The trend toward healthy eating has reached dogdom now, with more pet caregivers showing an interest in preparing a homemade or raw diet for their animals. The attraction of this type of diet is that you can control the quality of the ingredients. A homemade diet can be beneficial if your Lab has food allergies, is sensitive to artificial dyes or preservatives, or has a particular health problem that can be benefited by a special diet.

Proponents of raw diets argue that they are more natural and provide better nutrition. Raw foods retain enzymes and other healthful substances that cooking destroys. People who feed raw diets say their dogs have better health, a beautiful coat, few or no skin problems, and great dental health. Factors to consider before deciding to feed a homemade or raw diet include nutritional completeness, time, and expense.

One of the concerns about homemade diets is that they may lack certain vitamins and minerals, or contain an improper balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Simply feeding human-grade products doesn't make a diet complete and balanced. If ingredients aren't provided in proper proportions, the diet may be inadequate. It's possible to design a nutritionally complete homemade diet for dogs, but it's important to use appropriate recipes from valid sources. Look for a book by a veterinary nutritionist or a layperson trained in nutrition. It's a good idea to rotate the meats, vegetables, and fruits you use so that your Lab receives a variety of nutrients and stays interested in his meals.

Commercial Dog Foods

Commercial dog foods come ready to go in bags or cans. They're easy to measure out and feed. For a homemade diet, ingredients must be purchased, measured, mixed, and cooked (unless you're feeding a raw diet) on a frequent basis. If you enjoy cooking and have plenty of time to spend in the kitchen, this isn't a drawback.

What if you can barely get dinner on the table for your family, let alone for the dog, but you're not satisfied with the diets you find in the grocery store? You may want to consider purchasing a natural or raw diet from a pet supply store or through mail order. Many companies produce so-called natural foods that are preservative-free and contain high-quality organic ingredients. They come in dry, canned, or raw form.

Performance Diets

Working retrievers and show dogs lead stressful lives that call for extra nutrition. They need a diet that's high in caloric density, which means that a food is high in fat to provide energy and highly digestible so the dog's body can make use of it.

This type of food is called a performance diet. It's a good choice for a Lab that competes in field trials, conformation shows, agility, or some other active sport. Labs that get lots of strenuous daily exercise, such as several long walks or hikes, can also benefit from a performance food.

Every Lab is different, so don't be afraid to experiment until you find a food that suits your dog, with just the right mix of nutrients. How can you tell if your Lab's diet is balanced for his individual needs? Simply take a look. A dog eating a well-balanced diet is bright-eyed, muscular, and active, with good breath, a shiny coat, and healthy skin. Feeding a dog a balanced diet is all about choices. There's nothing wrong with feeding a commercial food if your dog is happy and healthy on it. It's convenient to feed, and it obviously meets your dog's nutritional needs. If your dog has health problems, allergies, or you'd simply like to have more control over what goes into his body, then you may want to consider some form of homemade diet. Whichever type of diet you choose, the most important thing is to make sure that it provides all the nutrients your dog needs.