Dogs have needs, just like us. Unfortunately for dogs, they are quite reliant on us to ensure meet their needs are met. I’ve actually said to people, “Don’t you dare complain about that dog when you’re not meeting his/her needs.”

Having a dog is not as simple as putting out food and water, an annual trip to the vet, and taking them out three times a day to potty. A dog needs and deserves more than simply having its basic needs met.

When I think about a dog’s needs my mind goes to the need for exercise, enrichment, time to sniff and investigate the world, novelty, toys, time with the handler, training, playtime with other dogs if the dog enjoys it, predictability of routine, and time to decompress.

Simple ways to meet your dog’s needs:

Ditch the food dish and feed from a Kong or puzzle
Utilize your dog’s food for training
Hide the Kong/puzzle, then release the dog to find it
Playtime with other dogs *only IF the dog enjoys this
Games of fetch, tug, hide and seek, etc. with their human
Sniff walks for the dog to use its nose and enjoy itself as nature intended
OFF LEASH freedom of movement; this is something incredibly important to me… imagine living life on a leash at all times…
Games of fetch, tug, hide and seek, etc. with their human
Sniff walks for the dog to use its nose and enjoy itself as nature intended
Daily exercise to help keep your dog healthy *if you can’t do this yourself, hire a dog walker or utilize dog daycare
New toys to play with *you could cycle toys out to preserve their novelty
Digging pit *if you have a dog that loves to dig)
Training to help a dog thrive in our human world via private lessons or group classes
Trick training
Enrolling in a fun dog sport such as K9 Nosework, FASTCAT, Agility, etc.
Games of fetch, tug, hide and seek, etc. with their human
Sniff walks for the dog to use its nose and enjoy itself as nature intended
Daily exercise to help keep your dog healthy *if you can’t do this yourself, hire a dog walker or utilize dog daycare; there is nothing more sad than a dog being overweight due to overfeeding and lack of exercise
Time to rest and relax without being bothered
Outings to new places such as trails, the beach, stores where dogs are welcome, etc.

By taking the time to meet your dog’s needs, your dog is more likely to be relaxed and well-behaved. Dogs are meant to move their bodies, use their noses, use their brains, and be active. They are not meant to sit in kennels all day, be relegated to the yard, or only interacted with when a person feels like it.

Dogs are smart, social creatures that must have their needs met to be the best that they can be. Oftentimes behavior problems like barking, chewing, unruly behavior in the house, and issues on a leash are related to the fact that the dog’s needs are not being met.

When you meet a dog’s needs, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results.