BARF and the hunting instinct in dogs are often associated with one another. To be more precise, there is a myth that BARF encourages the hunting instinct. But what is really true about the assumption that raw meat makes dogs aggressive? We at haustierkost.de know that biologically appropriate raw feeding, as the name suggests, is probably the most species-appropriate feeding method for our carnivorous four-legged friends. That's why we're getting to the bottom of the topic and finding out in the BARF guide whether the hunting instinct and food are related to one another.
Myth checked: BARF promotes the hunting instinct – what is the truth?
The myth that BARF promotes the hunting instinct is based on the assumption that dogs can make an association between the meat in their bowl and the prey in the forest and the animal in the pasture. However, this is not the case. In addition, the hunting instinct in dogs is usually triggered by the movement or flight of the prey. It is therefore not surprising that there is no scientific evidence for the BARF myth of the promoted hunting instinct.
The Hunting Instinct in Dogs
The hunting instinct of dogs is a natural instinct that has developed over the course of evolution and that enabled the ancestors of today's domestic dogs to obtain food and survive in the wild. This is why this hunting instinct is present in all dogs - even today, when it is usually the owners who take care of obtaining food. In principle, this instinct can be expressed to varying degrees in different animals, usually depending on factors such as breed and genetic predisposition. For example, an animal that has hunting dogs in its family tree is more likely to respond to the corresponding stimuli that awaken its hunting instinct. Regardless of breed, however, every dog instinctively understands what prey is - regardless of whether it has ever eaten BARF meat or not. Feeding them raw meat does not in any way trigger the idea in the four-legged friends that they will go hunting more often in the future.
Does raw meat make dogs aggressive?
In this respect, we can also answer the question of whether raw meat makes dogs aggressive in the negative. In fact, the opposite is more likely to be the case: dogs that are not adequately supplied with high-quality animal proteins in the form of fresh BARF can develop a serotonin deficiency. This can in turn lead to the four-legged friend being more sensitive to certain stimuli and subsequently reacting more aggressively. Quite simply because they lack the so-called happiness hormones. Therefore, it is a crucial factor when feeding to ensure that the animal's needs are met in order to avoid such deficiencies. In principle, a healthy, well-cared-for dog is a relaxed dog. If your animal shows aggressive behavior, going to the vet is the right thing to do. Allergies and food intolerances are often behind it, which are responsible for pain in the digestive tract.
