[Day 01] Understanding and fulfilling: The essential needs of the dog
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Time to read 12 min
Leash walking [Week 01] Day 01 of 35
This video and training is part of the Leash Handling Course, a structured programme to promote relaxed leash handling and the bond between human and dog. The course is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible outcome for your dog.
Basic needs of the dog
Unlike humans, dogs mainly communicate non-verbally, which is why they find it more difficult to communicate their needs to us. Imagine you have to start studying for an exam on an empty stomach and without enough sleep. Sounds difficult, doesn't it? This is exactly the challenge we often give our dogs when we start leash training without meeting their most basic needs first. Just as you need to be fit to learn, your dog needs to be fit to learn new concepts. So before you start leash training, we'll explain how to train in a needs-orientated way.
Goal: You understand that leash training must be viewed holistically and that your dog's needs must be met
Equipment: Dog Bed, Dog Food, treats, you & other social partners (humans or dogs)
Ort: At home
Duration: daily
The concept that animals, including dogs, can learn more effectively and concentrate better when their basic needs are met is widely accepted in animal behaviour research and animal psychology. It is based on the fundamental assumption that an animal living in a healthy, safe and nurturing environment is psychologically better able to concentrate on complex tasks such as training and learning.
Basic needs of a dog according to Maslow's pyramid of needs
It is essential to understand and fulfil your dog's basic needs before you start leash training. Maslow's pyramid of needs, a concept from human psychology, can help us to better understand your dog's needs. To understand your dog's needs in more depth, let's look at each level of Maslow's pyramid of needs in detail and how they can be interpreted in relation to dogs.
Maslow's pyramid of needs adapted to the dog
Basic physical needs of a dog
Your dog's basic physical needs are the basis for its well-being and its ability to concentrate on training.
Proper nutrition: A nutritious, balanced diet is essential for your dog's health. Choose high-quality Dog Food that is tailored to your dog's age, size and activity level. Take special nutritional needs and sensitivities into account. A proper diet not only supports physical health, but also influences behaviour and training ability. Generally speaking, dogs generate their energy from fats, but some dogs need a little more carbohydrate, so-called nerve food, to help them concentrate better during training and to calm their behaviour. We are not fans of exclusive hand feeding. Many dog trainers "prescribe" temporary hand feeding so that the dog is only fed by hand over a longer period of time in order to pay better attention to its human. Pleaseavoid exclusive hand feeding as this can cause stress and affect your dog's concentration. Maybe you know it from yourself? Learning on an empty stomach is not good because the brain needs to be supplied with sufficient nutrients. So feed your dog as normal and perhaps don't start a training session immediately after feeding, but after a short break. If necessary, the food ration can be divided up to support weight management with a high treat intake.
Fresh water: Make sure your dog has constant access to fresh water. Dehydration can quickly lead to health problems and affect their ability to concentrate. Especially after training and in warm weather, water is essential.
Sufficient exercise: Even if you want to practise walking on a lead with your dog, your dog should still get enough exercise. Regular exercise is crucial for your dog's health. It helps to prevent obesity, promotes mental stimulation and helps to prevent behavioural problems. Schedule regular walks, playtime and other activities to meet your dog's exercise needs. You can offer your dog some exercise in "leisure mode" at the beginning of leash training to facilitate subsequent learning.
Sufficient rest and sleep: Dogs need much more sleep than humans. An adult dog sleeps an average of 16 to 20 hours a day, puppies and older dogs often even more. The majority of this time is spent dozing rather than actually sleeping deeply. Sleep is crucial for regeneration and learning. Provide a quiet, comfortable sleeping environment to support your dog's resting phases. For example, you can consciously take ritualised breaks after walks so that your dog has to rest in its place after the walk.
Resting place in a pleasant environment: It is important for your dog to have its own comfortable resting place. This can be a Dog Bed, a blanket, a kennel or a special area in the house. A safe, quiet place helps your dog to relax and relieve stress. Where the dog bed is positioned is important. It is best if the Dog Bed is not positioned in a doorway, by a door or right by a window, as these places encourage many dogs to "monitor", i.e. to be in constant work mode, instead of really relaxing.
