About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of diet and nutrition on dogs' emotional and behavioural health, emphasizing the gut-brain connection and the importance of dietary variety.

In this episode, we explore diet and nutrition through a much wider lens than calories, protein percentages, or trends. Food does not just affect the body. It affects the gut. The nervous system. Emotional regulation. And ultimately, behaviour. We talk about why dogs are facultative carnivores, what that actually means in real life, and why carbohydrates have been so heavily misunderstood and demonised. We explore the importance of balance, individual dogs, and the type and quality of ingredients, rather than extreme or one-size-fits-all feeding rules. This episode also looks at the gut–brain connection, why feeding the same food every day can negatively affect the microbiome, and how dietary variety supports resilience, emotional steadiness, and long-term wellbeing. We unpack common pet food marketing tactics, including misleading buzzwords, ingredient list tricks, and the reality behind claims like “no artificial additives” and long lists of added vitamins and minerals. This episode is not about doing things perfectly. It is about understanding how deeply food and behaviour are linked, and how thoughtful, pressure-free choices can make a meaningful difference to a dog’s…

People in this episode

Host: Bethany Bell

Topics covered

• dog nutrition
• emotional health
• behavioural health
• gut-brain connection
• dietary variety
• pet food marketing

Keywords

• dog diet
• emotional regulation
• facultative carnivores
• microbiome
• pet food marketing
• nutritional balance

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