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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Labrador Retriever

The Labrador is built to work, wired to eat, and quietly prone to carrying extra weight — which makes how, and how much, you feed one matter more than almost any other breed.

Here is exactly how to feed a Lab on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their joints, coat, and waistline.

  • Adult weight55–80 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan11–13 years
  • CoatDouble, water-repellent — heavy shedder

America's #1 most popular dog breed

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A healthy Labrador Retriever
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Labrador Retriever's body needs

Every Labrador Retriever trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Food-motivated & weight-prone

    Needs: Precise portions, lean protein

    Measured freeze-dried raw — fed by weight, not by the begging — keeps a Lab lean. A lean body is the single biggest lever for a longer, healthier life.

  • Hip & elbow dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin; omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off the joints.

  • High drive, working build

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy — without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Dense, water-repellent double coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, easing the heavy seasonal shedding and dryness Labs are known for.

  • Floppy ears, loves the water

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed the chronic ear and skin inflammation Labs are prone to.

How much to feed a Labrador Retriever

Quick answer: a healthy adult Labrador Retriever (55–80 lb) needs about 8–12 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
55 lb 8.3 oz 4.1 oz
61 lb 9.2 oz 4.6 oz
67 lb typical Labrador Retriever 10.1 oz 5.0 oz
73 lb 11.0 oz 5.5 oz
80 lb 12.0 oz 6.0 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Labrador Retriever

For a Labrador we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit weight-watchers and sensitive dogs; richer Beef suits hard-working or underweight Labs. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Labrador Retrievers

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Daily support for Labrador Retrievers

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Treats Labrador Retrievers love

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Feeding a Labrador Retriever by life stage

  • Puppy: Large-breed Lab puppies should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and resist overfeeding — fast growth raises hip and elbow dysplasia risk.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity drops but appetite rarely does. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition.

Common Labrador Retriever concerns — and the diet connection

  • ObesityThe most common Lab health problem and the most preventable — measured raw feeding and a lean body condition lower the risk of nearly every other issue on this list.
  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) slow progression and ease day-to-day comfort.
  • Recurring skin & ear infectionsFloppy ears and a love of water set the stage; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and dials down inflammation.
  • Energy & lean muscleWorking Labs run on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Labrador Retriever: what to know

A Lab will convince you it is starving. It usually is not. Feed to body condition, not to the begging: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above.

Because Labs gain weight quietly, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them, and re-check the amount every few weeks — especially after holidays, injuries, or any drop in activity.

Labrador Retriever feeding questions

How much should I feed my Labrador?
A healthy adult Lab (55–80 lb) needs roughly 8–12 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Labrador that gains weight easily?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean single proteins (Chicken or Cod) makes portion control easy and keeps calories honest. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than to your Lab's appetite.
How do I switch my Lab to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Labs usually take to it fast — it is rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline.
Does a Labrador need joint support?
Most do, given the breed's hip and elbow risk. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Lab lean is the most effective joint protection there is.

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  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.