Protein % & Behaviour Issues

[biker girl]

just wondering about your thoughts about protein % levels and behaviour in dogs.

I have a 3 yr old male Gsd who has a high to very high level of reactivety who is fed raw meaty bones as his diet.

I have been chatting to a friend a FB about this and she mentioned lowering his protein levels to help calm him down

Thoughts??????????????????????

[JackieW]

I've read about switching to raw to help with behaviour issues because of protein, additives etc in commercial food, but never come across the suggestion that raw is too high in protein. You could maybe try googling to see what Dr Billnghurst and Tom Lonsdale have to say, if you don't have access to their books?

I had a reactive raw fed dog and old age calmed him down :).

Came across this site in a google search http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/beef/show and http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/index.html

[biker girl]

I've read about switching to raw to help with behaviour issues because of protein, additives etc in commercial food, but never come across the suggestion that raw is too high in protein. You could maybe try googling to see what Dr Billnghurst and Tom Lonsdale have to say, if you don't have access to their books?

I had a reactive raw fed dog and old age calmed him down :).

Came across this site in a google search http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/beef/show and http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/index.html

I have all their books JackieW

It is something I haven't heard before that's why I thought I would "throw'' it out there to pick other people's thoughts

[ness]

I have heard or read similar biker girl - not sure where though.

[luvsdogs]

I go on a Yahoo raw feeding group & they say that raw meat has less protein levels that kibble because meat is mostly water.

I have also heard that a raw diet may help with aggression issues.

[Staff'n'Toller]

You could PM Aidan2 with your question - he hangs about mostly in off topic.

There is some info regarding feeding carbohydrates to dogs helping with aggression. This guy has written about it, but I can't remember in which book the info is, as I only have the Canine Neuro book. :)

[Nekhbet]

It wont fix the problem, but faw meaty bones as a sole diet is neither nutritionally complete. I would be putting him onto a whiter meat like chicken.

I have noticed a difference in behavior in dogs between protein sources, I was training a malamute that would start his biting habit again on beef, totally different dog on chicken only. My own dogs lose their pep on chicken, I feed them beef and lamb.

[biker girl]

It wont fix the problem, but faw meaty bones as a sole diet is neither nutritionally complete. I would be putting him onto a whiter meat like chicken.

I have noticed a difference in behavior in dogs between protein sources, I was training a malamute that would start his biting habit again on beef, totally different dog on chicken only. My own dogs lose their pep on chicken, I feed them beef and lamb.

his diet is mostly chicken frames, about 80%, the rest is made up of mackeral, yoghurt, eggs, vegies and beef bones

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I have heard about protein and I think it was vitamin B levels affecting behaviour. But that's about the extent I can remember of the conversation - high levels can affect behaviour lovwer levels tend to see improvement.

[Nekhbet]

Remember there is also genetics, training and excercise vs diet. If the diet exceeds the output of the dog it can be snarky depending on the genetics.

[hankdog]

One of the many things I've done for my reactive dog is feed him mostly salmon and vegetables. It did seem to help but then I've done lots of other stuff so I can't say exactly that it was the diet change.

[Erny]

In my experience, the 'edge' on excessive behaviour has been assisted in some dogs by switching FROM COMMERCIAL foods to a natural diet. Not the other way around. In my opinion, raw meaty bones would not be a factor in creating behaviour issues and are one of the best balanced food sources.