Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Labradors may be genetically 'hard-wired' for greed
The Guardian ^ | 3 May, 2016 | Nicola Davis

Posted on 05/04/2016 6:24:06 PM PDT by MtnClimber

A study of labrador DNA revealed more than a fifth of the dogs carry a genetic variation which could predispose them to food-seeking and weight gain.

Labrador dogs are well known for being fond of their food, but new research suggests their greedy nature could be down to genetic mutation.

Labrador retrievers are top dog in the UK, with 32,507 animals newly registered with the Kennel Club in 2015 alone. But the breed is well known for its tendency to develop a portly form, a concern given the variety of health problems - from diabetes to heart disease - linked to obesity.

To find out why the dogs are so food-focused, a team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Cambridge delved into the the dogs’ genetic make up. Their results revealed that more than a fifth of labradors carry a variation in their DNA that could predispose them to weight gain.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: dogs
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-119 next last
To: MtnClimber

My JRT is watching me eat a snack right now. He is hoping that I drop some of it.


61 posted on 05/04/2016 7:39:40 PM PDT by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Black Labs wre the WORST for obtaining a good picture with the digital auto all cams of today...


62 posted on 05/04/2016 7:40:36 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Live Free or Die.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Smart move. I lost some really great mittens that night to a garbage dumpster. Bacon grease is a dog magnet and they are clever ones.


63 posted on 05/04/2016 7:43:25 PM PDT by mplsconservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: ButThreeLeftsDo
Car keys/ Yum

Swallowed a rock. Mom spent two weeks autopsying my poop, til I threw it up [finally]

[Do you like my wood crafting 101 project?] The Dog

64 posted on 05/04/2016 7:45:24 PM PDT by Daffynition ("We have the fight of our lives coming up to save our nation!" ~ Jim Robinson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Ditter

JRT’s are the worst beggars of all! Well, they ARE terriers after all is said and done. They won’t let go of ideas or anything and all they see, they own!

My Lab mix dogs were never so intense.


65 posted on 05/04/2016 7:46:45 PM PDT by mplsconservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Dogs want food.
How much did this discovery cost some tax payer?


66 posted on 05/04/2016 7:47:41 PM PDT by glasseye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Dogs and rocks. Never understood that one.


67 posted on 05/04/2016 7:47:43 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Get Ready)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

One of my dogs ate a red balloon. I didn’t know it until I saw it coming out of the dogs butt.........inflated!


68 posted on 05/04/2016 7:48:23 PM PDT by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: iowamark
The king's taster


69 posted on 05/04/2016 7:48:29 PM PDT by Daffynition ("We have the fight of our lives coming up to save our nation!" ~ Jim Robinson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
I have a yellow lab that would eat all day if I let her. She gets fed in the morning and night and maintains a healthy weight. I wouldn't say she's genetically predisposed to anything other than insisting on greeting me with something in her mouth after I've been out. It's like she says, “oh hey, you're home! I brought this for you”. Sadly, she is living out her last days, having just had a malignant tumor removed and many more still inside her. We've decided to feed her, love her and fulfill her bucket list rather than put her through chemo and radiation. Smartest dog I've ever owned. It seems like she was trained in 10 minutes. If you've never had one and thought about getting one, I'd highly recommend it......and pick up a good vacuum when you get the dog, LOL.
70 posted on 05/04/2016 7:50:46 PM PDT by liberalh8ter (The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

Bones and all?

Lordy,I love dogs.

.


71 posted on 05/04/2016 7:53:15 PM PDT by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: ButThreeLeftsDo

I lost a cake, a steak, two lamb chops, a woolly hat, a dead seagull left on the beach (that one attracted a huge crowd) to that damned dog.


72 posted on 05/04/2016 7:54:29 PM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: With my own people alone I should like to drive away the Turks (Muslims))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

We lived on an orchard for a couple years. Our lab (I kid you not) would go and pic low hanging fruit from the trees...she grew to 75lbs....we moved and started working lots of hours....but still had the weight. Had to give her to someone who had more time to walk her...they got her down to 50 lbs!


73 posted on 05/04/2016 7:56:56 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Alinsky.....it's what's for dinner: with Cloward Piven for Dessert)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Our full bred lab turned about 30 linear feet of treated pine lattice under my deck railings into toothpicks when she was a near full grown puppy. A good dog, but I wouldn’t own another lab without living in a house in the country. They really need more elbow room than suburbia provides, I believe.


74 posted on 05/04/2016 7:59:32 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: miss marmelstein

Anything remotely considered edible, left in range is gone.


75 posted on 05/04/2016 8:00:01 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Get Ready)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: liberalh8ter

I’m sorry about your baby. That unconditional love is so precious. Give her a hug from me please. I understand what you are going through. ((Hugs)) It hurts so much.


76 posted on 05/04/2016 8:03:27 PM PDT by mplsconservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Aside from food my dog was a hog for attention. I lost control of the leash when he rushed at midnight into a Robert DeNiro movie being filmed near my beachfront condo. Luckily, DeNiro was no where in sight but they did have to stop shooting as he greeted everyone.


77 posted on 05/04/2016 8:03:45 PM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: With my own people alone I should like to drive away the Turks (Muslims))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

I heard the other day that working dogs make the best service animals because they are motivated by food(treats for rewards). This makes them eager to learn and more trainable.


78 posted on 05/04/2016 8:05:36 PM PDT by cornfedcowboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I know a Lab at the lake that comes by sometimes while making his rounds. I don’t feed him, but I threw a stick in the water once, so now I have a friend for life. He really loves to swim. He will just swim laps around the pier just for the heck of it, and never show signs of being tired. I’m sure he would eat us out of house and home if given a chance, but Labs don’t need food to be your friend.


79 posted on 05/04/2016 8:11:41 PM PDT by yawningotter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

What a nice fun thread this is! Finally, something besides politics.

My Labrador history: black Duke, yellow Daisy, chocolate Nessie, and black Titus have all crossed the Rainbow Bridge to doggie heaven. Yellow Jewel and chocolate Nugget are our two food storage units now. Jewel is 12 and starting to show her age. Nugget just turned one and is helping Jewel to stay a puppy. Poor Jewel...


80 posted on 05/04/2016 8:58:55 PM PDT by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% red.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-119 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson