Are dogs calmer on raw food
How to use raw food for training purposes | Cognitive Canine Co
Raw Feeding & Enrichment a guest blog from Amanda at Cognitive Canine Co
When our dogs are bored they can start to make their own entertainment, doing all sorts of things wed rather they didnt, from constant barking and hyperactivity to destructive behaviour like chewing or digging!Adding some enrichment and mental stimulation to your dogs day can have so many benefits alongside preventing boredom and the associated problems, enrichment activities are naturally calming and stress relieving for our dogs, and enrichment has even been shown to decrease perception of pain. This means as well as keeping your dog occupied, its great for nervous dogs, reactive dogs, dogs that have a long term health condition or limited mobility, or those that are recovering or require a period of crate rest or restricted exercise for any reason. Providing mental stimulation is just as tiring for your dog as physical exercise, creating a happy, relaxed and chilled out dog!One of the easiest ways to add some enrichment to your dogs day is to get creative with how you feed them. While feeding from a bowl will keep your dog occupied for 2 minutes, we can use that same food to create some fun activities that will give their brain a workout and keep them entertained for longer. Using their food for activities is great for their waistline too as theres no need to give excessive treats were just using their dinner!If youre feeding your dog a raw diet like Cotswold RAW, it can seem more challenging to create enrichment activities than with a dry food, so weve put together some of our top tips for enrichment activities that are really easy to do with raw food.The most important thing to remember with all these activities is that its meant to make your dogs life more interesting, not more difficult, so always start off easy and gradually build up the level of difficulty over time. Its also important to make sure the activities are safe for your dog if your dog is likely to eat any of the items suggested, or they have a health condition and youre concerned about their ability to try the activities then seek advice from your vet or other healthcare professional first.
Scatter feedingOne of the simplest, yet most effective enrichment activities is scatter feeding its as easy as scattering your dogs food on the floor and letting them use their sense of smell to find it all. If youre using raw food you probably dont want to be scattering it all over the house, so there are a few things we can do!Scatter feeding can be a great activity to try in the garden or in some long grass (try rolling some of their food into small meatballs to make it easier to scatter).If you want to scatter raw food inside, then using the small silicone or paper cupcake cases is a great way to do it. Put some food inside each and scatter these around the house (just make sure your dog isnt likely to eat the cupcake case too! If your dog is likely to eat the cases, then some small plastic tubs might be more suitable). You can also try spreading these around while your dog is out of the room to create a really fun Find It game.
Cardboard boxesCardboard boxes make a really fun enrichment activity, and as theyre normally on their way to the recycling bin anyway we dont need to worry about the hygiene aspect of cleaning them afterwards. Start with an empty cardboard box thats a comfortable height for your dog to reach inside, and scatter some of their food in the bottom so they can reach in to get it. If theyre happy doing this you can start to make it more interesting by adding some crumpled up paper or toilet roll tubes into the box for them to rummage through to find the food. This is a great confidence building activity too as were encouraging the dog to explore things that might move or make a noise when they touch them.Another great cardboard box game is to get boxes of various sizes, such as shoe boxes, cereal boxes etc. Put some food inside each box, then loosely put the boxes inside each other so your dog needs to figure out how to solve the puzzle. You can start off easy, and gradually add in more boxes if your dog is enjoying it.Packaging with recesses such as egg cartons make great (and free!) slow feeders. Try using these instead of a bowl by spreading your dogs dinner in each compartment theyll have so much more fun!
ApplesApples make a great alternative to food dispensing toys like Kongs theyre also perfectly safe for your dog to eat so great for strong chewers. Simply core an apple making quite a big hole through the middle, then stuff the hole with your dogs dinner and give it to them to enjoy! If your dog is enjoying it or getting through them really quickly, you can try freezing the apple once youve stuffed it for a more challenging and longer lasting treat.
DIY Food PuzzlesThere are lots of great puzzle toys on the market available in varying levels of difficulty that are great to use with raw food as they tend to be plastic so can easily be washed. If you want to create your own puzzle, a muffin tin tray makes a fun DIY puzzle. Put some of your dogs food in each of the compartments, then cover them up with something like tennis balls that are safe for your dog to pick up and move to uncover the food.
