How Your Dog’s Diet Affects Their Behavior, Energy, and Lifespan
- Steph McCormack
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
When we talk about dog training, we usually focus on tools, timing, and communication. But one of the most overlooked influences on your dog’s behavior and ability to learn?
Their diet.
The food you put in your dog’s bowl affects everything from focus and energy to mood, gut health, and ultimately, lifespan. And with over 55% of U.S. dogs classified as overweight or obese, it’s time we got serious about what we’re feeding our dogs — and how much.
The Shocking Truth About Canine Obesity
Let’s be blunt: dogs aren’t born overweight. We are the reason our dogs gain too much weight. We are the ones who must monitor their food intake and regularly audit their current weight.
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, more than half of all U.S. dogs are overweight or obese. And that extra weight comes at a steep cost:
Reduces lifespan by up to 2.5 years
Increases risk of:
Arthritis
Heart disease
Insulin resistance
Liver dysfunction
If your dog is overweight, they’re not just “chonky.” They’re at risk — and it’s up to us to fix it.
How to Tell If Your Dog Is A Healthy Weight
If your dog is a healthy weight:
You should feel their ribs easily without pressing hard (not see them, but definitely feel them).
They should have a visible waistline when viewed from above and from the side.
They should have a good amount of energy for movement and play
Your dog isn’t meant to be round. They’re meant to run, jump, and live long.
Love isn’t giving extra food — love is keeping them healthy.
Pro tip: Don’t rely on your vet to notice — many owners (and even some vets) normalize overweight dogs. Trust your hands and your eyes.
Why Nutrition Is the Foundation of Good Behavior
Behavioral issues don’t just come from lack of training. They can stem from imbalances in the gut, poor energy regulation, or inflammation caused by low-quality ingredients.
Dogs fed low-quality food often experience sugar spikes and crashes, making them reactive or unmotivated.
Poor gut health is directly tied to stress and anxiety, just like in humans.
70–80% of your dog’s immune system lives in the gut, so feeding quality food builds a more stable, focused dog from the inside out.
The Chain: Food → Gut → Brain → Behavior
What your dog eats directly impacts their mind:
Diets low in omega-3s can lead to inflammation, anxiety, and behavioral issues.
Dogs deficient in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) have lower trainability and slower cognitive function.
High-carb, filler-based diets lead to erratic energy, reactivity, and poor impulse control.
Food isn’t just fuel — it’s information for your dog’s brain and nervous system.
Training Mistake: Too Many Treats, Not Enough Structure
If you’re using a lot of high-value treats to train, you may be:
Overfeeding your dog (leading to weight gain and digestive issues).
Accidentally making their meals irrelevant.
Try this instead:
Use your dog’s actual meal for training, feeding little by little each repetition.
If you do use treats, subtract those calories from their meals.
Choose single-ingredient, high-protein rewards (like freeze-dried liver or tiny bits of boiled chicken) over sugar-filled biscuits or store-bought junk.
Here’s a more detailed comparison of common training treats:
Treat Type | Avg Calories (per piece) | Notes |
Hot Dog Slices | ~20–25 | Tasty but high in fat/sodium |
Bocce’s Bakery Treats | ~10–20 | Popular but high calorie and recipes vary greatly |
Milk-Bone Biscuits | ~20–30 | Common but high in carbs/fillers |
Zuke’s Mini Naturals | ~3 | Low-cal but contains filler |
Honest Kitchen Kibble | ~5 | Nutrient-dense, great for training |
Open Farm Freeze-Dried | ~5 | High-protein, clean ingredients |
Blueberries | ~1 | Antioxidant-rich and low-calorie (5-15/day) |
Baby Carrots (cut up) | ~1 | Crunchy, healthy, and satisfying (1-4/day) |
Apple/Banana (cut up) | ~2–4 | Natural sugars, use in moderation (varies) |
Think of it this way: Would you rather give your dog 20–30 nutritious, natural and yummy rewards or 2–3 processed, carb-filled candy bars? I don't know about you, but I want my dog to live forever...
Comparing Dog Food Brands: What’s in the Bowl?
Here’s a quick comparison of popular brands. Ingredient quality matters just as much as protein percentage.
❌ Brands I Recommend Avoiding:
Brand | First 3 Ingredients | Protein % | Fillers? | Cost/Day | Notes |
Beneful | Corn, by-product meal, soy | 22% | Yes | ~$0.90 | Artificial colors & fillers |
Kibbles 'n Bits | Corn, meat by-product, soy flour | 19% | Yes | ~$0.80 | Very low nutritional value |
Pedigree | Corn, chicken by-product meal, gluten | 21% | Yes | ~$1.00 | Widely available, low quality |
Science Diet | Chicken, wheat, corn | 24% | Yes | ~$1.50 | Vet-backed, but questionable |
Purina One | Chicken, rice flour, corn gluten meal | 26% | Yes | ~$1.40 | Marketed well, low quality |
Iams | Chicken, corn meal, ground sorghum | 25% | Yes | ~$1.20 | Common brand, poor formula |
✅ Brands I Recommend:
Brand | First 3 Ingredients | Protein % | Fillers? | Cost/Day | Notes |
Open Farm | Turkey, turkey meal, oats | 30% | No | ~$3.00 | Balanced, sustainable sourcing |
We Feed Raw | Beef, organ meats, bone | 49% | No | ~$4.00 | Excellent raw option |
Farmer’s Dog | Beef, sweet potato, kale | 39% | No | ~$4.50 | Human-grade cooked food |
Sundays for Dogs | Beef, quinoa, pumpkin | 35% | No | ~$3.50 | Air-dried, great for training |
Acana | Lamb, lamb meal, oats | 31% | No | ~$2.80 | High-protein, high-quality kibble |
Merrick | Deboned beef, pork meal, sweet potato | 34% | No | ~$2.50 | Nutrient-rich and diverse proteins |
Honorable Mention: Nutro | Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice | 26% | Limited | ~$1.80 | Solid mid-tier kibble option |
Easy, Affordable Ways to Improve Kibble
Another great option? You can “upgrade” your dog’s kibble by mixing in small portions of fresh food. This adds flexibility to their diet, improves variety, and may actually save you money in the long run by reducing vet bills or supplement costs.
Feeding fully raw or fresh isn’t an option for everyone. But here’s how you can upgrade your dog’s diet on a budget:
Add a cooked egg (for high quality eggs, give the shell and all!) or sardines 2–3x/week
Mix in homemade bone broth (so easy and cheap!), goat’s milk, greek yogurt, or kefir for gut support
Add steamed veggies (carrots, spinach, pumpkin)
Add their favorite fresh protein - raw or cooked, as long as its safely handled!
All of this can be done for less than $1/day. I wouldn't recommend jumping to completely homemade unless you have infinite time and supplement with vitamins and minerals (Farmer's Dog, Opal Pets, Balance It).
TLDR; Feed with Intention
You are your dog’s only line of defense against obesity, inflammation, and poor health. The food you choose (and how much of it you give) impacts every part of their life:
Their mood
Their behavior
Their trainability
Their energy
Their lifespan
If you want a better-behaved dog, start with what’s in the bowl.
💬 Need Help?
Want to build a training plan that works with your dog’s diet — not against it?Need advice on switching foods or identifying ingredients that are sabotaging your progress?
DM me or book a consult — let’s fuel your dog’s potential. 🐾
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