The Best Dog Food For Labs in 2023 (Make an Informative Choice)

The task of choosing the right food for your Lab can be as challenging as persuading the dog not to chase the mailman.

Labradors, known for their endless energy and love for food, require a well-balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight and fuel their playful spirits. This guide will spotlight the top dog food options that cater specifically to the nutritional needs of our lovable dogs.

Spoiler alert: they’re not all created equal. So, whether your Lab is a bouncing puppy, a sprightly adult, or a wise senior, we’ve got you covered. Prepare to dive into the world of premium proteins, essential nutrients, and specially formulated kibbles.

With these reviews, we will make sure your Labrador gets the best food while dodging puppy-dog eyes at dinner time!

Let’s get started!

Image	Product	Features	Price
	Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult	Life Stage: Adult Best For: Overall	Check on ChewyCheck on Amazon
	Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult	Life Stage: Adult Best For: Budget Food for Labs	Check on ChewyCheck on Amazon
	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Large Breed	Life Stage: Adult Best For: Premium Food for Labs	Check on ChewyCheck on Amazon
	Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed	Life Stage: Adult Best For: Overweight Labs	Check on ChewyCheck on Amazon
	Hill's Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Large Breed	Life Stage: Adult Best For: Labs with Joint Problems	Check on ChewyCheck on Amazon

Our Top 10 Best Food For Labradors

1. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
2. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice
3. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Large Breed Chicken & Turkey
4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility
5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed
6. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Food
7. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
8. CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb
9. Wellness Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley
10. American Journey Large Breed Adult Chicken & Sweet Potato

The Best Dog Foods For Labradors Retrievers reviewed individually

The AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines for dogs are followed by all dog foods on this list. Make sure you consult your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet.

Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

• Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Rice Bran, Whole Grain Oatmeal
• Calories: 350kcal/cup
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Overall

Ever wondered what’s the best food for Labradors? Check Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food, where your Lab’s taste buds and health needs cross paths. Picture this – protein-loaded bites with real chicken, lamb, and salmon, and chicken leading the parade.

The formula gets more exciting with 15 superfoods, including coconut, chia, kale, and blueberries, promising complete and balanced nutrition. The trusted farmers’ contributions are non-GMO and meticulously checked for quality and safety.

Plus, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives – just pure, nourishing kibble. Go on, give your full-sized furball a taste of this meal, and watch them thrive!

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice

• Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Ground White Rice
• Calories: 327 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Budget Food for Labradors

In the quest for the best budget food for Labs, Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food takes center stage. This product of a family-owned company uses top-quality ingredients from trusted domestic and global sources, and real cage-free chicken is the star.

It’s expertly tailored for large breeds and features a nutrient-rich blend of superfoods like blueberries and oranges, along with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.

The unique addition of species-specific K9 strain proprietary probiotics, antioxidants, and prebiotics further supports healthy digestion and overall wellness. The best part?

It’s free from corn, wheat, artificial flavors, or colors. Treat your Labrador to this well-rounded, budget-friendly, and holistic diet from Diamond Naturals!

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Large Breed Chicken & Turkey

• Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lentils, Peas
• Calories: 342 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Senior
• Best for: Premium Food for Labs

Presenting Wellness CORE Natural Large Breed Dog Food, the premium choice for Labs that promises not only a tasty meal but also a bounty of health benefits. This grain-free dry food champions a balance of premium proteins like chicken and turkey, coupled with nutrient-rich superfoods, fruits, and vegetables.

What sets it apart is the larger kibble size, catering to our large furry friends’ needs for easy eating. Moreover, it’s fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids, aimed at enhancing lean body mass, muscle tone, and a radiant coat and skin.

A unique blend of advanced natural nutrition, it assures whole-body health without any meat by-products, fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat gluten, or artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

Make the wise choice with Wellness CORE, the top-tier, holistic, and natural food for your dog!

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility

• Main Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Wheat
• Calories: 367 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Labs with Joint Problems

For Labs grappling with joint problems, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility emerges as the best choice. This diet is specially designed with large breeds’ needs in mind, particularly their susceptibility to joint issues.

From day one, it sets out to bolster hip and joint health using natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, the fundamental components of robust cartilage. The balanced mineral profile fortifies strong bones, essential for Labs with joint problems.

High-quality protein and natural fibers are also present, ensuring your buddy feels satisfied between meals. This formula goes beyond joint health, incorporating omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to enhance skin health and bring a gleaming shine to your dog’s coat.

