This course will run as a weekly webinar series on Monday evenings at 6pm (GMT), from 23rd February to 16th March 2026. Recordings will be added to the platform after the webinars for on demand access. Full live dates list below.
Understand the foundations of how nutrition impacts dog behaviour from a physiological standpoint, including the role of the gut-brain axis.
Recognise the link between diet, digestive health, and common behaviour problems to move beyond industry myths.
Assess whether a behaviour problem might have a nutritional basis by identifying "red flag" symptoms and dietary triggers.
Identify common nutritional deficiencies that affect emotional regulation and understand how specific interventions can address these issues.
Approved for 6 CEUs for IAABC, CCPDT, PPAB, and KPA.
Nutrition is a key component of behaviour and emotional regulation, but often gets missed when we’re dealing with problematic behaviours. Whilst a behaviour plan might focus heavily on environment and training, the physiological fuel driving the brain and body is just as important.
In this first session, Alyssa will explore the foundational science of the gut-brain axis, moving beyond simple calories to look at how specific nutrients can influence a dog’s mood and focus. She’ll address concepts such as "high protein causes aggression" and “carbs cause hyperactivity” - to show why a healthy gut is the foundation for a stable mind.
Identifying whether a behaviour concern has a nutritional component is a vital skill for the modern canine professional. Alyssa will explore how to look past the surface-level behaviour to identify potential dietary triggers. We will look at how certain diets or feeding styles can result in problems such as hyperactivity, poor focus, or irritability. This session empowers you to spot the red flags in a dog’s current diet that may be hindering their progress in a behaviour plan.
Even a "complete and balanced" diet on paper may not be meeting the specific dietary needs of a dog struggling with a behavioural concern. In this session, Alyssa will examine the specific roles of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids in maintaining emotional homeostasis. We will discuss common deficiencies found in modern canine diets and explore how targeted nutritional interventions can support dogs with specific challenges, such as anxiety or impulsivity. Alyssa will guide you through the science of how adjusting a diet can create a more resilient, calmer learner.
In the final part of this series, we look at how to incorporate nutrition into your professional toolkit. Alyssa will explore potential frameworks for identifying when diet is a key component of a behaviour case, and when and how to suggest further help. This session ensures you leave with the skills to look at every case holistically, making sure you aren’t fighting an uphill battle against a dog’s own physiology.
With Alyssa Ralph
