I seriously have noooo idea what happened.
I was just chillin`, and all of a sudden that pillow literally just exploded...
I really am as shocked as you are!
When dogs get creative, we all know it`s not because they act on bad will. And same as us, some are just jokers. An anyway screwy character, potentially going through puberty even, will develop the most special ideas.
But if reasons lie deeper and dogs struggle with temper or serious anxiety, and assuming mental and
physical load (aka pure boredom) is not the cause (otherwise I would recommend to get some advice from a well reputated dog trainer), there are a couple of things we can actually influence
through food!
Therefore let`s quickly dive into the fascinating world of hormonal effects.
The queen of hormones, dopamine, is well known by its name and generally regarded as the "happiness hormone". As neurotransmitter of the central nervous system dopamine has an activating effect and amongst other things provides more courage and joy. At the same time, dopamine is the preliminary stage of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which relieve us of the decision of fight or flight in dangerous situations.
Basic building blocks of this process are the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine, that convert to the hormonal stages of their existence in the adrenal medulla, nerve endings and in the brain.
Both amino acids can be found in eggs, fish, meat (beef, game, heart, bowels), diary products, nuts,
grains and legumes.
And - todays` first important finding - as with all good things in life, it`s all about the right balance:
Too much of it can cause fear, hyperactivity, aggression and shredded pillows.
Too little is amplifying depression, listlessness and a feeling of sadness.
Since finding balance is key, we need to talk about the "opposite" to dopamine, the contrast. The Yang to the Yin, the Nancy to Frank Sinatra, the Pinky to the Brain, ... you got the concept.
The perfect counterpart to dopermine is serotonine, the "feel-good hormone" with its dampening effect, that lulls anxiety and fear into a warming feeling of trust and
security.
Serotonine is produced in the intestines from the amino acid tryptophane with support of magnesium and
vitmine B and needs insuline to be transported into the brain. Therefore - finding number two - carbohydrates should definitely be part of the diet of any (shaky) dog.
To incease the tryptophane intake, lamb, sheep, goat, boiled pork, cod, saithe, banana - third finding: god, this banana, it just has superpowers, doesn`t it? - and african black
bean will be nutritional components of choice.
I know, I know, it is shocking that the grocery around the corner is always
out of stock of african black bean when you need it ... ;) Hold on, there is one more option for easy daily rationing:
Supplements that do the trick perfectly with enough tryptophane, lysine,
magnesium & B-vitamines to support, and dextrose to trigger insuline are for example Relax Plus by Vet Concept or Relax Forte by Canipur.
Adding those supplements to your dog`s daily meal, as addition to changes of stressful routines,
And in case the hormonal challenge you undergo with your dog is not one of adequate nutrient supply, but
just pure puberty, maybe it`s on you to work on your emotional balance. At least for the next couple of months. Fancy a banana?