TrainingWhen youre training your dog, you can really quickly start to get through a lot of treats! While its slightly more tricky to train your dog using raw food, there are ways around it so you dont need to have raw food all over your hands! You can buy empty squeeze tubes that are great for filling with raw food, and you can squeeze to dispense a treat sized portion while youre training (similar to the kind of thing you get Primula Cheese in just Google squeeze tube for dog training and youll find lots of different sizes etc available to order) . Piping bags that you can buy for icing are also really handy to use in this way too!
Food Dispensing ToysThere are a lot of food dispensing toys on the market such as Kongs and Lickimats that are perfect for raw food. These make mealtimes into a longer lasting activity thats a great mental work out for your dog. If youre new to food dispensing toys then its best to start off making it simple, with the food loosely packed so its really easy for your dog to get. If theyre happy with this you can make it more challenging by packing the food more tightly or freezing it for a longer lasting treat.
TreatsThere are lots of healthy treats on the market such as the Cotswold RAW dried treats that will really compliment your dogs raw diet and are perfect for activities and training where raw food just isnt suitable. These can be perfect for training, scatter feeding, or food dispensing toys more suited to dry food.
ChewsChewing is a naturally calming activity for dogs, as well as being beneficial in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Chews are a great way to help your dog wind down after an exciting walk or play session, or to encourage them to settle while youre busy. Uncooked bones are a brilliant chew for raw fed dogs just make sure that they are an appropriate size for your dog and that theyre supervised while eating them. There are also lots of natural long lasting chews that are great for keeping your dog occupied such as cows ear, rabbits ears and beef trachea.There really are some huge benefits to adding some enrichment to any dogs life. By trying just a few of the activities weve mentioned youll soon start to see some positive changes creating a happier, calmer and more settled dog!
Find out more about Cotswold RAWs raw treats for dogs.
Top 11 Foods for Reducing Your Dogs Anxiety
Have you been noticing your dog becoming more anxious lately?
Maybe everyone is feeling more anxious being locked up inside and with all the changes that have been happening in the world.
When times are uncertain, stress levels can increase.
Stress is the bodys method of reacting to a condition such as a threat, challenge, or physical and psychological barrier. Stress is a normal part of life and is necessary to help us grow and learn. However, when stress continues and is not dealt with appropriately, it can lead to anxiety.
Anxiety is the feeling caused by stress, fear, or apprehension. Chronic stress and anxiety can lead to physical diseases, like gastrointestinal disease, inflammation, and even cancer.
What are common symptoms of stress in our pets?
Our pets can show signs of stress in subtle or very obvious ways. Here are a few dog anxiety signs:
Excessive yawning
Panting excessively when at rest
Whimpering or crying
Destroying furniture, curtains, etc
Excessive licking
Appears more irritable
Wide-eyed
Flattened ears
Low body posture
Have you ever seen a child holding or cuddling a dog and the dog refuses to look at them? This is the first sign of stress that dog is displaying. When we miss these subtle signals that our pets are telling us, adverse things can occur, like a bite that couldve been avoided.
There are many holistic ways, along with behavior modification, that we can use to help our pets anxiety naturally. Here are the top 11 foods that you can add into your dogs diet if they are on a kibble diet (or add in if they are on a home-cooked or raw diet):
1) Raw goats milk
Full of trace minerals, vitamins, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein and fatty acids, unpasteurized goats milk is incredibly easy for our dogs to digest and utilize. Many of the dogs suffering from anxiety have a leaky gut (check out our previous blog post on leaky gut here).
Raw goats milk can help heal the digestive lining while helping our dogs break down their food better. Goats milk carries significantly higher amounts of calcium, vitamin B-6, vitamin A, potassium, niacin and the anti-oxidant selenium, than cows milk all while being far easier to digest.
Check out the products from Primal Pet Foods or Answers Pet Food.
2) Turkey
Turkey is a great source of L-tryptophan amino acids. Tryptophan increases the production of serotonin in the body which is important for feelings of happiness and feeling good. Ever had a turkey hang-over at Thanksgiving? Yup, that was the tryptophan helping you feel more relaxed and calm.
3) Organic, grass-fed beef liver
Liver is naturally high in zinc, amongst high levels of vitamin A.
