gain.
How much should I feed my Labrador?
Use the feeding guide for his ideal weight, weigh meals on kitchen scales, and adjust with your vet using body condition rather than appetite as your guide.
How do I stop my Labrador begging?
Never feed from the table, feed meals in his own space, reward calm behaviour and make sure everyone in the house follows the same rules.
Can I test my Labrador for the hunger gene?
DNA testing for the POMC variant is available. Ask your vet whether it's worthwhile for your dog. Either way, the management is the same: careful portions.
How do I know if my Labrador is overweight?
You should be able to feel his ribs easily, see a waist from above and a tuck from the side. Your vet can give a body condition score.
How long do lean Labradors live?
In a 14-year study, Labradors fed 25% less than their littermates lived a median of about 13 years, compared with 11.2 years.
Why does my Labrador eat so fast?
Many Labs are very food-driven and eat quickly. Slow feeders, puzzle feeders and scatter feeding make meals last longer.
Should I worry if my Labrador is suddenly hungrier?
Yes, if it's sudden or comes with drinking more, weeing more or weight loss. See your vet to rule out medical causes.
Are all Labradors greedy?
No. Many are very food-motivated, but some are surprisingly fussy eaters. Carrying the POMC variant makes a big appetite more likely, not certain.
Is it cruel to restrict my Labrador's food?
No. Keeping a Labrador lean is one of the kindest things you can do for his joints and lifespan. Puzzle feeders help him feel busy and satisfied.
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