Is your puppy naughty or just in need of a species-appropriate diet? Many puppy owners complain of hyper and unruly behaviors, often citing instances of inappropriate chewing. In contrast, my husband and I have a well-behaved puppy who doesn’t chew on things she shouldn’t, and she receives many compliments on her mature demeanor. This can be attributed to both their breeders for superb pedigrees, but also to a raw diet that includes recreational bones for puppies.
How Diet Can Affect Your Puppy’s Behavior: The big pet food companies and many veterinarians might suggest that kibble is the only suitable food for dogs, claiming it’s complete, balanced, and good for teeth and growing puppies. However, the first kibble was a biscuit made for dogs in the 1860s, and its widespread use is a result of manufacturing and commercialism. Kibble contains large amounts of starches, sugars, and flavor coatings, requiring the addition of synthetic vitamins due to the processing that destroys nutritive value. This is similar to how poorly children act with a constant diet of sugary cereal and starchy crackers, which also contain artificial colors and other additives.
Dr Richard Patton, in his book ‘Ruined By Excess, Perfected By Lack’, points out that foods high in protein and fat cause less rise in blood glucose, while carbohydrates cause blood sugar to spike, leading to obesity.
Other Problems With Kibble: Dry food makes puppies thirsty, leading to excessive water intake and potential potty training issues. In contrast, a raw diet contains more natural moisture, reducing water intake and making bathroom breaks more predictable. Canned food is not a better alternative, often containing questionable thickeners and the risk of BPA contamination from the cans.
A species-appropriate diet for puppies should mimic what they would eat in the wild: fresh meat, bones, and organs. Early domesticated dogs ate real food, and a raw meat-based diet remains the best choice for your dog.
As part of her raw diet, your puppy needs to eat bones that provide calcium and other minerals for healthy skeletal development, as well as support neuromuscular, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine function. Recreational bones are bigger and harder bones that dogs can chew on without consuming as food, which is an essential part of their diet.
When it comes to providing recreational bones for dogs, especially aggressive chewers, supervision is crucial to prevent dental damage. Ensure the bone is large enough to avoid the risk of choking or intestinal blockage.
Suitable bones for small dogs may pose a danger to larger breeds, and it’s essential that the bones are raw, not cooked or smoked. Preferred options include shoulder bone, pelvis, hip joint, knee, knuckle, and femur. Chewing on bones offers significant physical benefits for dogs. Contrary to popular belief about dry pet food, bones actually help clean dogs’ teeth and aid in the teething process for puppies. The exercise involved in chewing strengthens muscles, tendons, and ligaments from the jaw to the tail, potentially preventing future injuries. Mental health is also enhanced by bone chewing, as it reduces boredom-induced bad behavior and releases endorphins, promoting happiness and stress relief. Unlike artificially flavored thermoplastic polymer bones, natural bones provide a euphoric state. Redirecting puppies to chew on appropriate bones can improve delinquent behaviors, as observed by professional dog trainers.Puzzle games are essential for your dog’s cognitive development. Offering a new type of chewing bone, such as a goat pelvis or bovine knee cap, provides an interesting challenge for your pup. These bones are not hard enough to break teeth, unlike bones from older animals. Once the marrow is gone, you can stuff them with dog-friendly food. Our dogs love empty marrow bones with a duck foot pulled through the cavity; they work their brains and mouths to separate the two.
How to Safely Give Your Puppy a Bone: My house is like a boneyard with slightly older bones for my puppy to play with or chew. I keep raw bones without meat and a safe size to prevent choking hazards. I also keep one in her crate to ease separation anxiety. When providing fresh bones, we supervise our dogs closely to watch for possessiveness that could cause disagreements. Train your puppy to allow you to give and take bones at will, often exchanging for a delicious treat like dehydrated lung.
Food for Thought: The intestinal tract, also known as the second brain, works closely with the mind. Gut health affects cognitive function and immune system, as nearly 90% of it resides in the gut. For optimal nutrition, include species-appropriate whole food diet with variety. This diet supports your dog’s health and longevity, providing a broad spectrum of nutrients.
Related: How much calcium do puppies need? For optimal nutrition, include eggs from pastured chickens or ducks, raw or cultured milk (as long as your dog isn’t dairy-sensitive), minced fermented vegetables (all from organic sources), and an Omega-3 source. We occasionally share bee products with our adult dogs—honey, royal jelly, propolis, and pollen—but not raw honey products with puppies, as they may not be safe.
Remember, the time spent with your puppy shapes her for life. Accept that she’ll be naughty once in a while. She needs training, guidance, food, and, above all, LOVE!
