Labradors are adorable, loving, and strong dogs. You may have noticed that Labs have big chests—did you know that their strength primarily comes from their big chests? But why do Labradors have such big chests?
Labradors have such big chests because they were initially bred to help fishermen haul in fish from the sea, requiring a lot of strength. The job also entailed swimming, so Labradors needed to have big chests. These traits have continued, so Labradors today still have big chests.
The rest of this article will go into greater detail on why Labradors have such big chests, so keep reading to learn more!
Why Do Labradors Not Have Small Chests?
Labradors don’t have small chests because they preserve their original physical attributes—their big chests. These dogs were bred as working dogs; they needed to be strong, hence their big chests. It wouldn’t be possible for them to carry as much fish or swim in the sea if they had small chests.
So, you could say that selective breeding is part of the reason Labradors don’t have small chests. Additionally, Labradors are big dogs in general, so they don’t have small chests.
A Big Chest Can Create Problems for a Labrador’s Health
Specific problems are more likely to occur in large dogs with big chests. One of the main complications of a big chest is bloat, which occurs when the stomach fills with gas; it can happen in a dog of any size, but it’s more common in breeds like Labradors.
This bloat often progresses into a life-threatening condition known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). If a Labrador has GDV, their stomach will twist, and both exits will be blocked. The only thing you must do in this situation is bring your dog straight to the vet.
It’s Possible To Reduce the Risk of GDV
Although it’s common for Labradors to experience GDV, there are things you can do to prevent it from occurring. The main thing you should do is make sure your Labrador isn’t eating too quickly.
If your Labrador eats quickly, it’s more likely that too much air will get trapped in the stomach, creating bloat. An excellent way to prevent it from eating too quickly is to put the food in a toy to get the food out slowly.
Another thing you could do is feed your Labrador small meals throughout the day instead of one or two large meals. This keeps it comfortably full, so it’ll be less likely to munch on food too quickly.
A Big Chest Equals Strength
Their big chests make Labradors strong dogs, so training them early on is essential. An untrained Labrador will pull on a leash and might be too strong to handle. It’ll also be more likely to injure people because it may jump up and knock them over with its strength.
Luckily, Labradors are intelligent dogs and generally easy to train once you start early. By teaching your Lab early, it’ll be less likely for it to injure you or others, and it will also be much easier to walk it on a leash.
What Other Dog Breeds Have Big Chests?
Other dog breeds that have big, deep chests include Great Danes, Saint Bernards, and Basset Hounds. Like Labradors, these dogs are also more likely to develop bloat, and subsequently, GDV.
And it’s not just big breeds that have big, deep chests. Smaller and medium-sized dogs can have deep chests, too, including dachshunds.
What Does a Deep Chest Look Like in a Dog?
A deep chest in a dog will protrude down toward the elbows, but the rest of the body will be higher. A great example of a dog with a deep chest is a Greyhound. It’s easy to see a greyhound’s deep chest because they generally don’t have excess body fat.
It can be more challenging to see a deep chest in a Labrador because they generally have more body fat, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have deep chests.
How To Tell if My Labrador Is Overweight?
Since Labradors have such big chests, it can be difficult to tell if they’re overweight or if it’s just their chest that makes them look chubby.
You can tell if your Labrador is overweight by examining the entire body. If other body parts are big, it’s likely to be overweight. Excessive panting, sluggishness, and overeating are other signs of an overweight Labrador.
In many cases, people think their Labradors are overweight when they’re actually at a healthy weight; this is primarily due to their deep chests, which is why it’s essential to look out for other signs of an overweight Labrador first.
You Can Feel the Ribs Under Your Lab’s Chest
Even though Labradors have big chests, you should still be able to feel their ribs easily when pressing on the chest area. If you can’t feel the ribs under your Lab’s chest or it’s difficult to touch them, it’s likely overweight.
It’s important to note that although being able to feel your Lab’s ribs under its chest indicates that your dog is healthy, you still want to make sure that your dog isn’t underweight. You know that your Lab should be eating more if it has a waist that’s narrower than its ribcage.
A Big Neck Is Another Sign Your Lab Is Overweight
A healthy Labrador will have a large chest, but other body parts, including the neck, will be slimmer. If you notice your Labrador’s neck is wide and thick with excess skin, it’s probably overweight.
If a collar that once fitted around your Lab’s neck no longer fits and is too tight or causes the skin to spill out, it needs to lose some weight.
Is There a Smaller Version of a Labrador?
There’s no smaller or miniature version of a Labrador. However, some mixed breeds that feature a Labrador can give you a small dog that looks like a Labrador. One of the most common breeds for someone who wants a smaller Labrador is a Corgidor (Labrador mixed with a Corgi).
A Labrador mixed with Corgi creates a dog with short legs and a Labrador face. It’ll also be much less strong than a regular Labrador, and its chest will be smaller and weaker. So, it’ll be easier to walk on the leash as it won’t have the strength to pull as much as a regular Labrador before it has been trained.
Corgidors have similar personalities to regular Labradors; they’re loyal, kind, energetic, and fun to be around! So, if you’re looking for a smaller Labrador that also doesn’t have a big chest, a Corgidor might be worth considering.
Conclusion
Labradors have such big chests because they were initially bred to be strong; it allowed them to work for fishermen by hauling fish from the sea.
The most important things to take away from this article are:
- Labradors with big chests have a higher chance of bloating and GDV.
- Labradors are strong due to their large size and chest.
- A big chest accompanied with other signs, such as excess fat around the neck, may indicate obesity.
- A Corgidor looks like a Labrador but is much smaller and has a smaller chest.
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