Grooming: Regular grooming, including brushing, bathing and care of claws and teeth, is important for your dog's health. Good grooming not only promotes well-being, but also strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
Health: Regular veterinary check-ups and preventative measures are essential. Watch for signs of illness or imbalance and act quickly to address potential health issues. A healthy dog is a happy dog that is willing and able to learn and train. In our experience, many behavioural problems arise due to health issues or pain in the dog. Dogs are excellent at disguising their pain, but show their discomfort in other ways. So if your dog has health problems, clarify these first before you start leash training.
By taking this comprehensive approach to fulfilling your dog's physiological needs, you are laying the foundation for their health, happiness and training success.
How security, love, consistency and leadership enrich your dog's life
Safety and leadership are essential elements in a dog's life. They contribute significantly to his feeling of security and his behaviour. A securely led dog has confidence in its human and is therefore less likely to feel the need to sort things out for itself. Regardless of whether it's a dog encounter or other everyday situations.
Security: A safe and loving environment gives your dog a feeling of security. A home in which your dog feels protected and comfortable is essential for his emotional well-being.
Love: Love for your dog does not mean that he is allowed to do everything. True love also involves setting boundaries. A dog that experiences love in conjunction with clear rules feels safer and is more balanced.
Trust: A safely managed dog develops a deep trust in its human. This trust is crucial so that the dog does not feel compelled to handle situations itself - be it dog encounters or other everyday situations.
Consistency: Consistent behaviour on your part helps your dog to understand what is expected of him. This clarity and predictability gives him security and helps him to stay relaxed.
Leadership: Clear, loving leadership is crucial for your dog's development. It enables him to understand boundaries and feel safe within them. Leadership does not mean harshness, but guiding your dog lovingly through life.
Routine = security: A regular routine offers your dog structure and security. Fixed feeding times, walks and rest periods help him to feel safe and secure in his environment.
By taking these aspects into account, you create an environment in which your dog feels safe and which he needs in order to develop positively and concentrate on training.
"Boundaries offer security and security offers relaxation."
Social needs of a dog
Social needs are fundamental to a dog's emotional balance and behaviour. Dogs are very social animals and therefore need a lot of social contact. This does not necessarily have to include conspecifics, but can also be fulfilled through family contact.
Relationships with people: The relationship with you and other people around him is very important for your dog. These relationships offer him security, trust and learning opportunities.
Social contact with other dogs: While some dogs enjoy playing and interacting with other dogs, others prefer to spend more time with their humans. Pay attention to your dog's preferences and don't force him into interactions he doesn't enjoy. For particularly social dogs, social needs include social contact with other dogs. As the dog sees us, the humans, as a fully-fledged social contact, it is also okay for dogs that are not compatible with other dogs if they do not need another dog in their lives.
Play and interaction: Play is an essential part of your dog's social interaction. During puppyhood and the young dog phase, dogs mainly learn different behaviours through play. It not only promotes your dog's physical health, but also his mental development. Games and joint activities strengthen the bond between you and your dog and promote well-being. Interaction with you leads to the release of oxytocin, the so-called "cuddle hormone". This hormone strengthens the emotional bond and trust between you and your dog.
You'll find the perfect equipment for your dog with us
Appreciation / ego needs
Fulfilling your dog's ego needs, especially as part of leash training, can significantly improve learning success.
Celebrate successes: Every dog deserves recognition for its achievements in training. Celebrating small successes through praise and rewards strengthens your dog's self-confidence and his relationship with you. Positive reinforcement is a key element in showing your dog that he is respected and valued. So pay attention to the smallest improvements at the beginning and show your dog that he is doing it right. Every dog deserves to be praised for its achievements, training and good behaviour. Always act according to the motto: lots of praise for good behaviour and little but clear correction for undesirable behaviour.
Maintain motivation: The demands of training should match your dog's abilities. Tasks that are too easy can cause boredom, while tasks that are too difficult can lead to anxiety and frustration. A balanced challenge promotes motivation and the joy of learning. In the course of our free leash training course, we show you lots of tasks that are preparatory work for leash training. Follow our sequence and you will notice success with your dog.
Freedom within boundaries: Well-trained dogs with clear rules are often happier than dogs without structure. Your dog can move freely and self-determined within defined boundaries. This promotes his sense of autonomy and contentment.
Respect and appropriate challenges: Respect your dog's needs and boundaries. Training should be fun and not punitive. Engage with your dog in a way that challenges and develops both their physical and mental abilities. Especially in the beginning, when leash training is not yet working well, be fair to your dog. Use rituals and clear instructions so that you both enjoy training together.
