Have you wondered why your dog, who is very loving & caring towards you, sometimes jumps upon your partner in an unfriendly manner?

Or your friendly dog just becomes aggressive or annoyed all of a sudden?

It is because, just like humans have Prakriti (Constitution), dogs & other pets too have different body types or personalities based on theeir dosha predominance.

Ayurveda says all of us have all three doshas but in various proportions. The dominant doshas are told as our Prakriti or Constitution. Some may have one dosha dominance, some have dual dosha dominance, whereas others have all the dosha predominance. Just like diet & lifestyle are suggested for us based on our constitution, we should take care of our pets with their specific needs based on their constitution. If proper care is not given according to the constitution, the doshas can get imbalanced & may lead to behavioral problems & health issues as well. 

It is true and many of us have seen that we out live our pets. But if we can make their stay with us a happy and healthy one, would you not want to know how to go about doing it? 

Ayurveda has some insight on how you can continue your care for your pet that offers you unconditional love, and gives them a long and happy life by incorporating these custom herbs based on their needs and overall health.

So let's find out if your furry friend is Vata, Pitta or Kapha?

Dosha & Nature Of Your Pet

• Social
• Very quick or fast
• Highly active, demanding your time & energy, and alert too. 
• Feels very cold in monsoon or cold weather, prefers hot weather. 
• They are very choosy in their food & have a variable appetite, sometimes eat the meals, sometimes skip them. 
• Eats small meals but eats fast and spills food while eating.
• Thin framework and unable to gain weight even after eating fatty meals regularly. 
• He or she does not give attention to your commands and prefers to do what he/she likes.
• Needs more patience, so challenging to train them. 
• The fur coat will be dry, rough & lusterless.
• They love to run; when you open the gates, they are just excited & ready to run. 
• Bored with the same routine. Likes new things always – new toys, new games to play. 
• Mostly have constipation or irregular bowel habits. Poops are dark in color & dry.
• They tend to become hyperactive or ferocious at times. 
• They love changes. 
• They are more likely to get cerebral degeneration, dementia, etc., as they age. 
• Generally, have a short lifespan if not taken care of well. 

• Very attentive
• Quick-witted
• Focused on your commands and obeys commands.
• Easy to train them.
• They are very good at guarding and protecting you well.
• Feels hungry frequently. Does not share food in their bowl with other dogs or pets and get angry (make a “grrrrr” sound or even try to bite you) if we try to touch their food bowl.
• Eats in moderation.
• Medium build.
• Has more panting, especially in summer & prefers to drink more water or liquids, especially cold in summer.
• Enjoys a cold breeze or likes to be in a room with an air conditioner.
• They poop 2 – 3 times a day, primarily soft & yellowish.
• Loves a routine.
• They tend to become aggressive at times.
• They are more likely to get skin rashes or skin problems and can get vision problems as they age.
• Have an average lifespan generally.

• Our best friends like to spend more time with us. 
• They listen to us; they are very loving & caring.
• Does not like much physical activity and has less desire to play.
• They have abundant fur and shiny coat.
• Slow in movements. 
• Enjoys sleeping or resting more. 
• Generally overweight and tend to gain weight quickly.
• They need to be more motivated and like to sit or lie down most of the time.
• Eats big meals. Eats slowly. Likes to eat only 2 – 3 meals a day. It is okay if you miss feeding a meal; it does not matter to them. 
• They are compassionate and okay with sharing their food bowl with other dogs or pets. 
• They are great foodies & eat the food crumbs from the floor. 
• They stroll even if you leave them free.
• Poops once or twice a day but abundant & well formed. 
• They are solid, loyal, easy going & have good endurance. 
• They cannot accept changes easily, like a change of place, climate, or owner. 
• Mostly healthy, chances of diseases are less. However, they may get obesity and diabetes. 
• Has a long lifespan mostly.  

Ayurveda Tips For Your Pet As Per Their Dosha

Vata types 

Diet: Give them unctuous, fatty & sweet (carbohydrates) food. Include milk & carbs like rice or potatoes in their daily diet. White meat and eggs can be given regularly. Red meat is very good for them; hence good to feed them 2 – 3 times a week. Add a bit of sesame oil or ghee to their diet. Avoid feeding them with dry foods. 

Lifestyle: Take them for usual regular walks, and avoid too much running or exertion. Do soft & gentle regular massage with sesame oil twice a week. Give short & smooth kneading massages daily and cuddle them.  

Pitta types  

Diet: Give them cooling, bitter & juicy foods like zucchini, cucumber, and milk. Include a tsp of coconut oil or ghee in their diet. White & red meat can be given 3 – 4 times a week.  

Lifestyle: Do regular massage with coconut oil once a week. Moderate activity or walking is recommended. You can wash them once a week, pour water and gently clean them with mild shampoos. 

Kapha types 

Diet: Make sure to engage them in regular walks & good exercise or fetch games. I prefer to give them more vegetarian meals. Give them bitter, dry food items more. Reduce heavy to digest & fatty food. You should restrict feeding them with red meat. Carbs in moderation can be given.  

Lifestyle: Vigorous massages once in 15 days with sesame oil is good. Keep their body weight under check.  

Understanding is the basis for any relationship. Now that you know the Ayurvedic advice for understanding your dog’s behavior and their specific needs, I am sure that instead of thinking about why they act weird sometimes, you will be able to connect to your pet more emotionally & cuddle them with love & care them with their body type specific diet & lifestyle.

Suggested Herbs For your pets

Ashwagandha - Strength and fatigue

Neem and Vidanga - for parasites

Ginger - Used as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant 

Turmeric - Used as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant 

Shallaki - Pain and joint support

777 Oil- (For external use) dry and cracked paws, 

Nimbadi Ointment - Anti-fungal  

Mahanaryana Oil - Joint and mobility support

Golden Ghee - Energy, calms the acidity, overall health support.

Disclaimer/Risk Factors To Consider:

Herbs and spices are great to use in your pets diet but how much and how frequently you should use is very important. Large amounts can cause gastrointestinal upset. Consult a veterinarian prior to using, if your dog has heart issues, a history of seizures, is pregnant or lactating, or is under 6 months of age. Start with smaller doses and then build up, as per their weight and age.

By 

Dr. Lakshmi