Does diet have anything do do with dog behaviour problems? Many trainers and behaviourist have been tearing their hair out over this question..... Why are some dogs absolutely happy on some dog foods and others seem hyper or bitey or skinny or even perhaps aggressive? Is high protein good or bad? Are carbohydrates good or bad? Are additives good or bad?
Well, ever since I first realised that food feeds the brain, I've been studying the topic of canine nutrition and trying to unravel the question on whether food affects behaviour.
Is diet part of the equation?
As time and studies progressed, it has become clear that every dog is an individual and some appear to be affected by some ingredients in food and some don't.
Many dogs are happy eating just anything. But, when dealing with behaviour or training problems, or indeed, health problems, it just seems sensible to look at the big picture and to look at the ingredients in the dog's food - whether that's manufactured food or a home made diet. Analysing the ingredients can provide information on whether food is more or less likely to be part of the problem.
The Good Dog Diet is a book that allows readers to answer these questions by themselves. Most books on canine nutrition simply tell you what to do. Sure, they cover some of the basics of canine nutrition, but they may be written from a particular stand point: either by food manufacturers or by those who feel that all manufactured food is wrong, and feed home prepared foods - raw of cooked.
This book is unbiased. It provides the pure knowledge on what food is and how it is digested. In doing so, it helps to dispel some of the myths, and helps lead to clearer answers. Consider for instance, a thought held by some, that fat is more easily digested by dogs than people. This is a myth that has developed probably due to the fact that dogs don't appear to suffer quite so much from clogged arteries as we do. However, the actual process of fat digestion is the same for dogs and humans. The reasons behind the health problems are not due simply to digestion.
The book continues on to looking at the variety of causes of behaviour problems and therefore allows the reader to judge whether diet should be questioned. Nutritional balance is key, and nutritional imbalance is as important as the quality of food fed. Insufficiencies or excesses of vitamins and minerals and of the major nutrients can cause all sorts of health and behavioural problems.
So, if you're looking at dog behavioural problems or are concerned about your dog's health, then have a read at The Good Dog Diet, and be happy with your dog food decisions.
www.TheGoodDogDiet.com
Author : Anna Patfield
Pawsability Blog for Dog Behaviour and Training News and Tips