Behavior Is Communication: Decode Your Dog By Understanding Their 5 Core Needs #309
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Jul 25, 2025
Discover how your dog's behavior reveals their unmet needs. The discussion dives into five core areas: emotional, physical, social, mental, and daily thrive. Misbehavior could be a cry for help! Learn about common struggles dog owners face and how they relate to these needs. Explore the significance of psychological safety alongside physical well-being. Nutrition, sleep, and exercise also play key roles in your dog's happiness. Shift from frustration to understanding and create a deeper bond for a well-behaved dog.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Regret Over Past Training Methods
Susan Garrett once used collar corrections to stop puppy nipping, a method she no longer supports.
She reflects this caused a lack of psychological safety and regrets those early training approaches.
insights INSIGHT
Behavior Reflects Emotional Needs
Susan Garrett identifies emotional challenges as the biggest dog training challenges.
Behavior issues often stem from unmet emotional needs that dogs communicate to us.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Ensure Psychological Safety
Provide psychological safety by avoiding judgment, blame, or harsh punishment.
Encourage your dog's curiosity and allow freedom to express their true self safely.
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What if every time your dog misbehaves, pulls on the leash, barks excessively, or completely ignores you, they're actually trying to communicate something important? Our dog's behavior is communication, and we can decode what they are telling us through understanding their 5 core needs. When we are able to truly listen to what our dogs are showing us, it opens the door to better understanding, stronger connection, and a well-behaved dog who can thrive.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• The answer to ‘What is the biggest dog training challenge I've ever faced?’ • A list of 20 common struggles dog owners face and what they may really mean. • The five core needs of dogs: emotional, physical, social, mental, and daily thrive. • How unmet emotional needs can show up in ways we don’t expect. • Why psychological safety matters just as much as physical safety. • The impact of nutrition, sleep, exercise, and wellness on behavior. • How to recognize and support your dog’s social and mental needs. • What dogs need to truly flourish in daily life. • A simple way to shift from frustration to understanding with your dog.
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett