Best treats for Labradors: A simple guide for food-loving Labs

If you share your home with a Labrador, you'll know the look: the soft eyes, the thumping tail, the nose that appears the second a crisp packet rustles. Labs are famously food-loving, which makes them a joy to train – and a challenge to feed sensibly. So what are the best treats for Labradors? This simple guide explains why Labs love food so much, what to look for in a good treat, how to size and portion rewards, and how to use treats for training without the extra pounds.

At a glance:

Labs love food: Research from the University of Cambridge found a gene variant linked to appetite in many Labradors.

Choose simple, meaty treats: Short ingredients lists and single proteins make it easy to know what your Lab is eating.

Size and portion matter: Break treats into small pieces and keep treats to no more than 10% of daily calories.

Use their love of food well: Food motivation makes Labs brilliant at training – just plan the treats into their day.

In this guide:

• Why do Labradors love food so much?
• What makes a good treat for a Labrador?
• The best treats for Labradors: our simple shortlist
• Healthy treats for Labradors: keeping portions sensible
• Treats for Labrador puppies
• Using treats to train your Labrador
• Treats to avoid giving your Labrador
• Choosing the right treats for your Labrador

Why do Labradors love food so much?

The Labrador Retriever is the UK's most registered dog breed – Countryfile, reporting Kennel Club figures, says there were 34,141 registrations in 2024. And almost every Lab owner will tell you the same thing: they love their food.

There's science behind it. In 2016, researchers at the University of Cambridge, led by Dr Eleanor Raffan, found a variant of a gene called POMC that was linked to weight, obesity and appetite in Labradors and flat-coated retrievers. They estimated that about 23% of Labradors carry at least one copy. Each copy was associated with an average of 1.9kg extra body weight, and owners of these dogs reported that they were more food-motivated.

The researchers made an important point: this same food motivation can make Labs easier to train with food rewards. It also means owners need to keep a closer eye on their dog's weight.

So whether or not your Lab carries the variant, the message is simple: use their love of food for good, and plan treats carefully.

What makes a good treat for a Labrador?

The best treats for Labradors tick a few simple boxes.

Simple ingredients

A short ingredients list makes it easy to know what your Lab is eating. Single-protein treats, made from just one meat or fish, are a good choice, especially for Labs with sensitive tummies.

Easy to break into small pieces

Labs will happily take a treat the size of a pea just as eagerly as one the size of a biscuit. Treats that break easily mean you can give lots of rewards without lots of extra food.

Lower in fat

For food-loving dogs who need to watch their waistlines, lower-fat treats help their daily allowance go further.

Tasty enough to be worth it

For training, especially outdoors, your Lab needs a treat that competes with ducks, other dogs and interesting smells. Meaty, aromatic treats work best.

The right size for a big mouth

Labs are known for gulping. Choose treats that are either tiny training pieces or chews big enough that they can't be swallowed whole.

The best treats for Labradors: our simple shortlist

Here are the types of treat we'd suggest for most adult Labs.

Small, meaty training treats

Small air-dried bites and soft strips are ideal for training and everyday rewards. They're easy to carry, easy to break and tasty enough to hold a Lab's attention.

Lower-fat single proteins

Our low fat dog treats are all under 10% fat, grain-free and made mostly from single proteins. They're a great everyday choice for food-loving Labs.

Larger treats for big dogs

Our treats for large dogs are suited to bigger breeds like Labradors, and larger slices can be broken into pieces for training.

A long-lasting chew

Labradors were bred as working retrievers and many love to carry and chew. A long-lasting natural yak chew, made from yak milk, keeps dogs busy and satisfies the urge to chew. Choose a size your Lab can't fit fully in their mouth, stay nearby while they chew, and take it away once it's small enough to swallow.

Fish-based treats

Fish treats, such as salmon or white fish, are a nice change from meat and a good option if your Lab is bored of chicken.

Healthy treats for Labradors: keeping portions sensible

With a food-loving breed, the "how much" matters just as much as the "what".

UK Pet Food advises that treats and snacks should make up no more than 10% of a dog's daily calories. PDSA suggests reducing your dog's usual food by the same amount, or simply setting aside 10% of the day's food as their treat allowance.

Simple ways to keep it sensible:

• Break everything small: Pea-sized pieces for training are plenty, even for a big Lab.
• Use part of their meal: Weigh out the day's food and use some of it for easy rewards at home.
• Count every extra: Chews, crusts, cheese and scraps all add up.
• Mix in non-food rewards: A retrieve, a game of tug or a good sniff are all brilliant rewards for a Lab.
• Weigh food with scales: UK Pet Food recommends accurate kitchen scales rather than a scoop.
• Check their shape: You should be able to feel your Lab's ribs under a light covering and see a waist from above.

PDSA's 2023 PAW Report found that vets estimated 46% of dogs are overweight or obese – while most owners believed their dog was a healthy weight. It's worth asking your vet or vet nurse to check your Lab's body condition at their next visit.

If your dog has a health condition, is on medication or you're worried about a change in them, please speak to your vet first.

