Problem: Article: Belgian Malinois are very active dogs with high energy levels. They need to be exercised every single day to keep them happy and healthy. When Malinois do not have an opportunity to expend their energy, they may turn to destructive behaviors like chewing furniture and destroying their beds to alleviate their boredom. Daily walks are not enough exercise for a Belgian Malinois unless you are an avid runner who jogs several miles each and every day. Belgian Malinois do best when they have large fenced in yards to play in. Many Malinois enjoy retrieval games, participating in agility trials, running, hiking, biking, and spending time with their owners outdoors. In addition to physical exercise, they also need mental exercise. They are very intelligent and may enjoy participating in Schutzhund, advanced obedience training, agility, herding, and tracking exercises. Since Belgian Malinois are very active dogs who enjoy strenuous exercise, they need to be fed healthy and nutritious dog foods. Feed your Belgian Malinois on a regular schedule and always have clean water available for them to drink. Healthy dog foods should have a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Typically, working dogs need more protein than the average house pet so look for a dog food that is around 25 to 30% protein. Work with your veterinarian to determine the amount of food your dog needs based on their health and activity levels. Belgian Malinois require some grooming but are generally clean and easy to care for animals. They do not require professional dog grooming, though you can always choose to take them to a dog groomer to be bathed or to have their nails trimmed. Brushing can help to mitigate shedding and reduce skin irritation. Belgian Malinois have short and weatherproof fur. Their coat will shed out twice a year as the dog's body prepares for winter and summer weather. They require routine brushing to keep the fur clean and to protect it from matting. During shedding season, they need to be brushed every day. Belgian Malinois need extensive exercise and many owners will choose to give them that exercise by running on pavement or concrete. These surfaces can be tough on dog's nails and cause breakage if nails are not trimmed properly. Their nails should be trimmed regularly to protect them from breaking and becoming over grown. Dog's nails grow continuously like humans and need to be trimmed every month. Your Malinois' skin can become irritated from tick or flea bites or from allergies. Check their skin for any rashes, dryness, or irritation that seems to be bothering them. You may notice that the dog is scratching or biting at a certain spot on their body, which can be an indication that there is an issue there. If your dog has allergies, your veterinarian may recommend using an over the counter antihistamine. Use a dog toothpaste and a toothbrush that is specifically designed for use with dogs to clean their teeth thoroughly. Brush their teeth two or three times during the week. This will help to protect their teeth and maintain good oral health. Condition the dog to enjoy brushing their teeth by selecting a dog toothpaste in a flavor that they enjoy and reward them with praise and a small treat after brushing. As a breed, Belgian Malinois are more at risk for some medical conditions than others. By knowing what sort of conditions they are susceptible to, you can take preventative measures early on. Like most larger dog breeds, they are at risk of hip dysplasia. Responsible breeders will genetically test for hip dysplasia before breeding puppies, but you may not know a dog's genetic background if it is adopted. Veterinarians are able to X-ray the dog's hips to check for the condition. Some Belgian Malinois are at risk of hereditary juvenile cataracts. Cataracts can develop as the dog gets older and can often be removed through surgery. There is some evidence to suggest that Belgian Malinois may be slightly more susceptible to epilepsy, though extensive research has not been completed. If your dog begins to show signs of epilepsy, take them to the veterinarian immediately. When you first purchase or adopt a Belgian Malinois, you need to take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure that they are healthy. Like all dogs, Belgian Malinois require routine medical care to keep them healthy and maintain their quality of life. Belgian Malinois also require routine vaccinations for diseases like rabies. They also need medical protection from fleas, ticks, and heartworm. If you do not intend to use the dog for breeding, you should desex your pet when it is safe to do so, usually between 6 and 9 months. Spaying or neutering your dog can increase their lifespan on an average of 1 to 3 years, reduces their risk for some diseases, like uterine or prostate cancer, and decreases aggressive behavior. Spaying or neutering your pet also helps to control the companion animal population. There are millions of dogs that are waiting in shelters for homes and sterilization helps to reduce the animal population. A microchip contains your contact information and the information for your veterinarian. This is highly recommended by veterinarians and this is a simple procedure that can be completed during a regular visit. If your dog ever runs away, becomes lost, or is stolen, a microchip can help your dog be returned to you. It is a very small chip that is usually implanted in the scruff of the dog's neck or over their shoulder blades where they cannot reach it.
Summary: Exercise your Belgian Malinois every day. Choose a healthy dog food. Brush their fur regularly. Trim their nails. Examine their skin for irritation. Brush their teeth. Meet their medical needs. Take them to the veterinarian. Spay or neuter your Belgian Malinois. Microchip your dog.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths surrounding food and increased levels of serotonin. These myths include: Foods rich in tryptophan automatically boost serotonin. This is false. Most foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid, compete with other amino acids to be absorbed by the body's transport system. Eating a lot of turkey, which is rich in tryptophan, will not automatically give you more serotonin. Eating a lot of banana will automatically boost serotonin. Bananas do contain serotonin. That serotonin, however, is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and be absorbed by humans. Complex carbohydrates are absorbed by the body differently than simple carbohydrates. Simple carbs raise your blood levels quickly, causing a spike in insulin, which drops after a while. Complex carbs are absorbed more slowly by the body and therefore avoid the massive peaks and troughs brought upon by simple carbs. Complex carbs include: Legumes like peas and lentils Whole grain breads Whole grain pastas Brown rice Starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and parsnips Simple carbs include: Yogurt Fruit juice "Normal" pasta Cakes, candies, and other refined sugar products White bread and white rice, while not technically simple carbs, are absorbed by your body in a similar way. Caffeine suppresses serotonin, which could also help explain why it's a hunger suppressant as well. Energy drinks contain large amounts of sugar, which the body processes quickly, but which produce an energy-zapping low after the insulin has finished surging. If you have to drink caffeinated products, wait until after you've eaten, doctors recommend. Omega-3 fatty acids are hypothesized to affect the functionality of serotonin in the brain. People with low serotonin levels commonly have low DHA levels, which is an essential building block in the brain, and which needs to be replenished with foods such as fish oils, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Look for omega-3 fats in: Fish, such as salmon, and fish oils Nuts, seeds and seed oils, such as flax seed oil Eating dark chocolate improves serotonin levels partly because of resveratrol.Resveratrol boosts both endorphins and serotonin levels. Remember to reach for dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, as milk chocolate contains far less cocoa (the stuff that produces serotonin) than dark chocolate.
Summary:
Understand the serotonin/food myths. Shun the simple carbs and embrace the complex carbs. Avoid caffeinated foods, especially energy drinks. Eat healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Eat dark chocolate.