The article below describes some new research that has identified a genetic quirk in Labradors..... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-...plain-why-labradors-are-food-obsessed/7378828 And another article on the same thing: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/may/03/labradors-could-be-genetically-hard-wired-for-greed
Thanks for the links, I had read this online last night in another newspaper. Interesting research although I do worry that it will give some owners an excuse for their dog being overweight without knowing whether or not they carry the mutation The researchers mention the use of food/treats in training as possibly increasing the incidence through breeding selection for 'trainability'. I'm not sure that really works for me if positive+ training has been around for some thirty something years against domestication some 10 to 15 thousand years ago (depending upon what sources you read). A common theory is that domestication arose from 'bolder' wolves scavenging from mans rubbish so wouldn't it be logical for a mutation around food to have occurred long ago to strengthen the link between man and his newly domesticated dog. Just my thoughts of course as mutations can occur at any time What's the explanation for all the overweight/obese dogs of other breeds where food/treats have been used the same?
I am not sure, Fred and Annie have the same Father and their mothers are sisters. Fred is not greed and sometimes does not finish his tea. Annie could eat for England, her tea, Fred's tea, cat's tea and our if we let her. but we do love her.
I don't think it's an excuse at all for people to have fat dogs. Until dogs have the resources to buy food, prepare and serve it to themselves, it's us who provide the amounts to them, and therefore down to us to make those amounts appropriate. I think it's an interesting explanation for Labradors' seemingly insatiable appetites, but since it says that it's only 23% of the population that has this damaged/mutated gene, then it's by no means the whole story. Maybe we should have a straw poll of forum members to see what percentage of our dogs would eat regardless of hunger. I've a gut feeling that it would be well over the 23%. I'll set that up now.
Well I know the answer after Benson ate 3 or 4 kgs of Bob and Lush...he ate so much he vomited a whole lot back up .He was so bloated he ended up at the vets....
I don't know about Dexter but I think I have this gene or it mutated the last couple of days. I keep feeling starving
Makes sense and i can see why a high number of assit dogs have it. I suspect Midge maybe on of those dogs shes a snorty little piglet.
I hope information like this doesn't give the green light to owners allowing their Labradors to eat and eat because they may have this gene. The dog can't make a decision about food so the owners must. Certainly a lot of very overweight Labs where I live. As far as assistance dogs go I understand the need to food train but how difficult is it to subtract the treat food from the daily meal allowance. My vet runs an obesity clinic and it's upsetting to see the dogs one by one being weighed and the owners have got every excuse under the sun. Shameful