Bonding and affection: Spending time together in training and play strengthens the bond between you and your dog. These moments of affection help your dog to feel loved and valued.
By taking your dog's ego needs into account during training, you create a positive learning environment. This leads to a motivated, self-confident and well-adjusted dog that enjoys walking alongside you.
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Effects on learning behaviour and leash control
Fulfilling your dog's basic needs has a direct influence on his learning behaviour and his ability to walk on a lead. When basic needs are met, your dog is better able to focus on training and respond positively to it. When a dog's basic needs are met, this is reflected in many ways in its behaviour and learning ability. A dog that feels satisfied and secure in its basic needs is less distracted and can concentrate much better on training. This improved concentration enables him to utilise training sessions more effectively and make faster progress.
A happy dog also shows an increased willingness to learn. It is more open to new learning and reacts more positively to training stimuli. This is particularly important in lead training, where curiosity and a willingness to try new things are crucial. A dog that feels comfortable and confident is more willing to take on new challenges and actively participate in training.
In addition, you strengthen the bond with your dog by recognising and meeting its needs. This strong bond is a key factor in successful training as it promotes trust and co-operation. A dog that has a close relationship with its owner is more willing to follow instructions and co-operate with its human.
Many behavioural problems, such as excessive barking or aggression, are often a sign that the dog's basic needs are not being met. A balanced and content dog is less likely to display such behavioural problems as it feels safe and understood in its environment.
Summary
As we have seen, the fulfilment of these needs according to Maslow's pyramid of needs is not only decisive for the general well-being of the dog, but also for its training success.
The right diet, sufficient exercise, enough rest and sleep as well as safe and loving behaviour form the basis for a balanced dog's life. Equally important are the fulfilment of social needs through interaction with people and other dogs as well as the consideration of ego needs through appreciation, recognition and the promotion of the dog's individual abilities. Understanding and fulfilling these needs builds a strong bond between humans and dogs, which is essential for successful training.
For training to be successful, your dog's basic physical and emotional needs - food, rest, safety, love - must be met.
Use praise and rewards during training to strengthen your dog's self-confidence and willingness to learn.
A trusting relationship based on respect and consistent leadership is essential for successful training with your dog.
Why are a dog's basic needs so important for leash training?
A dog's basic needs - such as food, safety and emotional support - form the basis for its physical and mental health. When these needs are met, the dog can concentrate better on training and learns more effectively.
How much sleep does my dog need?
Most dogs need between 14 and 20 hours of sleep per day. Most of this time is not deep sleep, but dozing. Puppies, older dogs and large breeds may need even more sleep. Your dog needs this time to properly process his everyday life and newly learnt things.
Can too much training be harmful?
As with everything, moderation is also important when training. Excessively intensive or stressful training can lead to excessive demands and stress. Pay attention to your dog's signals and adapt the training accordingly.
What effect does positive reinforcement have on training?
Positive reinforcement, such as praise and rewards, strengthens the dog's self-confidence and encourages its willingness to learn and follow instructions. This leads to more effective training.
The Vitomalia Leash Walking Concept is a structured, didactic and methodical programme designed to give you and your dog the necessary skills and understanding to ensure enjoyable and safe walks. Each exercise builds on the previous one, creating a strong foundation for future learning success. Here you will find a variety of advanced exercises specifically designed to reinforce and extend what you and your dog have already learnt. From advanced leash handling techniques to tips on how to effectively manage distractions, we offer a wide range of content to support your training goals.
The authors: Paulina & Lui
Paulina and Lui are the heart and soul behind Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store]. Her journey in dog training began with the adoption of her first list dog, Vito. This experience sparked her deep interest in teaching other dog owners about dog behaviour and training. Initially this was just a hobby, but with the adoption of the American Pitbull Amalia, who had been relinquished several times due to severe behavioural problems, her passion developed into a true vocation. Amalia's particular behavioural challenges intensified her interest in dog training and behavioural therapy. This turning point led Paulina and Lui to leave their original career paths, undergo intensive further training and dedicate themselves entirely to the subject of dog training. Their work with human-dog teams also revealed a gap in the dog market: there was a lack of safe, high-quality dog accessories specifically for medium-sized and large breeds.
From this realisation, Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store] was born, a combination of their commitment to professional dog training and the need for quality dog accessories. Paulina and Lui bring their personal experience, extensive knowledge and passion for dogs to every product to help human-dog teams live together.
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