My dog is hungrier, actually burrowed through the pockets of my laundry yesterday for kibble. He's never been particularly food motivated (not like labs often are) and his behavior at meal times has been insane. Like I'm starving him. I've always had him wait for food and recently when I've released him he's been jumping on his bowl. However he still won't take kibble out of my hand at meal time (He's always had this "give me the whole bowl or don't feed me at all" thing at mealtimes) so he can't be THAT hungry.

He's not grown in a while (he's almost three now), he's getting the same amount of exercise as he's gotten for a while (morning out time for bathroom breaks, 1.5-2 hours of frisbee and OB in the morning, sleeps for about 2 hours, then 2 hours of OB and play, then a few bathroom breaks (and property protection against evil chipmunks) up until bed. Typically on weekends we have a single outing (3 hours) each where we play and train. He has one day a week where he only goes out for about an hour...which is our lazy day.

He gets 2 cups in the morning, 2 cups at night of a nice quality kibble. On days we've been out the entire day (at an event or out walking around town) he'll get a half can of wet food at night. He's got access to various edible chews (pig ears, everlasting treat ball, bully sticks). He gets treats and kibble during training (about a cup of kibble, quarter cup of meat treats).

This is a 50lb dog. He's always been lean, you can feel a few ribs on his side but my vet agrees he's at an ideal weight for an active dog. He's been checked for worms and is wormed regularly (his heartworm preventative includes a wormer). Only had his yearly check a few weeks ago and is fine.

Should I up his food? Get further testing maybe? He behaving entirely normally apart from the more interest in food.

Is his weight staying the same, or is it declining? Are the poops normal?

poops are completely normal, weight is being maintained. He could gain a pound or so and be fine but is a healthy weight.

4 of my 5 act like that at every meal--like they are starving to death and can't gobble down the chow fast enough. I'm sure they'd eat their own weight in food if I'd give it to them. I chalk it up to them really liking the food. If I went by the display of hunger they'd be so fat they couldn't stand.

Eta: mine have always been this way. A dramatic change in hunger is worth exploring. But it could just be gluttony.

I’m not sure what your area is like but it’s starting to get a little cooler here. Nights have been around 6 and 7 degree Celsius.

It always concerns me (and shouldn’t) at the beginning of summer when their consumption starts to decrease at bit. But we quickly adjust. And now that fall is nearing I’ve notice the intensity at which they devour their meals has increased substantially. My boys always get hungrier in the fall.

And it’s not that they’re exposed to any more or less exercise, (well maybe a bit more) I think it’s just the intensity at which they perform it.

I’m noticing a big spike in energy as the weather starts to cool.

I think it's the approach of the winter, they are growing coat too. I'm eating like crazy myself these days.

Yesterday I added about 25% more food to his overall daily total, and am distributing it in a few extra smaller meals. There's a noticable difference...he's eating a little slower, not rooting through my pockets, and not taking any treats offered by hand with an extra chunk of finger.....


seems like such a dramatic seasonal change O_o He's usually very dramatic about heat (flat out refuses food and finds a place in the shade to flop down and sleep all day). Winter has never been marked with extreme hunger however lol.

Lets hope it's not an omen, like extra black on wooly bear caterpillars, or hornet nests built super high in trees, that portends a ghastly winter.....

I second that! Ghastly winters are no fun! However my four dogs are eating more too. I'm hoping that it's just the usual seasonal change....