Trust in Hill’s Science Diet for a comprehensive solution to your Lab’s joint problems.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed

• Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Peas
• Calories: 323 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Overweight Labs

In the quest for the best choice for weight control and overweight Labs, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Food steps up to the plate.

This specially tailored formula commences with protein-rich deboned chicken, championing lean muscle development, and is supplemented with L-carnitine to help reduce calories from fat.

It doesn’t just stop at weight control, it also supports joint health and mobility with glucosamine and chondroitin nurtures healthy skin, and coats with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Packed with calcium, phosphorus, essential vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants, it fortifies strong bones, and teeth, and bolsters the immune system. Best of all, it’s devoid of common allergens like corn, wheat, soy, and chicken by-product meals.

Blue Buffalo’s formula truly stands out as a comprehensive, health-conscious solution for maintaining a healthy weight in our Lab friends.

Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Food

• Main Ingredients: Chicken-By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Gluten
• Calories: 308 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Growth
• Best for: Labrador Puppies

Searching for the perfect food for Lab puppies?

Consider the Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition, crafted exclusively for purebred Lab puppies from 8 weeks to 15 months old. This unique formula features a specialized kibble that encourages slower eating and aids digestion with top-notch proteins and prebiotics, promoting optimal stool quality.

It also includes a specific blend of antioxidants, including vitamin E, that bolsters your pup’s immune system.

The carefully balanced energy content supports a healthy weight, while the precise mineral content promotes bone and joint health.

Once your puppy surpasses 15 months, seamlessly transition them to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Dog Food for continued precise nutrition.

ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Main Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Whole Herring, Chicken Liver
• Calories: 473 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Adult
• Best for: Lab puppies and adults

ORIJEN Dry Dog Food, crafted with love in the USA from the finest global ingredients. Designed to mirror your dog’s ancestral diet, this nutrient-packed food delivers a hefty 85% quality poultry and fish ingredients, ensuring your furry friend gets essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Packed with fresh, refrigerated, or raw frozen components, this food guarantees peak freshness from the top five ingredients.

ORIJEN’s signature WholePrey diet incorporates the juiciest parts of prey like meat, organs, and bone to cater to your dog’s instinctual cravings.

This nutrient-dense animal-infused diet not only tantalizes taste buds but bolsters your dog’s immune system and promotes a healthier digestive system, skin, and coat.

For a tail-wagging feast that fuels your dog’s wild side while nourishing them fully, look no further than ORIJEN Dry Dog Food!

CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb

• Main Ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, brown rice, white rice
• Calories: 506 kcal/cup
• Life stage: All life stages
• Best for: Lab puppies and adults

In your pursuit of the perfect food for all life stages, you may want to consider the CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb.

This vet-formulated recipe is specifically crafted to suit dogs of every breed, size, and age, offering an all-in-one solution for both multi-dog and single-dog households.

Its nutritional profile is robust, offering optimal protein sourced from chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish meals, and it also includes a special blend called HealthPLUS Solutions, featuring probiotics, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids.

Free from common allergens like corn, wheat, and soy, it relies on premium ingredients plus added vitamins and minerals to deliver a tasty and nutritionally dense meal your furry friend will love.

Wellness Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley

• Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice
• Calories: 416 kcal/cup
• Life stage: Senior
• Best for: Senior Labs

If you are seeking the ideal food for senior Labrador, Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Barley might be a perfect choice. This natural dry food is meticulously formulated to provide comprehensive nutritional support for older dogs.

The recipe boasts premium proteins and wholesome grains, all enriched with beneficial omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, taurine, and beta-carotene. The food aims to encourage brain health, maintain energy levels, and foster healthy skin and coat, all while supporting overall wellness.

Plus, it’s free from GMOs, meat by-products, fillers, and artificial preservatives, ensuring your senior dog gets nothing but the best.

American Journey Large Breed Adult Chicken & Sweet Potato

• Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, peas, chickpeas
• Calories: 370 kcal/cup
• Life stage: All life stages
• Best for: Lab puppies and adults

American Journey Large Breed Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe is an ideal food for large breeds like Labradors, with chicken as the top ingredient to support lean muscle development, energy, and overall health.

The larger kibble size caters to large breed dogs and is packed with balanced minerals, glucosamine, chondroitin, and natural fiber for joint and digestive health. This recipe offers a mix of nutrient-dense ingredients for balanced vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Excluding unnecessary extras like corn, wheat, soy, or poultry by-product meals, it focuses on sources of nutrients your pup needs. This grain-free recipe, developed by Chewy with the expertise of pet-loving professionals, may contain trace amounts of grains due to its production in a facility that processes grains.

