Why is my Labrador so lazy?

If your Labrador is lazy you might be wondering why and what you can do about it.

This post will show you a number of possible reasons why it is lazy and what you can do to get it to be more energetic.

So, why is my Labrador lazy? Possible reasons are that it is ill or injured, there is an issue with its diet, being too hot, not getting enough exercise, depression, getting older or it might naturally be lazy.

There are a number of reasons why your Labrador might be lazy and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the exact reason and there are some things you can do about it.

Possible reasons why your Labrador is lazy

Below are some possible reasons why your Labrador has been being lazy and what would make them more likely to be the reason.

Nature

Big dogs like Labradors will often sleep for around 12-14 hours per day, puppies and older Labradors will sleep for even longer. If you’re concerned because your Labrador has been sleeping a lot, it would be more likely to be normal behavior. However, if it has started sleeping a lot more suddenly, it would be important to take it to a vet.

It could also be the case that your Labrador is naturally calm. This would be more likely if it has always acted that way and it has not started being lazy suddenly. In this case, it would help to consider that a lazy dog is generally better than a hyperactive dog that is difficult to manage and destructive.

Age

The reason why your Labrador is lazy could be that it is getting older. As dogs get older, they require more energy to move around so they will naturally need to sleep more in order to recover. If your Labrador has gradually become lazier as it has gotten older then it would make it more likely to be age-related.

Boredom

The reason why your Labrador has been being lazy could actually be that it is bored. Labradors are meant to get exercise on a daily basis. Generally, it is recommended for them to get around an hour of exercise per day. If yours is not getting that much and it is healthy, it would help to make sure that it does get more exercise.

Diet

It could also be the case that there is an issue with its diet. It could be that it has been eating too much, not enough or that it has been eating things that it shouldn’t be. This would be more likely if it became lazy after a change in its diet or if it is lazy after eating certain foods. It would help to talk with your vet about its diet when you see them next and to make sure that no one else has been feeding it without telling you.

Illness or injury

The cause could also be that it has an illness or injury. This would be more likely if it has started being lazy suddenly and if it has been showing signs of being ill or injured like being fatigued when awake. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.

Medication

If it has become lazy since starting medication, it could be due to the medication. This would be more likely if fatigue is listed as a side effect. In this case, it would help to consult with a vet.

Depression

The cause could be that something has caused it to become depressed. This would be more likely if it started being lazy after an event occurred that might have caused it to become depressed such as an owner or another pet dying.

In this case, it might begin to improve over the course of a few weeks. Otherwise, it would help to consult with a vet.

It’s too hot

If it has started being lazy since the weather has become hotter it could be the case that the hot weather is causing it to feel fatigued. In this case, it would help to exercise it in the morning or evening and to give it access to water, shaded areas and a cool room throughout the day.

How to get your Labrador to be more active

Below are some things you can do about your Labrador being lazy.

Make sure that it is getting a good diet

It is important to make sure that it is getting a good diet. You can look here for some tips on its diet and it would help to talk about its diet with your local vet.

Make sure to give it exercise daily

As mentioned above, it is important to make sure that your Labrador is able to get exercise daily. Generally, it is recommended for them to get around an hour of exercise per day.

Give it some toys to play with

In addition to the above, you could also give it some toys to play with that it can be stimulated by.

Get help from a vet

If you’re unsure of why your Labrador has been being lazy or it has started being lazy suddenly, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Labrador and to rule out medical causes.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when trying to figure out why your Labrador is lazy.

If it started to become lazy suddenly

If your Labrador started being lazy it could be the case that there was an event that caused it to start doing it and it would help to consider what else changed when it first started being lazy.

If it did start being lazy suddenly it would be more likely to be due to things such as a change in its diet, becoming ill or medication. In this case, it would help to take it to a vet.

What time it becomes lazy

It would also help to consider the timing of when it becomes lazier.

For example, if it becomes lazier at midday when the weather is hotter, it could be due to the hot weather.

Lazy is better than destructive

Another thing to consider is that it is not such a bad thing if your Labrador is naturally lazy. Many owners of hyperactive dogs would love it if their dogs were to be calm like yours is.