Many dog owners focus on training and exercise to improve their dog’s behavior but overlook a major factor ... diet. Your dog’s gut health is directly linked to brain chemistry, influencing everything from mood and energy levels to how well they respond to commands.

If your dog struggles with anxiety, hyperactivity, or aggression, the solution might not be stricter training but rather a better diet.

Today, I'll take a closer look at how diet affects behavior, highlighting the powerful role of gut health in shaping your dog’s emotions and responses. You’ll learn why a raw, species-appropriate diet supports a balanced mood and why processed foods can contribute to behavioral challenges.

The Gut’s Role In Mood And Behavior

Your dog’s digestive system isn’t just responsible for breaking down food—it plays a direct role in producing important brain chemicals.

Inside the gut, beneficial bacteria help create neurotransmitters that influence how your dog feels and behaves:

• Serotonin – Often called the “happiness chemical,” serotonin regulates mood and stress levels. Around 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, meaning a healthy digestive system is essential for a calm, balanced dog.
• Dopamine – This neurotransmitter is linked to motivation, pleasure, and focus. A well-functioning gut helps ensure your dog remains eager to learn and respond to training.
• GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) – GABA acts as a natural calming agent, reducing anxiety and preventing overexcitement. A diet that supports GABA production can help anxious or hyperactive dogs feel more at ease.

When the gut is in good shape, these neurotransmitters work effectively, creating a dog that is emotionally stable, trainable, and content.

The Cycle Af Mood And Behavior

Behavior isn’t just about training—it’s a continuous loop influenced by internal and external factors.

When your dog experiences stress, excitement, or fear, his body releases chemical messengers that shape their next reaction.

If his gut is unhealthy, this cycle can become imbalanced, leading to:

• Increased Anxiety – Dogs with poor gut health often struggle with nervousness and fear-based behaviors.
• Hyperactivity and Restlessness – A lack of gut-produced serotonin and GABA can result in excessive energy and difficulty focusing.
• Aggression and Reactivity – Chemical imbalances in the gut can contribute to heightened stress responses, making dogs more prone to aggressive outbursts.

By improving gut health, you’re not just enhancing digestion—you’re creating a stable emotional foundation that makes training and socialization easier.

The Impact Of Diet On Your Dog’s Mood

The food your dog eats directly impacts the production of those key neurotransmitters I mentioned earlier:

• Serotonin: A well-fed gut microbiome produces serotonin, helping dogs feel more relaxed and emotionally balanced.
• Dopamine: Diets rich in high-quality animal proteins support dopamine production, keeping dogs engaged and motivated.
• GABA: A gut-friendly diet promotes GABA production, reducing hyperactivity and improving impulse control.

Without the right nutrients, your dog may struggle with erratic moods, difficulty following commands, or excessive nervous energy.

Why A Raw Diet Supports A Healthy Gut

A raw diet, rich in fresh meats and bones, naturally supports gut health in ways that processed kibble cannot.

• Encourages Beneficial Bacteria – Raw food helps maintain an optimal gut microbiome, which is crucial for neurotransmitter production.
• Maintains Proper Gut pH – A diet based on raw meat keeps stomach acid levels low, preventing harmful bacteria from thriving.
• Improves Mood Stability – Dogs on raw diets often exhibit better emotional balance, reduced stress levels, and greater focus.

By choosing species-appropriate nutrition, you’re not just feeding your dog—you’re supporting his mental well-being and setting them up for behavioral success.

Why Processed Dog Food Causes Behavior Problems

Most commercial dog food is packed with carbohydrates, which can have a direct impact on a dog’s health and behavior.

Unlike their wild ancestors, dogs fed commercial diets consume excessive starches and grains, which aren’t part of their natural diet. These carbohydrates raise gut pH, making it easier for harmful bacteria to thrive while disrupting the delicate balance of beneficial gut flora.

