{"id":8253,"date":"2022-09-30T16:15:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T15:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/?p=8253"},"modified":"2022-09-30T16:15:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T15:15:27","slug":"food-for-thought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/food-for-thought\/","title":{"rendered":"Food for thought"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A frequent question I’m asked is \u2018are there foods that will improve my dog\u2019s behaviour\u2019 or \u2018are there foods that will make my dog\u2019s behaviour worse?\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That might seem a simple enough question but the answer certainly isn\u2019t straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food does affect behaviour (anyone who’s attempted to look after small children who are full of sugar at a party will tell you it\u2019s like the velociraptor scene in Jurassic Park!) and there are plenty of studies on how certain foods can cause hyperactivity in children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are diet modifications that can have a positive effect on a dog\u2019s brain\u2019s neurochemistry, but for most owners, as long as they make sure they’re feeding the best quality food they can from a company that invests in research and development, that is designed for their dog\u2019s age and type, with the nutrients they need, like tails.com, they’re not going to see any dramatic behaviour changes by changing their food (unless their diet was truly shocking before!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They might have to try a few different options to find a food that suits their dog, and most importantly, that their dog enjoys. This is as important as the quality of the food. It doesn\u2019t matter how good it is if your dog won\u2019t eat it \u2013 and always remember that mealtimes are one of the highlights of your dog\u2019s day, so you owe it to them to make it as enjoyable as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not what you do, it\u2019s the way you do it<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

So, while choice of food is important, owners are more likely to be able to produce some marked behaviour changes by how they feed that food rather than what they feed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many of us, our dog\u2019s dinner is a pretty rushed affair. A portion of food, provided in a bowl, a couple of times a day, which is gulped down in about 30 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dog doesn\u2019t have to think about how to get it, there is no challenge in eating it, no opportunity to gnaw, and chew and tear in the way that dogs were designed to eat and that they find so rewarding, and no brain power put into the securing of that meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compare that to how dogs were historically designed to eat. Finding food took up a large part of the day, took brain power, thinking, problem solving, and physical exercise to get. Sometimes it would be small nibbles hard won, other times there would be a jackpot and there would be a glut of food which a dog would stuff themselves with never knowing where the next meal was coming from. Food and the finding of it was a key part of a dog\u2019s day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dogs\u2019 predatory sequence would go into the hunt for food \u2013 even if scavenging. The see, stalk, case, catch and eat sequence of the predator can be seen, to a greater or less degree, in a dog either hunting for scraps, finding and tearing open bin bags, raiding bins or boxes, or chasing vermin. Just performing this sequence is rewarding for dogs \u2013 whether they succeed or not \u2013 that is what ensures their continued perseverance even when food is scarce and successes few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs had to be dexterous, ingenious and perseverative in order to eat \u2013 and as well as the external reward of a meal, there was also the internal self-reward that made them feel great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the way we so often feed dogs, we’re missing out on a huge opportunity to provide an outlet for natural behaviour, boost the dog\u2019s mental and emotional state, give an outlet for frustration and boredom, and create a bond and a relationship with our dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only that, but we can produce some really positive behaviour changes in our dogs by giving them a chance to use their brains, succeed using some of their hardwired instincts (and so get that neurotransmitter brain buzz), and reduce frustration and boredom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s have a look at some simple ways we can take our dog\u2019s dinner and turn it into an opportunity for change \u2013 and fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Involve yourself in your dog\u2019s dinner<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n