Nutrition’s Effects on Behaviour

Just as we humans need good nutrition to function at our best, your canine companion also requires a balanced diet for optimal health and wellbeing. With proper nourishment, your dog can grow and develop to his full potential, enabling him or her to perform both physical and mental activities…

Your pet’s behavior is greatly affected by the kind of nutrition he gets. Many animal nutritionists agree that an imbalance in a dog’s behaviour is linked to an imbalance in his diet. Just as with humans, a poor diet can result in poor health, which leads to poor behaviours.

80% of poor behaviour comes from poor diet, 20% its a proper training.

The following are some diet-related unwanted behaviours or conditions our dog behavioural therapists have observed over the years while working with dogs of all breeds and ages:

• A dog on a poor diet may be underweight or overweight, have a dry brittle coat, dental problems or foul breath.
• Poor nutrition may stress the dog’s body. A stressed dog does not digest foods well and can have intestinal problems like gas and diarrhea. He or she may also exhibit signs of separation anxiety or even pain.
• Dogs cannot digest high levels of incomplete proteins and thus don’t get the necessary amino acids they need to thrive. A dog deprived of high-quality protein or other nutrients exhibits a number of unwanted behaviors, including:
  • “Counter-surfing”-stealing food from a counter or tabletop
  • Aggression over food, treats or toys
  • Digging and escaping-to seek out better nutrients he is lacking
  • Eating soil-sometimes linked to a mineral deficiency
  • Getting into the garbage
  • Coprophagia (eating feces)-whether his own or that of another pet
  • Chewing on wood (including furniture), rocks, and other objects around the house and yard
  • Devouring his meal and then vomiting it up again
• Over-exuberance can be due to eating too many carbohydrates (starches).
• Dogs fed too many cereals from wheat, corn and corn meal are hyperactive, unfocused, or agitated and difficult to train.
• Too much of the wrong type of fat results in obesity, lethargy, diabetes or heart problems. 

Many trainers have seen marked improvement in dogs’ behaviour by switching them to a more biologically appropriate diet in conjunction with a sensible training program. A biologically appropriate diet includes considerations for a dog’s size, activity level, current healthy status, and age.

The following information provides the basics of nutrition for healthy adult dogs.Please remember, a higher quality food generally means a healthier dog and thus fewer visits to the veterinarian throughout the dog’s life, which means better quality of life for your dog and less unnecessary expenses for you.

Proteins
Called “the building blocks for life,” proteins are part of every cell tissue and organ and are thus essential to a dog’s health. Protein helps boost your dog’s energy and regenerate his muscles.

When food proteins are digested, they are turned into smaller sub-components of the protein called amino acids. A “complete protein” provides all of the essential amino acids your dog needs to maintain good health. Complete proteins are animal based and include meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Whatever the protein source in your dog’s food, the best quality food uses one primary source of protein; for example, “chicken” not “poultry”, “beef” not “meat”. Your dog is a carnivore and requires animal-based protein to thrive.

Carbohydrates 
Carbohydrates, a general term for fibers and starches, provide the fuel that keeps your dog on the go. Carbohydrates “carbs”turn into glucose, a pure form of energy vital to your dog’s energy metabolism. 

Most domesticated dogs today are fed manufactured foods, which are convenient and inexpensive. However, most manufactured dog foods contain ingredients for energy that are cheaper than meat-usually corn or other grains. Thus, today’s dogs get far more carbs than their wild ancestors did.

High-carbohydrate diet, given in place of protein, can cause a high level aggression and mood swings in your dog while chemicals and additives can cause hyperactivity and allergy reaction.

Fiber
While not considered a nutrient, fiber for dogs is necessary to aid digestion. Too much fiber can cause loose stools or diarrhea, while too little can lead to constipation or dry hard stools. Fiber is derived from plants -fruits and vegetables.

In general, high-fiber foods are not good for dogs with high energy requirements, such as puppies and working dogs, as too much fiber may impede food absorption and not provide the correct nutrient balance needed to sustain their activity and growth.

Fats
Fats provide your pet with more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates. Derived from both animal fats and vegetable oils, fats are essential to cell membrane structure, for the production of some hormones and for the absorption and utilisation of some vitamins. Fats promote healthy skin and coat and provide the body with insulation and protection for internal organs.

Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that every living body requires for normal growth and development. Minerals and most vitamins cannot be synthesized in the body and, therefore, must be provided in a dog’s diet. Dogs need a precise balance of vitamins and minerals for optimal health.

Vitamins are organic substances found in plant and animal sources. Minerals are inorganic elements that come from the earth. Lab made vitamins added to process food aren’t digestible for our animals that’s why a lot of dogs suffer vitamin deficiency. 

There are three more “essential nutrients” we believe every dog needs for a long and healthy life:

Water

Water makes up about two-thirds of an adult dog’s body weight. All dogs need access to clean, fresh water in order to maintain good health, which includes proper urinary tract function.

Exercise

To ensure the diet you so thoughtfully feed your pooch yields the best health, be sure he or she gets plenty of exercise appropriate for his age, breed, size, etc. Exercise is essential for your dog to maintain a balance of physical, mental and emotional health. 

Love

Dogs are social creatures and naturally need and seek a strong leader in order to feel safe and secure within their social structure. For your dog to regard you as “top dog” in your family unit, you must set rules and apply them consistently, and praise your dog’s good behaviour. Dogs have a language of their own, and once you understand and learn to “speak” your dog’s language, you will enjoy many happy years of canine companionship.

All of us who’ve experienced the joy of a dog’s unconditional love want to do all we can to provide our canine companions with a full and healthy life. Understanding the vital link between nutrition and behaviour is an important factor for all dog owners. Wholesome nutrition, along with proper care, exercise, training, and a healthy helping of love are all part of a holistic approach to animal wellness.