Every dog has a different sweet spot due to age, genetics, lifestyle, digestibility & quality of their food, and any health issues. Taking these into consideration, there are formulas that we and your vet use to estimate where to start. After that, the ultimate answer comes from this question: Is your dog maintaining a healthy, lean body weight? If the answer is YES, you are feeding the perfect amount! If the answer is NO (they are getting a little too skinny or too chubby), then we need to make some gradual adjustments.

For most adult dogs, splitting their daily recommended kibble amount into two meals is perfect.

To switch your Labrador's diet, we generally recommend transitioning over the course of one week, gradually phasing out the old food and introducing the new food. For the first two days, feed 25% new food and 75% old food. After that, move to 50% and 50% for two days, then 75% new food and 25% old food for two more days.

By this point, your dog should be ready to eat only their new food! If your pup tends to have a more sensitive digestive system, it's perfectly okay to make the transition even more gradual. Always monitor for any vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite changes that would indicate your dog is having trouble with the new food.

All dogs can get all dog diseases. That said, Labradors generally have phenomenal appetites and are prone to becoming overweight or obese. This can not only shorten their lifespan, but may also make other diseases worse.

Based on research studies, some conditions that Labradors are predisposed to include, but are not limited to: allergies (which usually manifest as skin issues), some heart conditions, chronic hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, elbow and hip dysplasia, some muscle disorders, epilepsy, some kinds of cancer, juvenile onset cataracts, entropion, ectopic ureters, laryngeal paralysis, and low B12 levels.

Swimming-related conditions like limber tail (sprained tail from swimming or wagging too much) are also possible.

It's important for dogs to chew their food before swallowing—this aids in proper digestion, helps avoid tummy upset, and decreases choking and bloat risks.

Making it harder to gobble food is a good start. To do this, try using a slow feeder bowl, scattering food on the kitchen floor (if you don't mind slobber), splitting dinner into 2–4 smaller dinners, or feeding with enrichment or puzzle toys.

For the most part, Labradors have bottomless stomachs and will rally to beg or eat, even after consuming a full meal. Don't take their word for it!

For a healthy adult dog at their ideal weight, the answer lies in this question: "Is my dog maintaining a stable, healthy weight?" If the answer is YES, you are totally feeding enough. If this is true but your Labrador is still begging intensely, it could be due to a number of things, like not feeling full (this is a volume issue rather than a calorie issue) or some health issues that indicate a vet visit isn't a bad idea.

If they are losing weight, food might be the issue, but other things could also be going on—we and you/your vet should talk about it. If they are gaining weight, ditto. If your vet says your pup's healthy and just perpetually hungry, you can try adding low-calorie extras to their dinner, like cooked green beans or broccoli, to give them that nice "full" feeling after eating without piling on the calories.

There isn't sufficient evidence to confirm that elevating bowls is beneficial to a healthy adult dog. However, if your dog has neck or back pain, it can be more comfortable to eat from an elevated bowl so they don't strain their neck as much.

Regarding the risk for gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV, or bloat)—to our knowledge there are only two relevant studies, and their findings conflict with regard to varying heights vs risk of GDV. In both studies, feeding from an elevated bowl did not reduce the risk of stomach torsion relative to feeding from the floor. The safest option without further evidence is to feed otherwise healthy, at-risk breeds from the floor. This may not reduce the risk of GDV, but there is no evidence to suggest that risk will increase.