The Instinctive Diet: What Should I Be Feeding My Dog?

"What should I be feeding my dog?" is one of the most common questions I am asked in clinical practice.

Considering the huge range of pet food options available, clever marketing, and often contradictory advice, it's no surprise that many owners feel completely bamboozled when trying to decide what belongs in their dog's bowl. Even as a vet, navigating the conflicting information can be challenging.

One of the biggest debates centres around the level of carbohydrates found in many commercial dry foods and whether these diets truly align with what dogs are designed to eat.

Looking Back at Your Dog's Evolutionary History

From an evolutionary standpoint, the domesticated dog evolved from wild wolf ancestors around 15,000 years ago. During this time, their diet consisted primarily of animal-based foods that were naturally rich in protein and fat and very low in carbohydrates.

Fast forward to today, and many commercial dry foods contain between 30% and 60% carbohydrate, with a comparatively lower proportion of protein and fat.

There is evidence that modern dogs are better able to digest and utilise carbohydrates than their wolf ancestors. However, this raises an important question: just because dogs can eat something, does it mean they should?

What Does the Research Tell Us?

Researchers at Massey University in New Zealand have been exploring this question and investigating whether dogs instinctively know what type of food suits them best.

In research led by Mark Roberts at Massey University, dogs were offered a choice of three diets that were individually high in protein, fat, or carbohydrates. You can read the Massey Research Online thesis here: Macronutrient self-selection in dogs and the impact on markers of health.

The results were fascinating:

Over the course of the study, the average macronutrient intake selected by the dogs was:

This nutrient profile looks very different from many commercial dry diets commonly fed today.

Do Dogs Instinctively Know What They Need?

While research in this area is still ongoing, these findings support the idea that dogs naturally prefer a diet that more closely resembles what their ancestors would have eaten.

Of course, preference alone does not automatically mean a food is healthier.

So the next question becomes: if a dog prefers a particular diet, is it necessarily better for them?

The reality is that we do not yet have all the answers, and more research is needed. However, studies have shown that raw meat-based diets are highly digestible and are often associated with lower faecal volume and desirable faecal quality.

Does That Mean Dogs Should Eat Only Meat?

The short answer is no.

Just like us, dogs require a balanced diet that provides all the essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre needed to support ongoing health and wellbeing.

While it is possible to formulate a complete and balanced diet at home, doing so correctly can be complex and requires careful nutritional planning.

This is where purposefully formulated diets, such as those developed by the team at K9 Natural, can help provide the nutritional balance dogs need while still reflecting their carnivorous heritage.

When Should You Speak to Your Vet?

Every dog is different.

If your dog has an existing medical condition, allergies, digestive sensitivities, or other health concerns, it's important to discuss dietary changes with your veterinarian before making adjustments to their feeding plan.

A diet that works well for one dog may not be appropriate for another.

What Can We Take Away From This Research?

This is an exciting area of research that continues to evolve. While there is still more to learn, the evidence so far suggests that dogs may instinctively favour a diet that is closer to their evolutionary roots.

Whether our dogs truly know best remains to be seen, but if my own dog Albus had the final say, I have a pretty good idea which bowl he'd choose first.