Many dogs - dare I say, most dogs - have at least one behaviour problem. Whether it be something like pulling on lead or aggression, often, these problems are approached head on, and can be difficult to tackle.
I look at things from an alternative viewpoint. I take a step back and look at the bigger picture. A lot of the time, this helps the owner and I to see other bits and pieces that they hadn’t considered. In these cases, it is often a basic need that isn’t being met.
This is where the dog hierarchy of needs comes in. Have you heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs? Dogs have one too, designed by Linda Michaels. In both humans and dogs, the Hierarchy of Needs explains that we are motivated to satisfy the basic psychological needs, like food and shelter, before they move up the levels of the pyramid.
The dog’s hierarchy of needs starts with their biological needs, including proper nutrition, fresh water, exercise, sleep, air, shelter, safety, grooming, temperature control, and veterinary care. If these needs aren’t fully met, it is unlikely any training done will be easy or even successful. One of the biggest things I help people understand is that their dog’s food isn’t as good quality as they think. Take a look at this blog post for more info: https://www.muckypups-dogtraining.com/post/is-your-dog-s-dry-food-good-quality
Following on, next is your dog’s emotional needs. They need security, trust, love, consistency, and benevolent leadership. This is the easy one - if you love your dog, you’ll already be showing them how much! Kind words and loving actions will govern your dog trust and love, and as time passes, a stable and loving environment will help them feel safe and secure.
A dog’s social needs is next, which includes bonding and play with both people and dogs. With people, they need to feel included in your life, as well as socialise with guests and people out and about. They also need safe and positive interactions with other dogs, and though play is part of this, they also need walks together, training side by side, and chill out time with other dogs. Let your dog be a dog!
They then need force free training. This includes many force-free techniques, such as: Desensitisation, classical and counter-conditioning, differential reinforcement, positive reinforcement, antecedent modification, and management.
And if they can have all of that, they then need their cognitive needs met, which means they need choice, novelty, and problem solving. This is things such as enrichment, and puzzles.
What this is saying is that there is no point giving enrichment to help solve a dog's problems if their need for trust isn't met. There is no point giving a dog training, if their need for proper nutrition or shelter isn't met.
Start at the bottom of the pyramid and work your way up.
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