🐶 Skin, Stomach, or Stress? The 3 Types of Dogs — and What Each One Needs
🧩 Not All Dogs Struggle the Same Way
Ever noticed how some dogs are always itching, others have sensitive tummies, and a few just seem... emotionally overwhelmed?
Turns out, most dogs fall into three wellness types based on their most common issues:
Skin, Stomach, or Stress.
And while symptoms can overlap, identifying your dog’s core type can help you give them the exact care they need — without the guesswork.
Let’s break it down.👇
🐾 Type 1: The Itchy, Flaky, Skin-Sensitive Dog
These dogs are constantly scratching, licking their paws, shaking their ears, or suffering from patchy fur.
🔍 Common signs:
- Itching without fleas
- Dandruff or dry, flaky skin
- Red paws or hotspots
- Smelly ears or recurring infections
⚠️ What’s happening:
- Skin barrier dysfunction
- Food/environmental allergies
- Poor omega-3 intake or gut-related inflammation
✅ What helps:
- Omega-3s from flaxseed or fish oil
- Zinc, Biotin & Collagen for skin repair
- Gut support (many skin issues start in the gut)
- Avoiding wheat, artificial additives & high-carb treats
💡 Related read: Why Your Dog’s Itching, Gas, and Anxiety Might Be Related
💩 Type 2: The Gassy, Sensitive-Tummy Dog
These are the dogs with inconsistent poop, tummy rumbles, weird burps, and the occasional grass buffet.
🔍 Common signs:
- Soft stools or constipation
- Excessive farting or bad breath
- Grass-eating or vomiting yellow foam
- Discomfort after meals
⚠️ What’s happening:
- Gut microbiome imbalance
- Poor quality protein or filler-heavy diets
- Antibiotic history without recovery
- Low enzyme levels or food intolerances
✅ What helps:
- Prebiotics (like inulin) and spore-forming probiotics
- Digestive herbs like fennel and hing
- Simple, digestible diets without heavy processing
- Consistent feeding routines
💡 Related read: Poop Talk: What Your Dog’s Poop Says About Their Health
😬 Type 3: The Stressed, Overstimulated, Emotional Dog
They bark at noises, hate the vet, can’t settle when guests arrive — or maybe just freeze up during car rides.
🔍 Common signs:
- Separation anxiety or destructive behaviour
- Excessive barking or reactivity
- Poor sleep or hyper-vigilance
- Anxiety during travel, grooming, or fireworks
⚠️ What’s happening:
- High cortisol (stress hormone)
- Overactive nervous system
- Past trauma or lack of routine
- Gut-brain axis imbalance
✅ What helps:
- Adaptogens like Ashwagandha or Shankhpushpi
- L-Theanine or B6 to regulate mood
- Mental stimulation & sniff-based play
- Predictable, low-stimulation routines
💡 Related read: Why Your Dog Hates the Vet — and What to Do
🔄 Can Dogs Be More Than One Type?
Absolutely.
Some dogs have both gut and skin issues. Others are anxious because of gut imbalance. These types are not rigid — but recognising the dominant concern can guide you toward the right daily support.
The good news? With the right plan, most dogs move from “always dealing with something” to “calm, regular, shiny, and happy.” 🌈
🧭 What ho.pe. Is Doing About It
At ho.pe. – The Honest Pet Company, we’re building clean, honest daily supplement chews to help pet parents match support to the type of dog they have.
Launching soon with:
🧪 Targeted formulas for skin, gut, calm, joints & full-body balance
❄️ Cold-pressed, air-dried format (not heat-damaged or filler-loaded)
🇮🇳 Ingredients chosen for Indian diets, climates, and real issues
🐶 Delicious, chewable routines that dogs love
🗓️ Launching Soon
💌 Join the waitlist
🎯 Still Not Sure What Type Your Dog Is?
That’s exactly why we built this 👇
👉 Take our free quiz — in under 2 minutes, get a personalised wellness plan matched to your dog’s breed, age, behaviour, and biggest concerns.
Because care should be custom, not copy-paste. 🐾
❤️ Final Thought
It’s not about labels — it’s about learning to read your dog.
When you understand what kind of support your pup needs most — whether it’s skin, stomach, or stress — everything gets easier. Fewer vet visits. Less confusion. More tail wags.
At ho.pe., we’re not here to treat problems.
We’re here to help prevent them, daily, honestly, and dog by dog.