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Are your dog’s behavior problems worrying you? We’re not talking here about puppies who piddle on the carpet, dogs who jump up on visitors at the front door, or other similar issues which all dog owners deal with. But if you have a dog who seems to be showing unusually difficult behavior to control, you may be wondering how to handle it.

Normally one of the first things dog owners do in a case like this is to learn more about dog training and apply it to their situation. They might do this through classes, trainers, books, or internet websites and forums. The quality of the advice found can be rather hit-and-miss, but often this approach is adequate and the behavior issue is solved, more or less.

Do take your dog to your vet for an exam, to be sure there aren’t any health problems the veterinarian will find. For example, a dog with an abscessed tooth could suddenly became very grouchy.

Plenty of exercise can also improve your dog’s behavior. Does your dog really get a lot of exercise? Dogs are meant to be active a lot of the time, yet their modern lifestyles in our homes rarely provide this. Make sure your dog gets abundant exercise and you may be quite amazed at the changes in his behavior.

But in many cases none of these approaches will solve the behavior problem.

I once had a lengthy email correspondence with a dog owner who found herself in this situation. She had already tried everything I’ve described above, but none of it solved the problem of her large puppy attacking and biting her and her children. She was an outstanding sleuth and ultimately she triumphed. Who’d have guessed that the beet pulp often used in commercial dog food was triggering allergic reactions? Once she only used dog food without that ingredient, the puppy became the dog of their dreams, sweet and loving.

An allergy to beet pulp isn’t at all that common, but the point to keep in mind is that dog food can and often does have an effect on dog behavior. We often think this way about people; for example, it’s well known that when children eat a lot of sugar, they may be hyperactive. But most people don’t think this way regarding their dogs.

In general, veterinarians are not particularly well informed about the pros and cons of feeding dog foods that contain additives and other questionable ingredients. They received little training back in vet school and most are far too busy to explore the topic now. Also, if they sell dog food in their clinics, their inclination is going to be to trust that they made a good choice of food to sell.

The good news for dogs is that some dog breeders and veterinarians have been experimenting and keeping records for many years. They have learned that dog health and behavior is enhanced by a homemade dog food diet, and you can follow their suggestions for what to do.

While you do have to follow some guidelines given by these experts, you do not have to become a specialist yourself in order to feed your dog in this manner. And while this article has been about behavior, of course this way of feeding will also tend to benefit your dog’s health. In one striking example, a breeder kept careful records of what she fed and how long her dogs lived. Over thirty years of doing this showed a substantial increase in the length of the dogs’ lives… and improvement in their behavior.

For any dog with behavior problems, it’s an excellent idea to try a homemade dog food diet and observe any differences that may turn up over time!