Because the liver processes all the toxins in the body, you want to make sure you are only using organic, grass-fed liver or you could be putting extra toxins into your pets body. Also, this is a food you only want to feed a few times a week versus every day, because of the higher levels of vitamin A present.
If your pet has any health conditions, make sure you are working with a veterinarian. Liver has higher concentrations of phosphorus, so if you need a low phosphorus diet for your dog, this may not be a good option.
4) Spinach
Spinach is a great addition to your dogs diet because of the higher concentration of magnesium, along with numerous other minerals and vitamins. Magnesium is utilized by over 300 enzymatic processes in the body and is essential for optimal function. It also balances neurotransmitters, like GABA upregulation, that help reduce anxiety. Make sure you are only using organic spinach, because they may be heavily sprayed with pesticides, which definitely does not help with anxiety levels.
5) Blueberries
These small but mighty fruits are bursting with antioxidants and vitamin C. Anxiety is thought to be related to a lower antioxidant state, which can occur especially if your dog is on a kibble-only diet. Make sure you throw a handful of fresh or frozen organic blueberries into your pets food every day or a few times a week if you can.
6) Salmon
Essential fatty acids are essential for the optimal functioning of our bodies, including our pets. Our cell membranes are made up of lipids, which are fats. Without these, we cannot live!
Omega-3 also helps to keep cortisol from spiking. Cortisol is the stress hormone that is ramped up when the body stays in the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight state). When cortisol is chronically elevated, physical diseases can occur in the body like cancer over time.
Salmon is also extra special, because it also contains L-tryptophan which has been shown to reduce anxiety levels and stress.
7) Asparagus
Asparagus is not only good for us, but its a great veggie to add into your dogs diet. It is packed with antioxidants, which have been shown to help prevent and reduce anxiety. This veggie is also packed with folate and high in fiber. Asparagus acts as a prebiotic in the GI tract. Prebiotics are excellent food sources for healthy bacteria that coat the digestive tract. These bacteria are essential to nutrient absorption and reduction of leaky gut, which can be a source of anxiety for your dog.
8) Avocado
Is avocado ok or not for dogs to eat?
The flesh of the avocado is actually very nutritious and contains B-vitamins, which are beneficial in helping anxiety.
Though avocado is generally safe for dogs, it does contain a toxin called persin which can be dangerous for dogs and cats in very large amounts. Persin is present in higher concentrations in the pit and skin, which is never recommended to give to your dogs.
A small amount of this incredible fruit a few times a week can help your dog with his coat, GI tract, and calming down anxiety.
9) Eggs
Eggs are one of the few complete food sources. They have everything in them! It is one of the most complete sources of amino acids, the building blocks for protein. Eggs are also higher in zinc, which helps the immune system and reduces anxiety. Some dogs have sensitivities to eggs, so if you feel like they are reacting (loose stool, itchy skin), then limit this food and work with a holistic veterinarian to figure out why your pet is having a reaction.
10) Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse food, packed full of vitamins and minerals. They also offer complex carbohydrates which help regulate blood sugar levels. Fluctuations of blood sugar can occur with kibble-based diets, which can make your dog feel anxious. These mighty veggies are also a great source of fiber, which helps maintain a healthy GI tract, which is necessary for optimal health and reducing anxiety.
11) REAL FOOD BALANCED DIET
This last point is the most important one of all because kibble-based diets are ok if thats all you are able to do for your pet.
If you are not able to do a home-cooked balanced diet or a balanced raw diet, then make sure you are adding in the above real foods at least 3 times a week to the kibble to add in extra vitamins and minerals to help your dog.
Our dogs need real food to help them thrive and live a long and healthy life, but the diet must be balanced or we can cause more issues.
Make sure you are working with a nutritionist or holistic veterinarian to figure out the optimal diet your pet needs that works for you and your beloved dog.
To learn more about natural remedies to help manage your dogs stress, click here: https://thenaturalpetdoctor.com/top-3-ways-to-manage-dog-anxiety-with-herbal-remedies/
MORE NATURAL PET HEALTH INFORMATION
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*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor. The information contained in thenaturalpetdoctor.com is strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in thenaturalpetdoctor.com, you are taking full responsibility for your actions. Please consult your veterinarian for medical advice for your own pets. Dr. Katie Woodley cannot answer specific questions about your pets medical issues or make medical recommendations for your pet without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
