Is this possible in a dry food?
A behaviourist as advised us that our dog's high protein food (Acana) may be contributing to his growling behaviour.  She has recommended Burns but the only one that is grain free is a pork version.  I have done a lot of internet research and the only one I can find is James Wellbeloved lamb and veg but it seems to be low quality and high in salt.  I was also looking at Simpsons grain free Lamb.

I want to try her advice (although I realise protein vs behaviour is debatable). As a compromise we are continuing to give him Acana but will a small amount substituted with fresh boiled potato (calorie equivalent) to lower the protein percentage.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Jane

I have been using Simpsons Sensitive Range for quite a while now with good results. I usually use the fish and potato. My dogs don't have allergies or intolerances but I chose not to feed cereals.

TBH I would change your behaviourist - or ask that he/she do a bit more research.  The link between high protein food & bad behaviour has been widely de-bunked.  

But there is certainly sometimes a link between food & behaviour - it's usually grains that are the culprits.  But many people report very hyper behaviour when using Bakers . . .

I'm inclined to agree with previous poster :-O

Definitely chemicals in dog food (the one with the B word ;-) ) will affect behaviour, just as it does kids ... but if you're going to go down compromise route then Simpsons is a good quality - as is Acana!

Sounds as though this behaviourist has done the same course as the one who worked with a young dog I'm looking after at the mo. Behaviourist advised changing from a perfectly good quality dry food to a fairly vile looking wet food. Why change? Supposedly a very nervous dog and would do better with the wet food. If the youngster's nervous then I'm the Pope!!

I use Fishmongers Finest its Grain free and I'm very pleased with it and the dogs look well on it.
Its only available from PAH but don't let that put you off as its a good food.

Not in reply to anyone in particular but I do wonder why people are so anti cereal (grain) unless your dog has some sort of reaction to it. My dogs love their biscuits and I would be loathed to deprive them of them because grain seems these days to be a dirty word.

Not antigraain here, but as the dog has been just as bad with chicken and Rice, with rice being the common factor with her normal food it seems wise to try a different carbohydrate.

It's why I suggested change in that or change fo both the carb and protein source, whether home made (fish and potatoe) or manufactured.

Not antigraain here

Understand that but there does seem to be an anti grain feel about a number of posts of late and I wondered why as for years we have fed biscuit and chicken and rice has for years been fed to dogs with sensitive digestions.

It seems to be the latest food fashion/hatred. :-(

There was that recent research about dogs shown to have a genetic profile that indicates they can eat and process starch sources in a way that wolves cannot- it makes sense given dogs are a domesticated species. I don't buy the notion that all dogs are better off on a pure meat diet. They evolved to live alongside humans and exploited a scavenger niche. The problem is our diet (and theres) has evolved so quickly in terms of additives, processing, added hormones and pesticides, that both species have developed intolerances as a result.

Like humans, some dogs have dietary intolerances and even allergies, some to grains and certain plant proteins, and others to certain animal proteins.

The issue of protein and the link to aggression/hyperactivity is tricky. It's about serotonin levels and too much or too little protein can cause a drop in serotonin- the optimal level is down to each animal's biochemistry. Some say that the right ratio of carbs in the diet increases the body's ability to convert tryptophan to serotonin.

perhaps someone can help me as i am looking to put weight on my bitch but dont want a high protein food as she does get pink patches if protein high!

Try putting a teaspoon of veg oil on her food every day.