NewsAnimalsHow a Labrador retrievers genes might affect the dogs obesity riskOwners of high-risk dogs should be careful about how they manage their pets food Labradors with a higher genetic risk for obesity are more likely to seek out food, a new study finds.University of CambridgeBy Alex Viveros1 hour agoLabrador retriever owners are likely familiar with how persistent their dogs can be in their quest for food, whether begging under the dinner table or stealing a snack left unattended. Its no surprise, then, that Labs are among the most overweight dog breeds, along with golden retrievers, cocker spaniels and beagles.Scientists have now identified multiple genes associated with obesity in Labradors, according to a March 6 study in Science.The researchers had previously found that a form of a gene called POMC made Labs more prone to overeating. But we could tell from our studies that the POMC mutation wasnt the whole story, says Eleanor Raffan, a veterinary surgeon and geneticist at the University of Cambridge.