Out of love for dogs – how proper nutrition affects their health and behavior?

Research by Marta Lichnerowicz using HiProMine’s functional components

Marta Lichnerowicz is an experienced dog breeder, animal behaviorist, and veterinary technician who has dedicated her entire professional (and private!) life to dogs. Her breeding practices exemplify professionalism, commitment, and passion for working with animals. She is currently focused on deepening her knowledge of nutrition, recognizing it as key to improving her dogs’ quality of life.
Her ability to personalize diets to each dog’s individual needs has become one of her most defining strengths. Marta approaches each of her dogs with full dedication, treating breeding as part of her broader responsibility for their health and well-being.

Dog breeding – responsibility and passion

Dog breeding involves planning for genetic progress, nutrition, and training. But most importantly, it’s about daily care for their physical and emotional health. Marta treats her dogs like family, and their well-being is her top priority. While dog breeding comes with many challenges, she emphasizes that proper care also means taking responsibility for their future. “My dogs are like my grandchildren. I care for them from their first days of life to their senior years,” she says.

Just as important as care is the selection of the right diet. “As a breeder, I know how crucial it is for each dog to have an optimal diet that supports their health, behavior, and physical condition,” Marta emphasizes. That’s why nutrition has become one of her main focus areas. By prioritizing the animals’ condition, she not only achieves breeding success but also ensures her dogs live long, joyful, and healthy lives.

Love for dogs and the work of a behaviorist

Marta combines her love for dogs with knowledge gained through years of practice, training, studies, and work as an animal behaviorist. Her focus on canine behavior and emotional development goes hand in hand with dietary choices that support overall health. “I know my dogs well enough to see how their nutrition influences their behavior. Sometimes what they eat changes everything,” she says.

Marta’s experience has given her a deep understanding of the role of gut microbiota in shaping dog behavior. “Immunity, condition, and calmness start in the gut. A dog without digestive issues is calmer and less stressed, which helps them function better in groups and with other animals,” she explains. That’s why conscious food selection has become a cornerstone of her work. Adjustments in the diet can help reduce aggression, improve focus, and create harmony within the pack.

Facing the nutritional challenge – a modern approach to dog diets

In her work, Marta evaluates new nutritional solutions based on how effectively they support canine health. Her interest in innovative dietary ingredients—such as insect-based components—stems from a desire to tailor food to her dogs’ needs in the most natural and beneficial way. As part of this approach, she collaborated with HiProMine to test the effects of functional Hermetia illucens components in dog diets.

How the functional components from HiProMine were tested

The four-week test involved adult dogs from Marta’s breeding facility and used food enriched with HiProMine’s functional components. Each test series included a control diet based on a different meat source (rabbit, lamb, turkey), which enabled an objective comparison of results.

The diets were balanced not only for protein, but also for vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients, in accordance with FEDIAF and NFC guidelines. Cooperation with the HiProMine team and the pet food producer enabled precise adjustment of the diet to dogs with varying nutritional needs. “Every dog has different needs, so it’s essential to tailor their diet accordingly,” Marta explains.

Marta paid special attention to observing changes in the dogs’ behavior, including stress levels and activity, as well as coat condition. “During the feeding period with HiProMine’s functional components, the dogs were calmer, and their coats were noticeably shinier and healthier. I also observed significant improvements in digestion and stool quality, which is crucial to me, because proper digestion is fundamental,” she says.

Plans for the future in dog nutrition

Marta doesn’t plan to stop at these initial tests. Her future goals include further development in the field of dog nutrition. “As a nutrition specialist, I’m constantly looking for the most valuable ingredients to support canine health. I speak about it because I know how significantly diet affects their condition, behavior, and lifespan,” she emphasizes.

Marta plans to conduct further tests: “I will continue researching the impact of insect-based components on senior dogs, as this could revolutionize pet nutrition. We already know that these components have great potential in improving coat quality and gut health,” she says.

Senior dogs – special care for the oldest companions

Senior dogs present a challenge not only in terms of health but also diet. In Marta’s breeding facility, special attention is given to older dogs, whose nutritional and physical needs differ from those of younger animals. “Older dogs have a reduced ability to digest certain nutrients, so their diet must support their bodies at every stage of aging,” Marta explains.

Marta emphasizes that one of the key elements in the diet of senior dogs is the inclusion of specific fatty acids that support the immune system and improve brain function. That’s why components derived from Hermetia illucens are a promising option. “A diet enriched with such ingredients can improve not only the health but also the behavior of older dogs that may suffer from cognitive dysfunction syndrome,” she explains.

Summary

Marta’s work is a perfect example of combining passion with professionalism. By incorporating functional ingredients into her dogs’ diet, she demonstrates the crucial role nutrition plays in canine health and behavior. “Well-cared-for dogs are healthy dogs. And a healthy diet is the foundation of their wellbeing,” Marta says, summing up her breeding philosophy.

Marta’s knowledge, passion, and responsibility toward her animals make her breeding practice one of the best examples of how professionalism, combined with a deep love for dogs, can lead to success — both in breeding and in animal behavior.