A common misconception about raw feeding is that it causes aggression in dogs. Although the concern is unfounded, it may be based on dogs guarding their new food because of its value, like their prized and favorite toy or chew.

Studies have shown that chewing raw meaty bones releases dopamine in dogs. Dopamine helps produce norepinephrine and serotonin, which help regulate mood, sleep, and appetite. Eating a raw diet that supports the gut microbiome has also been shown to lessen aggression and anxiety in dogs, as 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut.

Raw feeding will not make a dog aggressive in and of itself, but there are other elements to consider when talking about aggression and raw diets, or any diet for that matter, including:

When a dog exhibits aggressive behavior, the first step is to rule out medical issues. Many medical disorders, like chronic pain, can cause a dog's behavior to change. 

Additional medical conditions that can cause aggression include, but aren't limited to, the following:

If your dog shows signs of aggression, it's critical to visit the veterinarian first to rule out any underlying medical issues.  

Essential amino acid requirements for dogs are set to promote appropriate biological processes. Tryptophan is an amino acid that must be consumed at appropriate levels regularly, as the body cannot synthesize or store excess tryptophan.

Studies have linked low-tryptophan diets to depression, anxiety, and aggression in humans, so it is believed that aggressive behaviors can emerge if a raw diet does not regularly provide sufficient levels of tryptophan.

According to the NRC, the guidelines for adult dogs are a 0.28-gram minimum allowance with a 0.35-gram recommended allowance. Recommended guidelines for puppies are 0.45 grams minimum allowance with a 0.58 gram recommended allowance.

If you have ever gone on a diet, or are currently living with healthy habits, think back to when you were carb-loading eating potato chips, drinking soda, and all-around eating unhealthy compared to how you feel when you're eating healthy food. Our dogs are the same way. That difference you feel in your body- more energy, more clear-minded and healthier overall- has much to do with the gut microbiome.

When the body isn't healthy, there could be mood swings, depression, and anxiety, among other disorders. When you don't feel well, do you feel like being friendly? The likely answer is 'no.' The gut microbiome is more balanced when dogs eat healthily, leading to less inflammation and balanced hormone levels. 

Some dogs are possessive of food, especially if they have experienced food deprivation. Food aggression is found in both raw-fed and kibble-fed dogs. Raw food may intensify this behavior due to its higher nutritional value and better palatability. 

Dog parents witnessing guarding behaviors should consult a qualified trainer for tips on positive reinforcement training to help eliminate the behavior. Simply removing the food from the dog to discourage the behavior could be dangerous for the owner and the dog.

Simple steps for reducing resource guarding are:

Establish a feeding routine that prevents the dog's need to gorge on the food. Dogs exhibiting resource guarding may need to be fed smaller meals throughout the day and are not good candidates for intermittent fasting.

Feeding the dog in an area that reduces threats from people and other animals will reduce the need to guard the food. Never feed a resource guarder around other dogs. Provide separate feeding areas.

Prey drive in dogs is the instinct to chase and capture prey. The prey drive in dogs is most robust when dogs are young but will continue to be there throughout their lives.

There is a misconception that raw feeding increases the prey drive in dogs.

The instinct to chase and capture does not apply to raw feeding, as the dog is presented with the raw meal in the same way as kibble. That prey drive came from the need to catch small animals to survive. Providing a species-appropriate diet will not increase their need to capture their food. 

Raw food does not directly cause aggression in dogs.

Raw food releases dopamine; a "feel good" neurotransmitter.

Aggression could be caused by nutritional deficiencies, resource guarding, or a medical condition.

The influence of nutrition on canine behaviour - MUGFORD - 1987 - Journal of Small Animal Practice - Wiley Online Library  

Role of brain dopamine in food reward and reinforcement  

The effect of graded concentrations of dietary tryptophan on canine behavior in response to the approach of a familiar or unfamiliar individual  

Dietary tryptophan supplementation in privately owned mildly anxious dogs - ScienceDirect  

Tryptophan requirements in small, medium, and large breed adult dogs using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique1 | Journal of Animal Science | Oxford Academic   

Preliminary study: voluntary food intake in dogs during tryptophan supplementation | British Journal of Nutrition | Cambridge Core  

Does Raw Feeding Make Dogs Aggressive?

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