Posted on 05/04/2016 6:24:06 PM PDT by MtnClimber
A study of labrador DNA revealed more than a fifth of the dogs carry a genetic variation which could predispose them to food-seeking and weight gain.
Labrador dogs are well known for being fond of their food, but new research suggests their greedy nature could be down to genetic mutation.
Labrador retrievers are top dog in the UK, with 32,507 animals newly registered with the Kennel Club in 2015 alone. But the breed is well known for its tendency to develop a portly form, a concern given the variety of health problems - from diabetes to heart disease - linked to obesity.
To find out why the dogs are so food-focused, a team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Cambridge delved into the the dogs’ genetic make up. Their results revealed that more than a fifth of labradors carry a variation in their DNA that could predispose them to weight gain.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Oh, oh, oh you folks have no idea how food crazy Chihuahuas are.
I have two midget dogs. The other is a Papion. I have to stand there if I feed bacon bits or any cooked food or the Chihuahua gets mean.
Labs are more laid back, but any dog capable of reaching food might try and take it.
They are all chow hounds.
Ha! The wife was scared to death but the vet knew what he was talking about, we had a good laugh after it reappeared. :-)
I had 2 Labs, and found a rubber glove missing after treating one of them. Wasn’t sure which one took it out of the trash but had “a person of interest” in the theft. 2 days later I found I was right.
Another Lab I had would never take anything out of the trash can, he new it was a punishable offense. But he decided the punishment was worth it for raw venison.
Lewis Grizzard wrote volumes about his Lab Catfish. Something about his fondness for pantyhose comes to mind. Yup, that too passed.
Those doing these studies are hard wired for stupidity.
Don’t have to wonder what the owners looked like. No such thing as a fat dog in nature...
I’ve owned three labs. They are impossible to wear out thru exercise. They do get fat when they get older. They are also clowns and rally do chew everything.
Labs have to have a great constitution to pass things like that and I don’t believe they do it cuz they’re hungry, they do it from playfulness.
They’re great dogs.
Chowhounds and counter surfers - is at any wonder Labs are the bad dog favorite on the hit Bag Dog! show on Animal Planet? ;-)
Labs love to “shop” the kitchen counters after hours. EVERYTHING needs to be secured after dinner.
Labs can digest anything.
We had a black lab when I was a child. We fed the dog in the morning and then she would walk around the neighborhood - this was many years ago, in the suburbs and people who had tame dogs let them wander freely - I know it seems strange but that is how I remember it. Anyway, this dog went to several neighbors, they would give her something to eat. She carried her loot in her mouth and came home with it. The dog would drop the food in front of my mother and my mom would look at it and tell the dog to go ahead and eat it, and then the dog at her food. I thought that was so funny and I figured it was due to a retriever instinct. Everyone in the neighborhood liked that dog - I think they were amused at how she went around greeting everyone and begging for food and then she had the self-control to carry the food instead of gulping it right there. That was the dog’s routine every morning. It is a happy childhood memory for me to think about that dog’s antics.
If you think Labradorians are bad, you haven’t met any Newfies
I learned the hard way that it’s not good to leave a half eaten Subway wrapped up, but alone in the car with a well fed lab and expect to finish your sandwich upon your return...
Labs can retrieve your Big Mac?
I’m guy who likes to cook. I took a $20.00 roast beef out of the oven and put it on the counter and left the kitchen for 5 minutes. I came back and it was gone. My lab silently ate it and didn’t leave one trace of grease or anything. Just the pan and nothing else. Like that roast had never existed.
My Lab is hardwired as a con artist to get me to give him treats at any cost.
^^^^^ This + a million
We call it table surfing.
And my will do it as soon as you leave the room.
No, they can’t. We were dog sitting a neighbor’s black lab. He knew they were going out of town and began his nervous eating. Unfortunately, he found some cigar butts and chewed them up. Let’s just say we should have put him in his kennel that first night. Their cream colored carpet was never the same. He had explosive runs for days. We started feeding him rice, and he was ok after a few days.
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