With a blend of delicious chicken, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals, it supports your large breed dog’s health and satisfies their appetite.

Understanding Labrador Retrievers’ Nutritional Needs

As the popularity of the Labrador breed rises in 2023, the need to comprehend their dietary needs becomes paramount. They’re more than just a beloved pet or popular dog breed, they’re members of the family.

Therefore, providing them with a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs is crucial.

Energy Requirements for Labs

Labs are known for their high activity level and need a diet rich in energy to support their energetic lifestyle. Whether you’re feeding your dog wet food, dry kibble, or a mixture of both, selecting the right food to match their energy needs is key.

This gives you a basic idea of the caloric intake your Lab needs daily. Your dog’s activity level, age, and overall health will play significant roles in determining their dietary needs.

Protein Needs for Muscle Development

The protein content in your Labrador’s diet plays a crucial role in muscle development and maintenance. High-quality dog food for Labs should contain at least 18% protein for adult dogs and 22% for growing puppies.

When choosing the best dog food for your Labrador, whether it’s wet or dry, make sure to look at the label for the protein source. Quality dog food brands use real meat, such as chicken, beef, or fish, as their primary protein sources.

Limited-ingredient diets can also be a good option for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies to common protein sources.

Healthy Fats for Coat and Skin Health

Labs are known for their lustrous coat, and maintaining their shine requires a diet rich in healthy fats. High-quality dog food often contains essential fatty acids, like Omega-3 and Omega-6.

These fatty acids not only improve your Labrador’s skin and coat health but also support their immune system, regulate body temperature, and promote proper brain development in puppies. A diet that includes DHA, a specific type of Omega-3 fatty acids, is especially beneficial for Labrador puppies.

Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Overall Well-being

Providing a balanced diet for your Labrador goes beyond the macros. Essential vitamins and minerals also play a critical role in your dog’s overall well-being. Vitamins like A, B, D, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and potassium should be present in their diet.

Selecting the best dog food for Labrador Retrievers can be challenging with the numerous options available in the market.

Always remember that high-quality dog food not only caters to their energy needs but also supports their muscle development, skin health, and overall well-being.

Avoiding Harmful Additives and Fillers

While scanning the label, look out for harmful additives and fillers. These may include artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, which are potentially harmful.

Also, avoid foods with too many fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, as they offer little nutritional value and can be hard to digest for some dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies.

Checking for AAFCO Certification

Lastly, look for the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) certification. This ensures that the pet food has met the minimum nutritional requirements set by the organization.

Choosing the best food for your Labrador retriever can be tricky. Always remember that each dog may have individual needs and preferences.

It’s often a good idea to introduce new food slowly into your dog’s diet to monitor for any adverse reactions. What’s your go-to dog food brand for your Lab? Any specific ingredients that you avoid? Share your experiences and let’s learn together!

Choosing the Right Type of Dog Food for Labs

When it comes to the best dog foods for Labs, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The ideal food for your dog largely depends on their specific nutritional needs, overall health, age, and preferences.

Let’s break down the benefits and considerations for dry dog food, wet dog food, and raw food diets.

Dry Dog Food: Benefits and Considerations

It’s crucial to ensure that the dry dog food you choose is a high-quality product from a reliable pet food brand. Make sure it contains a good balance of proteins, carbs, and fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals.

Wet Dog Food: Pros and Cons

Wet dog food is another option for Labs. Here’s what you should know:

On the downside, wet food can be more expensive than dry food and has a shorter shelf life once opened. It also doesn’t offer the dental benefits that dry food can provide.

Tips for Feeding Labs

Feeding your Labrador doesn’t only mean choosing the best affordable dog food, but it also involves establishing good feeding habits. Let’s look at some useful tips for feeding your beloved dogs.

Establishing a Feeding Schedule

Labs thrive on routine, so establish a consistent feeding schedule. This routine helps in regulating their digestive system and also prevents begging behavior.

For puppies, consider feeding them three to four times a day. As they grow older, you can gradually reduce feeding times to twice a day.

Final Words

Wrapping up our journey on choosing the best food for Labs, it’s clear that the right nutrition is as vital as a loving home for these furry friends.

Every Lab is unique, so what works for one might not suit another. Your Lab’s age, activity level, and health conditions are key factors in this decision. Don’t hesitate to consult with your vet when in doubt.

Above all, watching your Labrador thrive on a diet that suits them is a joy every Lab parent deserves to experience.