What should you feed a hyperactive dog?
What should you feed a hyperactive dog?
The most important thing to get right for your hyperactive dog is energy balance. Your dog needs enough nutrition to fuel their body and brain, without regularly receiving more calories than they can use. Their food, portions, exercise, mental stimulation and rest should all work together around their individual needs.
A lively dog is not necessarily a hyperactive dog. Breed, age, personality and lifestyle can all influence energy levels, while difficulty settling may also be linked to their routine, environment or health.
Alyssa Ralph
MSc PGDip BSc(Hons)
Clinical Animal Behaviourist & Canine Nutritionist
Food cannot change your dog’s personality or calm hyperactivity on its own. But it can provide complete nutrition and appropriately portioned energy throughout the day. Every Years plan is personalised around your dog’s breed, age, weight, body condition and activity level, with quality protein, fibre rich wholefoods, healthy fats and precisely balanced nutrients.
Getting their food and portions right gives your dog the nutritional foundation they need. Combined with suitable exercise, enrichment, training and enough rest, it can help them make better use of all that get up and go.
Alyssa Ralph
MSc PGDip BSc(Hons)
Clinical Animal Behaviourist & Canine Nutritionist
Balanced energy from wholefood ingredients
Lean proteins
Vegetables
Fruit
Seeds
Herbs
Botanicals
Personalise your dog's proteins
You can choose from single proteins or multi source protein meals, depending on your dog's dietary requirements and preferences.
How Years fresh dog food helps your high energy dog
Protein often gets the blame when your dog has enough energy to power the whole park, but simply cutting it back is not the answer. Your dog still needs quality protein for healthy muscles, tissue repair and all those daily adventures. What matters is how it’s balanced across their whole bowl.
Years pairs quality meat and fish with fibre rich sweet potato, carrots and parsnip, plus healthy fats and essential vitamins and minerals. These wholefood ingredients give your dog complete nutrition, with every part of the recipe there for a reason.
There are no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives hiding in the small print either. Just properly balanced fresh food to nourish your dog without taking away the spark that makes them wonderfully them.
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All of our meals are completely grain, legume, dairy and soy free
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The % of every ingredient used in our meals is declared
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Our recipes use named, prime cuts of meat
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Personalised meals with breed specific ingredients
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Free from fillers, preservatives, or anything artificial
Personalise your high energy dog's plan!
Try Years fresh recipes with a personalised 7 day trial from £7, and discover complete wholefood nutrition made for your hyperactive dog’s individual energy needs. Tailored to their breed, size, age and activity level.
Tell us about your dog
Every question you answer helps us tailor your dogs nutrition
Tailored recipes
Our Veterinary Board Certified algorithm creates your dogs’ recipes
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300,000 Happy dogs and counting
Here's what some of our customers say
Rated the UKs Best Fresh Dog Food
All About Dog Food is the UK’s most trusted independent dog food review site, used by over 2 million people. Years has its highest fresh dog food rating, scoring an impressive 95%!
Only Years offers your dog a complete nutrition system with personalised ingredients based on your dog’s life stage and breed. Here’s how Years stacks up against the competition.
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AADF Nutrition Rating Overall nutritional rating on consumer review website Visit AllAboutDogFood.co.uk |
95% | 88% | 43% | 38% |
Declare % of every ingredient Is every ingredient % declared, so you know exactly what you’re feeding? |
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Detail every cut of meat Is every cut of meat detailed, so you know exactly what you’re feeding? |
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Zero legumes. |
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100% grain free |
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Gentle cooking method Classification is based on an average declared cooking temperature threshold of 90°C or below. |
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Store at room temperature |
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Health supplement |
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Breed specific ingredients Years' algorithm analyses your dog's breed, their potential health needs, and selects a formulation to suit - refined further with personalised dosage instructions. |
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Probiotic digestive support |
Years nutrition system includes fresh meals which provide 100% complete nutrition. At Years, we go even further, by including for free, with every meal a Breed Health+ supplement. Different formulas for different breeds, all with added probiotics for digestive support. Comparison table data was obtained, through a review of each brand's official website, conducted on 26 April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best dog food for a hyperactive dog is complete, balanced and suited to their age, size, body condition and activity level. Years personalises each plan around your individual dog, combining quality protein, fibre rich wholefoods, healthy fats and essential nutrients in one complete meal.
Changing food may help if your dog’s current meals or portions do not suit their nutritional needs.
Years provides complete recipes and personalised portions to help you feed the right amount for your dog’s lifestyle. Food cannot calm hyperactivity alone, so exercise, enrichment, training, sleep and routine still matter.
There is no strong evidence that a high protein diet alone makes dogs hyperactive. Protein provides essential amino acids for healthy muscles, tissue repair and normal body function. Years balances quality meat and fish with wholefood sources of fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, rather than viewing protein in isolation.
Look for quality protein, fibre rich wholefoods, healthy fats and a complete balance of vitamins and minerals. Years recipes combine meat and fish with ingredients such as sweet potato, carrots and parsnip. Every ingredient and its percentage is clearly declared, so you can see exactly what is filling your dog’s bowl.
Fresh dog food can be suitable for hyperactive dogs when it is complete, balanced and served in appropriate portions. Years recipes are gently steam cooked inside their trays, keeping the natural moisture, juices and goodness together. Each plan is tailored around your dog’s breed, age, size and activity level.
Your dog’s portion should reflect their weight, age, body condition and actual activity level. A lively personality does not always mean they need more food. Years calculates personalised portions using details about your dog and adjusts their plan as their needs change, helping you keep their daily intake on track.
Speak to your vet if your dog’s behaviour changes suddenly, becomes difficult to manage or appears alongside increased thirst, appetite changes, weight loss, restlessness or difficulty sleeping. They can check for underlying health concerns and may recommend a qualified clinical animal behaviourist where appropriate.
Every Years subscriber can also book a 1:1 consultation with a member of the Years expert panel to discuss their dog’s nutrition, individual needs and personalised plan. Simply book your consultation through your Years account. This service does not replace veterinary care, but it can help you feel confident that your dog’s food and portions are right for them.
