Want Great Dog Behaviour & Happiness? See What this Expert Says.

Meet Sarah Rutten; Canine Behaviour Expert: Best Selling Author of The Canine Perspective. Dip CBST KPA CTP CPDT-KA, I sat down with her for breakfast recently and we chatted all things behaviour in dogs, owners and food. Here's some of Sarah's backstory and the wisdom she shared:

Sarah has loved animals ever since she can remember—dogs in particular. “It didn’t matter if it was my beloved family pet or the neighbour’s canine companion, I was always the kid who was out the back hanging out with the dog.” Sarah says.  

“And it wasn’t just the dogs themselves I loved: I was intrigued/loved by their behaviour and understanding why they did what they did!!!”

So, Sarah spent a lifetime studying and gaining qualifications both here and abroad to become one of Australia's most qualified Canine Behaviour experts.

1. What foods do you notice are helpful to dogs & behaviour?

I subscribe to the “fresh is best” philosophy – for both dogs and humans. While I know many vets recommend high quality commercial diets as being the way to go, these diets are often full of overly processed ingredients and preservatives, and I have seen firsthand an increase in anxiety and hyperactivity as a result. Often, these symptoms vanish when we switch dogs to a well-balanced whole foods diet.

Whole and nutrient-dense foods support stable energy, a regulated nervous system, and a healthy gut - which massively impacts behaviour. Consequently, when dogs are fed minimally processed, species-appropriate diets, they tend to show more resilience, responsiveness, and calm.

2. What foods are not ideal for behaviour?

Highly processed commercial dog foods from off the shelf companies, especially those loaded with fillers, artificial colours, by-products, and chemical preservatives – these negatively impact a dog’s mental health and behaviour. This type of diet (I often call it “junk food for dogs”) can lead to a gut that’s out of balance, which leads to a brain that’s out of balance. I’ve seen irritability, anxiety, hyperactivity, and even aggression stemming from poor diet. One dog in particular developed aggressive behaviour after 2 nights of being fed poor-quality dry food (their guardian had run out and had been unable to purchase more of their usual diet – so they grabbed the cheapest thing off the shelf at the supermarket to tie them over).

3. Gut-brain connection - what’s the link with behaviour, stress & immunity?

We’re talking microbiome here. Dogs have a complex gut-brain axis, just like humans. A dog’s microbiome plays a key role in their ability to regulate emotions, cope with stress, and maintain calm. An imbalanced gut can mean a dog that’s anxious, hypersensitive, or reactive. Conversely, supporting the gut supports everything from stress response to immune health to emotional regulation.

I had another client whose young dog started displaying strange, aggressive-type behaviour towards her suddenly. While the dog’s diet was reasonably good, the guardian mentioned that the dog’s poos were black in colour. We put her on a course of probiotics – and not only did her poo change back to its normal colour, but her behaviour changed as well. Just like with us, the connection between the gut and the brain can be profound.

 4. Has dog and puppy anxiety increased—and why?

Yes, I believe it has. Many dogs are under stimulated in today’s modern society. Many puppies receive early socialisation without safety, are attempting to live up to inappropriate human expectations, receive a lack of decompression time, along with poor nutrition, and constant novelty all contributing to growing levels of anxiety. Combine that with a growing misunderstanding of what calm and content look like, and needs for social contact, mental stimulation and physical exercise not always being met - and you get more anxious dogs.

6. Protocol for relaxation – link to the audio + does it work for all breeds?

Yes, the Karen Overall Relaxation Protocol is based in co-regulation, rhythm, and clarity, and it’s effective for all breeds because it taps into universal needs for: safety, predictability, and connection. Here is the audio link - https://championofmyheart.com/relaxation-protocol-mp3-files/

 In Conclusion:

“I feel that the strong link between diet and behaviour is often overlooked – especially in our society where convenience is often valued more highly. But just like us, poor quality diet, lack of exercise, lack of social contact, lack of mental stimulation and lack of rest and recovery ALL contribute to disease and dysfunction within the body. Anxiety, irritability, hyperactivity are often reflections of something deeper going on – and by addressing the root cause of these issues, we can have happier, healthier dogs. And as guardians of these beloved creatures, we truly owe them that.”

For more on Sarah Rutten, visit her here  www.Sarah@thecanineperspective.com.au 

To see our range of all natural, healthy, good gut bacteria feeding, award winning foods & treats; great for puppy behaviour and health-visit us & enjoy: https://www.dayapetfoodco.com