Field Guide · Glossary
Behavioral needs
EnrichmentThe things a dog has to be able to do in order to be alright, as distinct from the things people would prefer they did.
How it works
Chewing, sniffing, chasing, shredding and foraging are behaviors dogs are built to perform, and the drive to perform them does not disappear when a household provides no outlet. Where a need goes unmet the behavior usually appears anyway, aimed at whatever is available: a skirting board, a sofa cushion, the cat. Meeting the need deliberately, in a form that suits the house, is generally easier than suppressing a behavior that keeps regenerating. Which needs are loudest varies by dog: a terrier bred to dig and a retriever bred to carry things arrive with different defaults, and two dogs of the same breed still differ.
What it looks like
A dog left with nothing to chew works on the leg of a dining chair. Given a suitable chew at the same point each evening, the chair stops being interesting. The chewing did not stop. It moved.
Commonly confused with
- Enrichment
- Behavioral needs are what a dog requires. Enrichment is the set of activities used to meet those requirements. One is the need, the other is the provision.
Related terms
Where this comes up