Some dog breeds are more at risk of overeating

Scientists can finally explain why certain breeds, such as labradors and retrievers, are more at risk of becoming loveable loaves

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There's a reason some pooches tend towards plumpness, according to a recent study. Researchers at Texas A&M University, in the US, measured 'food motivation' by surveying more than 15,000 dog owners on their pets' eating behaviours, as well as analysing veterinary records of each dog’s weight.

A high food motivation score indicated that a dog liked to eat food (a lot) and was judged to be overweight by a vet.

The study found that the sporting breeds they looked at – mainly labradors and golden retrievers – were 10 per cent more likely to have high scores compared to mixed breed dogs.