Treats for Labrador puppies

Labrador puppies grow fast and learn fast, so treats play a big part in their early days.

• Choose small, soft treats: Easy for little mouths and quick to eat during training.
• Keep pieces tiny: A puppy's treat allowance is small, so tiny pieces mean more rewards.
• Introduce new treats slowly: One new treat at a time is kinder to developing tummies.
• Use their food: Some owners use part of their puppy's daily food for training at home.
• Follow your vet's advice: Growing large-breed puppies have specific feeding needs.

Our guide to the best treats for puppy training has lots more on choosing rewards for little ones.

Using treats to train your Labrador

A Lab's love of food is a training superpower. Here's how to make the most of it.

Teach calm around food

Food-loving Labs can get very excited around treats. Practise "wait" before giving a reward, and teach "leave it" for dropped food and finds on walks.

Reward calm, not just tricks

Reward your Lab for lying quietly on their bed, walking nicely on the lead or settling when visitors arrive. It's just as valuable as a sit or a paw.

Use retrieve games

Labs are retrievers at heart. A game of fetch, with a treat for a good "drop", combines exercise, training and fun.

Make treats work for their food

Scatter part of their meal in the garden, use a snuffle mat or try a puzzle feeder. It slows down fast eaters and gives their nose a job.

Watch for "gulping"

Many Labs eat very fast. Hand-feeding treats one at a time, or using slow feeders, helps your Lab enjoy their food more slowly.

Mr Barnaby isn't a Lab, but he has the same "anything for food" attitude. One thing we've noticed with him is that a crumb-sized piece of venison gets exactly the same delighted reaction as a whole treat. Size matters far less to food-loving dogs than we think – which is great news for their waistlines.

Treats to avoid giving your Labrador

Labs will eat almost anything, which is exactly why it's worth being careful.

• Toxic foods: Chocolate, grapes, raisins, sultanas, onions, garlic and xylitol are toxic to dogs. If your Lab eats any of these, contact your vet straight away.
• Cooked bones: These can splinter.
• Fatty table scraps: Sausages, bacon, cheese and roast trimmings add lots of calories and can upset tummies.
• Treats small enough to gulp whole: Especially chews – choose a size your Lab can't swallow.
• Lots of new treats at once: If your Lab has a sensitive tummy, introduce one new treat at a time. Our complete guide to treats for sensitive dogs explains how.

With Christmas coming, keep a close eye on the kitchen counter, the coffee table and the bin – a Lab's nose finds everything.

Choosing the right treats for your Labrador

At Mr Barnaby's, we keep treats simple: air-dried, grain-free, hypoallergenic and made mostly from single proteins, with no added nasties. For Labradors, we'd suggest:

• Everyday rewards: Lower-fat single-protein treats, broken into small pieces.
• Training on walks: Small, meaty bites or soft strips your Lab can't resist.
• Quiet time: A long-lasting yak chew, sized for a big mouth.
• Variety: A change of protein – venison, duck, rabbit or fish – keeps food-loving Labs interested.

Pick one or two to start, and keep portions sensible – your Lab will be just as happy with small pieces.

Summary:

Labradors are famously food-loving, and research from the University of Cambridge found a gene variant linked to appetite in around 23% of Labs. The best treats for Labradors are simple, meaty, easy to break and lower in fat, with long-lasting chews sized for a big mouth. Keep treats to no more than 10% of daily calories, count every extra, mix in non-food rewards and ask your vet to check your Lab's body condition.

FAQs:

Q1: What are the best treats for Labradors?

The best treats for Labradors are simple, meaty treats that are easy to break into small pieces and lower in fat. Single-protein, air-dried treats work well for everyday rewards and training, and a long-lasting chew sized for a big mouth is great for quiet time.

Q2: Why are Labradors always hungry?

Labradors are famously food-motivated. University of Cambridge research found that around 23% of Labradors carry a variant of the POMC gene linked to appetite and weight. Whatever the reason, it means planning treats and meals carefully.

Q3: How many treats can I give my Labrador a day?

Treats should make up no more than 10% of your Lab's daily calories, according to UK Pet Food. Reduce their usual food by the same amount, break treats into small pieces and count everything, including chews and scraps.

Q4: What are good treats for a Labrador puppy?

Small, soft treats in simple proteins are ideal for Labrador puppies. Keep pieces tiny, introduce new treats one at a time and follow your vet's advice on feeding a growing large-breed puppy.

Q5: Are yak chews good for Labradors?

Many adult Labs enjoy yak chews because they love to chew and the chews are long-lasting. Choose a size your Lab can't fit fully in their mouth, supervise every session and take the chew away once it's small enough to swallow. Check with your vet if your Lab has dental problems.

Q6: How can I stop my Labrador gulping treats?

Hand-feed treats one at a time, use small pieces and try a snuffle mat or slow feeder for part of their food. Practising "wait" before each reward also helps your Lab slow down.

Not sure which treats suit your dog? Take our 60-second quiz and we'll make it simple.

This guide is general information to help you care for your dog. It isn't a substitute for advice from your vet, who knows your dog's individual needs.