This imbalance in the digestive system affects neurotransmitter production, leading to sluggish digestion, mood swings, and erratic energy levels. Many canine companions on a kibble-heavy diet experience sudden bursts of hyperactivity followed by lethargy, making training and behavioral management more difficult.

Without a stable gut environment, mood regulation becomes challenging, increasing the likelihood of stress-based behaviors like excessive barking, anxiety, and destructive tendencies.

The Problem With High-Protein Kibble

Many dog owners assume that high-protein kibble is a better option, but dogs fed processed protein sources don’t always get the benefits they need. Unlike raw, whole meats, kibble-based proteins are often heavily processed and lack bioavailable nutrients. This can interfere with serotonin production, the key neurotransmitter responsible for emotional balance and impulse control.

Without enough serotonin, aggressive dogs may become more reactive, while anxious dogs may struggle with heightened nervousness. Additionally, some kibble brands use protein from low-quality sources, such as rendered meats and plant-based substitutes, which can further disrupt a dog’s health.

Instead of promoting calm, focused behavior, these diets often contribute to nervous energy, hyperactivity, and difficulty following commands.

How A Raw Diet Can Improve Your Dog’s Behavior

Better Emotional Stability

Switching to a raw diet has been shown to dramatically improve emotional balance in dogs fed natural, species-appropriate foods. By providing fresh meats and organs, a raw diet fuels neurotransmitter production, helping dogs stay calm, confident, and more responsive to training.

Unlike commercial dog food, which is full of additives and synthetic preservatives, raw feeding provides a clean, nutrient-dense approach to supporting behavioral well-being.

For aggressive dogs, raw feeding can also help reduce stress-driven reactions by lowering systemic inflammation and promoting a more stable mood. Many dog owners report that their pets become less anxious, more focused, and easier to train once they transition away from processed foods.

Since a raw diet also eliminates artificial colors and additives—some of which have been linked to hyperactivity in pets—many dogs experience noticeable improvements in attention span and impulse control.

Stronger Physical And Mental Well-Being

A raw diet does more than nourish the gut—it strengthens both the body and mind. Dogs fed bones regularly benefit from natural chewing, which helps release calming endorphins and reduces frustration-based behaviors. The physical act of gnawing on raw bones not only supports dental health but also provides an outlet for stress relief, particularly for high-energy breeds.

Additionally, feeding whole meats and bones encourages healthy muscle growth, balanced energy levels, and improved endurance. Unlike dogs fed commercial diets, which often suffer from blood sugar spikes due to high-carb meals, raw-fed dogs experience steady, consistent energy throughout the day. This stability makes training more effective, as dogs are more engaged, cooperative, and eager to learn.

By making the switch to a biologically appropriate diet, you can help your canine companions achieve better focus, improved emotional well-being, and a more balanced temperament.

FAQ

Can diet affect dog behavior? Yes, a commercial kibble diet can negatively impact dog behaviour by disrupting gut health, which influences mood-regulating neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. A balanced diet with essential nutrients supports both physical health and emotional stability, helping to reduce anxiety, hyperactivity, and aggression.

What is the 80/20 rule for dog food? The 80/20 rule in diet composition means that 80% of a dog's diet should come from high-quality animal-based proteins and fats, while 20% can include vegetables, fruits, and other nutrient-dense sources. This approach aligns with recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association, ensuring a balanced diet that supports digestion, behavior, and long-term health.

Can diet affect dog aggression? Yes, poor diet composition can contribute to aggression by depriving dogs of essential nutrients that regulate the central nervous system and neurotransmitter function. Dogs fed a commercial kibble diet often experience blood sugar spikes, inflammation, and gut imbalances, which have been linked to irritability and canine cognitive dysfunction.

Can too much protein affect a dog's behavior? While protein is necessary for physical health, excessive amounts in low-quality commercial kibble diet can interfere with serotonin production, affecting dog behaviour and increasing nervousness or hyperactivity. A properly balanced diet, rich in whole-food proteins and essential nutrients, ensures stable energy levels and better mood regulation.