Understanding Your Dog's Needs: A Guide

Understanding Your Dog's Needs 

Have you ever wondered why your dog might struggle to stay calm or listen to you? 

It could be that some of their basic needs aren’t fully met. Dogs, like humans, thrive when their physical, emotional, and social needs are understood and met. It’s one of the first things I cover with new clients and I use a model inspired by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. 

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is typically shown as a pyramid-shaped framework that explains what humans need to feel safe, happy, and fulfilled. And while dogs aren’t humans, they have similar layers of needs that can help us understand how to care for them better. 

By meeting these needs you begin to build trust, reduce their reactivity, and improve your dog’s behaviour.


The Maslow’s Pyramid for Dogs

1. Physiological Needs

At the base of the pyramid are the most basic needs: food, water, and rest. If a dog is hungry, thirsty, or overtired, it will be harder for them to focus or stay calm.

What you can do: Ensure your dog has a consistent feeding schedule, access to fresh, clean water and a comfy place to sleep. If your dog seems restless or has difficulties settling down, they may be overtired so try adjusting their daily routine to include more rest time.

2. Safety Needs

The next level is all about feeling safe. Dogs need to trust their environment and the people in it. Loud noises, chaotic households, or unpredictable situations can make dogs feel anxious or unsafe which can lead them to being reactive.

What you can do: Create a predictable daily routine and provide your dog with a safe space, like a quiet, dog-only ‘chill-out zone’ where they can retreat to whenever they’re starting to feel overwhelmed.

3. Social Needs

Dogs are social creatures. They need healthy interactions with humans and, depending on their temperament, friendly and well-mannered dogs. A lack of these connections can lead to frustration or loneliness which can lead to behaviour issues and reactivity.

What you can do: Spend quality time with your dog every day, whether it’s through play, using training games, or simply hanging out together! If your dog can cope with and enjoys other doggie friends, then arranging regular walks and play-dates with other well-mannered dogs can be beneficial for them.

4. Esteem Needs

Esteem needs are about feeling confident and valued. Dogs want to succeed and feel good about themselves, just like we do. If they’re constantly told ‘No’, yelled at or punished, they might lose confidence or become frustrated. Lacking confidence is a common issue for reactive dogs! That’s why positive reinforcement is so helpful for our dog’s esteem and effective in improving behaviour.

What you can do: Always reward good behaviour! It doesn’t have to be food treats! Praising them for doing a good job, having a fuss or a game with a favourite toy can be rewarding for your dog if that’s what they like! Celebrate the good things they do, no matter how small.

5. Self-Actualization

At the top of the pyramid is self-actualization; reaching their full potential. For dogs, this means having a life full of enrichment and purpose.

What you can do: Enriching our dog’s lives can help them feel fulfilled and happy. Whether it’s activities like puzzle toys, scent-work or new adventures with you, different activities can help your dog feel fulfilled. Tailor enrichment activities to your dog based on their age, breed and their activity preferences.

Why Meeting Needs Improves Behaviour

Reactive dogs often behave the way they do because one or more of these needs aren’t fully met. For example:

  • A dog that lunges on walks might feel unsafe around other dogs or strangers.

  • A dog that barks excessively might be trying to communicate an unmet need.

When you take the time to meet your dog’s needs, you’re helping them feel secure, understood, and supported. Over time, this builds trust between you and your dog, making it easier to guide their behaviour and deepen the bond you have together.

Putting It All Together

Improving your dog’s behaviour isn’t always about teaching ‘commands’ or stopping bad behaviour, it’s about creating an environment where they can feel safe and thrive. By using a canine-version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you can better understand your dog and give them the tools to succeed.

When their needs are met, you’ll begin to notice:

  • A calmer, happier dog.

  • Better focus during training.

  • A stronger, more trusting relationship.

Remember, every dog is unique, and meeting their needs takes time and patience. But with consistency and care, you’ll help your dog become the best version of themselves and strengthen the bond you share along the way.


Learn More About Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory developed by Abraham Maslow to explain human motivation and behaviour. If you’re interested in exploring the original concept, check out this Simple Psychology article on Maslow’s Hierarchy: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html


Dig deeper into The Hierarchy of Dog Needs 

Created by Linda Michaels, M.A., Psychology, The Hierarchy of Dog Needs (HDN) is the modern, unique ground-breaking model of wellness and thriving illustrating Standards of Care and Best Force-free Practices. It is an adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of (human) Needs™ adapted to meet dogs’ needs. Find out more at: https://www.donoharmdogtraining.com/hierarchy-of-dog-needs


Help your dog by starting small and focusing on one need at a time. Before you know it, your reactive dog will be well on their way to a more peaceful, balanced life.


Location: Littlehampton, UK

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