How Nutrition Impacts Dog Behaviour: What Science Says
Is your dog unusually hyper? Anxious when left alone? Struggling to settle at night? While training and routine are important, your dog’s behaviour often starts in the bowl. At Puppy Tail, we believe food should fuel more than just energy; it should also support focus, calm, and overall wellbeing.
Here’s how nutrition and behaviour are more connected than you might think.
The Gut-Brain Connection in Dogs
Your dog’s gut and brain are in constant communication via the gut–brain axis, a two-way system influenced by the microbiome, the collection of good bacteria in the digestive tract.
Why it matters:
- 70–80% of the immune system lives in the gut
- The gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin (the “feel good” hormone)
- An unbalanced gut can contribute to anxiety, aggression, and restlessness
Feeding your dog the right foods helps support a healthy microbiome, and a more balanced mood.
Ingredients That Support Calm & Focus
Certain nutrients have been shown to positively influence dog behaviour.
These include:
- Tryptophan: An amino acid found in turkey, beef, and eggs, supports serotonin production and can help reduce anxiety.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fish and flaxseed, omega-3s help regulate brain function and reduce inflammation linked to stress.
- B vitamins: Critical for brain health and energy regulation.
- Magnesium: Helps calm the nervous system and may aid dogs prone to excitability.
Puppy Tail meals are made with whole, natural sources of these nutrients to gently support your dog’s emotional and behavioural health.
What to Avoid: Ingredients That Can Disrupt Behaviour
Just as the right ingredients help, the wrong ones can hinder.
Dogs fed low-quality, ultra-processed kibble may experience behavioural shifts due to:
- Artificial additives or preservatives
- Excess sugars and refined carbs
- Low-quality proteins and fillers
These can cause spikes in energy, blood sugar crashes, or even inflammation that impacts the brain.
Real Food, Real Behavioural Benefits
Pet parents often tell us that since switching to Puppy Tail’s fresh meals, their dogs are:
- Less fidgety or reactive
- More focused during training
- Sleeping better and settling more easily
It’s not magic; it’s what happens when food supports both the body and mind.
A Calmer, Happier Dog Starts at Mealtime
Behavioural challenges aren’t always just a training issue. Sometimes, the first step to a calmer, happier pup is rethinking what goes in their bowl.
At Puppy Tail, we craft meals that nurture every part of your dog, from tail wags to brain waves. Because when they feel better, they behave better.