Dogs and Their Needs

The ability to recognize and meet the needs of dogs is of central importance in order to provide them with a good quality of life and support their general well-being. Therefore, we should take a closer look at the needs of our four-legged friends and remind ourselves of them in practice. This can be implemented more easily by aligning with the human hierarchy of needs proposed by American psychologist Abraham Maslow¹, which includes the following²:

• Physiological (basic) needs
• Safety
• Love
• Appreciation
• Self-realization

When it comes to dogs, what are their individual needs? Essentially, they share the same basic needs as humans, with a few additional requirements:

• Daily sufficient food that meets the nutritional and quantity requirements of the individual dog, as well as fresh water
• Comfortable accommodation that ensures physical and mental well-being, e.g. through temperature control, cleanliness, appropriate equipment, sufficient opportunities to be able to go outside several times a day (for peeing and defecating)
• Promotion and maintenance of health through appropriate physical exercise like hiking, obedience work, dog sports (e.g. agility, scent work, …) and regular veterinary check-ups and care
• Sufficient sleep according to age and needs

• At least one permanent carer
• Regulated, positive daily routines that are predictable for the dog (e.g. feeding at the same time every day, going for a walk at the same time every day – especially for insecure dogs, allowing rest periods at regular intervals) and control over what happens (e.g. allowing the dogs to choose whether, how and with whom they interact or letting them choose the route or type of food, etc.)
• Fair and supportive guidance in their daily lives and during stressful situations
• Opportunities to retreat

• Social contact with peers
• Positive interactions with people and other animals
• Establish and maintain a secure dog-human attachment bond
• Belong to the group/family and be accepted⁸

• Praise, various rewards (stroking, food, play etc.)
• Recognition and respect
• A sense of achievement through education and/or training

• To fully utilize their own unique potential⁸, e.g. to try out species-appropriate things, to be physically and mentally encouraged, to be able to make dog-friendly, self-efficient decisions, etc.
• To exercise breed-specific activities, sports, etc., e.g. scent work, physical exercises, satisfy the need to retrieve, etc.
• The freedom to be a dog and be allowed to do what they, such as and whatever their heart desires like to frolic, sniff, dig, run, bathe and swim etc.

To summarize, every dog has individual needs. Try to apply this to your pet and make sure their basic needs are fulfilled, so they can live a long and happy life.

Disclaimer: All our guides are based on scientifically grounded research, current studies, and the expertise of FOUR PAWS experts. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with our experts, please contact us at research.info@four-paws.org.