Here's something to always follow if you have a Labrador - never let a Labrador go past their breed's standard weight. Whilst Labradors are a hardy breed, they are prone to obesity and its deadly diseases. Overfeeding and under-exercising Labradors is a growing problem amongst Labrador parents who find themselves struggling to increase quality and quantity of life once their Labrador surpasses optimum weight.

Speaking of which, food is often the primary source of obesity in Labradors. Hence, it is best to feed your Labrador age-appropriate food, and keep treats to a minimum. Given the breed's increasing popularity, Labrador dog food diets are curated to meet the breed's nutritional needs whilst ensuring delectable taste and long-lasting satiety. 

There's probably no exercise or activity this breed doesn't excel at. Whether it's racing you to the car or swimming to fetch their favourite squeaky, Labradors thrive on physical exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Because of the amount of energy in their bodies, Labradors require a minimum of four hours of daily aerobic exercise, i.e. one that gets their heart pumping and muscles moving. And, remember, because this is a versatile breed, there's never a boring day with the same ol' walk around the block. To make exercising fun for both you and your pupper, choose different exercises every day - running, swimming, flyball, agility, scentwork, drafting, fetching and so on.

As important as physical exercise is, so is mental stimulation. When Labradors were originally bred, they belonged to dogs that worked from dawn to dusk. Now, as they've moved to apartments and houses, their minds have almost nothing to do. Consequently, it channels all its energy onto destructive behaviour such as barking, chewing, and at times, even aggression. A minimum of 2 hours of mental stimulation in the form of puzzles and interactive toys, alongside physical exercise, is most beneficial in channelling built up energy onto something productive.