The Dog Psychologist

04/03/2026

28/02/2026

Just a cosy evening talking all things “dog”. ☺️ The best kind of evenings there are I think. …

21/02/2026

Anyone’s dog got ‘allergies’. Worth a look 👀

08/02/2026

Sorry to harp on… 🙈 It’s SO important! 🫶🏼

Brand new study looked at whether dogs fed a raw meat-based diet (RMBD) were leaner or healthier compared to dogs eating regular commercial pet food. Researchers followed 104 healthy adult dogs about half eating raw diets and half eating commercial diets for several months. They checked body condition, activity levels, and ran blood tests to look at nutrient status.

Dogs eating raw diets were generally leaner and had lower body fat scores than dogs eating commercial food. On average, raw-fed dogs were eating slightly fewer calories and getting more of their energy from fat & protein, which may help with weight control. They were also more likely to participate in dog sports and higher-intensity activities.

However, the study also found nutritional concerns with raw diets. Many raw-fed dogs were getting lower amounts of important minerals like iodine, zinc, copper, and manganese. Some vitamins, especially vitamin D and vitamin E, were also lower compared to commercial-fed dogs. Although bloodwork did not show obvious signs of deficiency and all dogs appeared healthy, the nutrient imbalances raised concerns about potential long-term effects if diets are not carefully balanced.

26/01/2026

Anyone thinking about trying this? It’s a lovely choice but can be expensive. I’m passing on a discount code. It doesn’t have any strings attached. They simply provide a hefty discount to encourage customers to try it.

Me and my dog have done research that this company does so I like them from a welfare perspective. They genuinely want to improve the food your dogs eat. That’ll do for me! 😊❤️🫶🏼

I don’t know a dog that doesn’t wolf it down either.

Click the link for the code to activate.

Healthy, complete and hypoallergenic. Our Fresh food is tailored to your dog's individual needs. Suitable for all lifestages, including puppies & seniors.

20/01/2026

Ever seen soil products for dogs?

I have, it’s because they are teeming with different bacteria 🦠

But did you know that bacteria is FABULOUS for your dog? A bit like kefir; a fermented yoghurt which is also teeming with gorgeous levels of good bacteria that protects the gut flora.

This article talks about how farming impacts these bacteria but the take away from me is…. Let your dogs play in the mud and the soil. As long as you’re not using harmful pesticides or other chemicals, it will do them no harm and may even do them good. 😊

Get • The soil beneath our feet is thriving with a beautiful complex interconnected myriad of life. It is a shame, that many of the methods used to grow food in today’s large industrial agricultural system end up destroying the very biological organisms we rely on to sustain our environment.

It is hard not to bring the debate back to glyphosate. It is everywhere and in everything e.g. in non-organic food, wine, beer, in tap water, in urine and it has even been recorded in breastmilk. So much of the stuff is used and with such frequency that it is compromising our health and the health of our food chain and ultimately our planet.

Glyphosate is toxic not only to the plants it kills, and the humans which consume the plants but also to earthworms. At least 6 studies have shown that glyphosate is damaging to earthworms, reducing their reproductive rates and reducing the rate at which they turn soil over. Earthworms have chemoreceptors and sensory turbercles on their skin giving them a high degree of sensitivity to chemicals and they avoid soil contaminated with glyphosate.

We can learn a lot from these little creatures. They quietly go about their work, improving our soil, helping us grow food and they know instinctively that glyphosate is something to be avoided. Maybe society should take a leaf out the earthworm’s book and avoid glyphosate too. The good news though is that organic farming does not use glyphosate (or any chemicals) so by buying our produce, you are not only helping the environment, but your own health too!

Thank you, as always

Kenneth

17/01/2026

More gut health info… the gut really is pivotal in a dog.

A new peer-reviewed, first-of-its-kind study found that dogs with atopic dermatitis (skin allergies) have significantly lower levels of all three key short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): acetate, propionate, and butyrate, compared to healthy dogs.🦠 These gut-derived compounds are produced by beneficial bacteria and play a critical role in protecting the gut lining, balancing the immune system, and reducing inflammation. Lower SCFA levels suggest that dogs with allergic skin disease may have an altered gut environment that produces fewer of these protective compounds.

Similar patterns are seen in people with atopic dermatitis (eczema), where reduced SCFAs are common and may even help predict disease development. One of SCFAs’ most important functions is nourishing the cells that line the gut, helping maintain a strong intestinal barrier and reducing the risk of unwanted compounds leaking into the bloodstream. Without adequate SCFA-producing bacteria, overall gut, immune, and skin health can suffer.

Feeding dogs minimally processed, high-fiber foods, resistant starches, and targeted probiotics or prebiotics can help beneficial bacteria thrive and increase SCFA production. That’s why Dr. Becker developed PRIMITIVE PROBIOTICS™—a science-driven approach to supporting your dog’s microbiome using specific strains, including Lactobacillus species and Bifidobacterium bifidum, that help contribute to SCFA production and a healthier, more resilient gut.

👉 If you want to explore a science-backed probiotic option for your dog, comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll send a link straight to your DMs.

23/12/2025

And this is what I tell you all when I visit your gorgeous dogs. They’re worth more than this rubbish….

07/12/2025

Been talking to a few clients about this…

21/11/2025

I often prescribe a daily of kefir to dogs under my behaviour plans.

This is because many dogs with behaviour issues need to address it from the gut outwards. Kefir is a fermented drink teaming with good bacteria that literally feeds the gut microbiome.

Weird huh?

Well no, not really. The gut produces and houses up to 95% of your dog’s calming chemicals; serotonin and GABA. We need to look after it if we want behaviour changes that last.

I also anecdotally find that owners who report behaviour issues, also report skin issues.

Skin, gut, behaviour. 👌🐾

“These findings show the systemic influence of Oral daily probiotic and postbiotic supplementation in shaping microbial communities across both sites and support its use to promote overall canine health. Collectively, our results offer robust evidence for the dual benefits of daily oral ODPPS on both skin and gut microbiota.“

Want to explore a science-backed probiotic🦠 option for your dog, comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll send a link your way.

13/11/2025

But of a history lesson got anyone interested. I was interested! Worth a read… Our dogs' diversity can be traced back to the Stone Age

A new study suggests their physical transformation began much earlier than we previously thought.