Source: AAHA
Golden retrievers are widely seen as gentle and friendly dogs, but like any breed, they can exhibit aggression. Since behavioral issues like aggression often lead to pet relinquishment, researchers at the University of California-Davis and the Morris Animal Foundation investigated whether diet—specifically protein content in dry dog food—could influence aggression levels in golden retrievers. Past studies suggested a link between dietary protein and aggression, but most are decades old. In this new study, over 1,600 golden retriever owners completed surveys rating their dogs’ aggression in categories like owner-, dog-, and stranger-directed aggression.
Due to the breed’s typically low aggression, researchers had to simplify the data into two groups: “any aggression” and “none.” Despite this, the study found a measurable association between food protein content and aggression levels. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, suggest diet may play a role in behavioral health, even in the most mild-mannered breeds.