by Audrey Harvey
Aggression in dogs comes in many forms – food aggression, fear aggression and dominance type aggression towards people and other dogs. If you own a dog that shows this type of behavior, life can be challenging. You must always be on guard to make sure he isn’t put in a position where he becomes a danger to others.
There are several ways of managing aggression in dogs, most of which involve medication and retraining. This isn’t a job for the faint of heart; you really need support and guidance from an expert in dog behavior. However, there are some things you can do at home that can make him less grumpy and easier to live with.
Meals and Mood Swings
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and one of them, namely tryptophan, is involved in the production of serotonin in your dog’s brain. Serotonin is a feel good chemical that will make him feel happier and more relaxed.
It would make sense to assume that more protein in his diet would mean he’d absorb more tryptophan and make him feel less aggressive. However that hasn’t been proven to be true. If your dog eats a lot of protein in his diet, then it has to fight with all the other amino acids for the ability to move into his brain and affect his mood.
A study was performed in 2000 which involved feeding dogs a low protein diet, then adding a tryptophan supplement to it. The expectation was that less amino acids and more tryptophan would result in more serotonin production in his brain and therefore less aggression.
There have been few studies that have shown any real reduction in aggressive behavior in dogs fed a low protein diet. Some reports suggest that a high protein diet works better. The only thing you can do is give both a try. Change your dog’s diet for several weeks to either a low protein or a high protein diet and just see if it makes any difference.
Sleepytime Tonic for Aggression
Sleepytime Tonic is an all natural remedy for aggression that can be used in conjunction with a training program to manage your dog’s behavior. It has no side effects, and because it contains honey as a sweetener, your dog will love it. All it takes is a few drops on his tongue and you’ll see him become noticeably calmer after 20 minutes. You can even use it regularly to help him to become more balanced, and less likely to become grumpy.
When you read the list of ingredients, you’ll understand why it works so well. The herbs Skullcap, Passion Flower and Valerian reduce anxiety and stress, and will help your dog to relax. Add to this a selection of Bach Flower Remedies that have been carefully chosen for their positive effects on fear and aggression, and you have the ideal treatment to improve his behavior.
Aggression in dogs is a challenging condition to manage. With the right diet, professional support and a bottle of Sleepytime Tonic, your dog has the best opportunity to learn new behaviors and become a happier and more relaxed member of your family.