Labrador Retrievers need a complete and balanced diet that is filled with rich-proteins, complex carbohydrates, high-energy fats, chelated minerals and essential vitamins. These 5 necessary nutrients are vitally important,along with exercise and water to help maintain a healthy Lab.
Additionally, a young, active, adult Labrador Retriever requires between 1500 and 1875 calories per day depending on body weight. (National Academy of Sciences) Finding a complete and balanced dog food for your Labrador Retriever can be no easy task. You may have already noticed that there’s thousands of brands available and all of them claim to be the best dog food for a Labrador Retriever.
So what is the best dog food for a Labrador Retriever? Our dog food nutritionists have researched and analyzed over 1800 dog food brands for the very best based off the nutritional needs of a Labrador retriever. Here are the best dog food brands for a Labrador Retriever for 2024.
To qualify each dog food brand must meet the following requirements:
- Real Meat is the #1 Ingredient
- Protein and Fat Level Balance
- No Corn, Wheat or Soy
- No Artificial Flavors, Colors or Preservatives
- Exceeds AAFCO Standards
Chicken Soup for the Soul® Adult Dry Dog Food
According to National Academy of Sciences Labrador Retrievers need between 1500-1875 calories/day depending on how active your Lab is. When dividing that up per cup to per k/cal, we are feeding our Labs between 2-4 cups of dry dog food per day. When you add that up over a month you may find that feeding a lab can get quite expensive.
If your on a budget like most dog owners you may want to consider Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult Dry Dog Food. Real chicken and real turkey are the #1 and #2 ingredients in this complete and balanced dog food. The formula is antioxidant rich and also contains DHA for healthy eye and brain function. Per guaranteed analysis, Chicken Soup for the Soul exceeds AAFCO standards.
Ingredients: Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain brown rice, peas, oatmeal, white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potatoes, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, flaxseed, duck, salmon, egg product, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, dried chicory root, dried kelp, carrots, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, cranberries, rosemary extract, parsley flake, vitamin E supplement, zinc oxide, thiamine mononitrate, yucca schidigera extract, zinc proteinate, L-Carnitine, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, vitamin A supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, niacin supplement, calcium iodate, riboflavin supplement, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, copper proteinate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, sodium selenite, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, cobalt carbonate.
Caloric Content: 3,560 kcal/kg; 350 kcal/cup
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
|---|---|
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 26.0% min |
| CRUDE FAT | 14.0% min |
| CRUDE FIBER | 4.0% max |
| MOISTURE | 10.0% max |
| ZINC | 180 mg/kg min |
| SELENIUM | 0.3 mg/kg min |
| VITAMIN E | 150 IU/kg min |
| OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS | 2.5% min |
| OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS | 0.4% min |
Taste of the Wild® High Prairie Dry Dog Food
Taste of the Wild High Prairie meets all requirements of a perfect dry dog food for a Labrador Retriever. Real buffalo is the #1 ingredient found in High Prairie. Buffalo is protein rich along with additional ingredients including; lamb meal, chicken meal, venison, beef and bison.
Packed with real meat and wholesome vegetables, this diet mimics that of the Labrador Retriever’s ancestral generation. Additionally, Taste of the Wild High Prairie delivers rich antioxidants like tomatoes, blueberries and raspberries that help deliver a healthy immune system as well.
Ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, egg product, roasted bison, roasted venison, beef, natural flavor, tomato pomace, potato protein, pea protein, ocean fish meal, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid. Contains a source of live, naturally occurring microorganisms.
Caloric Content: 3,719 kcal/kg, 370 kcal/cup
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
|---|---|
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 32.0 % min |
| CRUDE FAT | 18.0% min |
| CRUDE FIBER | 4.0% max |
| MOISTURE | 10.0% max |
| ZINC | 150 mg/kg min |
| SELENIUM | 0.35 mg/kg min |
| VITAMIN E | 150 IU/kg min min |
| TAURINE | 0.12% min |
| OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS | 2.8% min |
| OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS | 0.3% min |
| TOTAL MICRORGANISMS | 80,000,000 CFU/lb |
Wellness® CORE Natural Grain Free Original Turkey and Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
Wellness CORE Original Dry Dog Food is packed with deboned turkey, turkey meal and chicken meal which make up a majority of the protein-dense diet. Additional spinach, flaxseed, potatoes, peas, broccoli, apples, blueberries, kale and carrots are added for 100% complete nutrition. The mixture of antioxidant rich fruits, wholesome vegetables, chelated minerals and essential vitamins provide optimum health for the most active Labrador Retriever.
Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Dried Ground Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Chicken Liver, Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Spinach, Vitamin E Supplement, Broccoli, Carrots, Choline Chloride, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Kale, Sweet Potatoes, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract. This is a naturally preserved product.
Caloric Content: 421 kcal/cup
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
|---|---|
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 34.0% min |
| CRUDE FAT | 16.0% min |
| CRUDE FIBER | 4.0% max |
| MOISTURE | 10.0% max |
| CALCIUM | 2.0% max |
| PHOSPHORUS | 1.40% max |
| VITAMIN E | 400 IU/kg |
| OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS | 3.25% min |
| OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS | 0.5% min |
| GLUCOSAMINE | 250 mg/kg min |
| CHONDROITIN SULFATE | 200 mg/kg min |
| BETA-CAROTENE | 5 mg/kg min |
| TOTAL LACTIC ACID MICROORGANISMS* | +80,000,000 CFU/lb min |
Orijen® Original Dry Dog Food
Orijen Original is one of the best dry dog food brands for Labrador Retrievers. Just take a look at the ingredient list for a second. Orijen has 3 times the meat of most conventional dog food brands available online today. 2/3 of the meats in this formula is raw or fresh, and never processed.
The high quality fresh meats give Orijen Original an outstanding 38.0% min protein level, which is perfect for active Labs. The 5 star formula contains 85% poultry, fish and egg as well as 15% fruits and vegetables. Biologically appropriate, Orijen is one of the healthiest dog food brands currently available online today.
Ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, yellowtail flounder, whole eggs, whole atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, whole atlantic herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated mackerel, dehydrated chicken liver, dehydrated turkey liver, whole green peas, whole navy beans, red lentils, chicken necks, chicken kidney, pinto beans, chickpeas, green lentils, alfalfa, chicken fat, natural chicken flavor, herring oil, ground chicken bone, chicken cartilage, turkey cartilage, dried kelp, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, whole carrots, apples, pears, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product.
Caloric Content: 3940 kcal/kg, 394 kcal/cup
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
|---|---|
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 38.0% min |
| CRUDE FAT | 18.0% min |
| CRUDE FIBER | 4.0% max |
| MOISTURE | 12.0% max |
| DHA | 0.2 min |
| EPA | 0.2 min |
| CALCIUM | 1.4 min |
| PHOSPHORUS | 1% min |
| OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS | 3% min |
| OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS | 0.8% min |
| GLUCOSAMINE | 600mg/kg |
| CHONDROITIN SULFATE | 600mg/kg |
| TOTAL MICROORGANISMS | 100MM CFU/lb min |
Zignature® Zssential Multi-Protein Recipe Dry Dog Food
Labrador Retrievers love the taste of lean turkey. Turkey not only is rich in proteins it’s extremely palatable. One of the best turkey formulas available for Labs is Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Dry Dog Food. This 5 star formula is packed with protein and healthy fats for the most active Lab.
In addition to lean turkey, salmon, lamb, chickpeas, duck and flaxseed are also added to Zignature Zssential. The limited ingredient diet encourages a healthy appetite for any life-stage Labrador. Per guaranteed analysis, this brand is complete and balanced perfectly for a Labrador Retriever.
Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Meal, Salmon, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Duck Meal, Pea Flour, Peas, Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid), Flaxseeds, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavors, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salmon Oil, Salt, Dried Kelp, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate), Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Blueberries, Cranberries, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate).
Caloric Content: 422 kcal/cup
| Guaranteed Analysis | |
|---|---|
| CRUDE PROTEIN | 32.0% min |
| CRUDE FAT | 16.0% min |
| CRUDE FIBER | 5.5% max |
| MOISTURE | 10.0% max |
| CALCIUM | 1.2% max |
| PHOSPHOROUS | 1.0% max |
| OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS | 4.5% min |
| OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS | 2.0% min |