Maslow's theory applied to dogs

DPU

Corvus, Maslow I believe says that there is always a need that is active.  There is no such thing as " when all needs are met".  Survival needs such as hunger will come around time and time again but the behavior associated with the degree will differ depending on intensity of the need.

Well, I'm not so sure about this. I mean, there must be times in a domestic animal's day where they don't need food or water, the weather is nice and they don't need shelter, they just had a big cuddle with someone and are feeling sated on the affection front.... so then what do they do? I'm reminded of Oystercatchers. I did a little speed field study on them in undergrad one year where we went down and recorded what they did during the day. They can only forage during low tide, so we expected them to be charging around all low tide madly foraging. However, they're so good at getting their food requirements that they spent half the low tide just sitting around literally doing nothing. They'd stand there and stare into space, or they'd lie down and just rest. I can't believe a bird could need that much rest in a day.

And then I think of the poor critters at Sea World, floating around in the water on their backs. Food is right there whenever they want it. They have each other to hang out with, they don't really need shelter because they live in a pool, so they're just floating around aimlessly on their backs. What need is actively being fulfilled by floating on your back or barrel-rolling?

So I dunno. What need is active when an animal is clearly bored?
 

DPU

Did not say I dismiss.  I sad associating with a social event adds values.  You seem to dismiss affection in favor food as a reward.  That is ok if that is your belief.

Not at all.  You'll see that I indicate using whatever works for the individual dog as a reward.  

Let me "xerox" what I wrote previously since you've dismissed that part of the post.

Xerxes

You dismiss that a dog can actually think, learn and enjoy things, activities, objects, behaviors on multiple levels by your statement above.

I know that some dogs, after learning complicated behaviors, or learning new behaviors tend to enjoy performing them.  Perhaps it's because I spend more time training, walking, observing and bonding with my dogs than I do hugging them, playing the semantics game or dredging up old posts just to stir the pot, but I get to see minute differences in behavior that develop fully into enjoyable experiences for the dogs.  

DPU

No video will come.

And we are quite heartbroken as many of us would love to see dogs that beyond all else value a hug.  But we understand that with all those fosters, and all the work you do educating JQP would have to be put at a standstill while you filmed a 20 second video. 
 

spiritdogs

Cita

 I also consider the bottom 3 to be essential, basic needs. I know my dog would rather go without food than go without human companionship, for example. Heck, me too, for that matter.

 

If neither of you has ever experienced starvation, I doubt you could accurately make such a statement.  Basic needs are survival needs, and most organisms will fulfill the other needs only after their survival needs are met.  After all, if you don't survive, no sense worrying about who you keep company with (except in the afterlife, perhaps). 

It's a valid point, Anne, but I'm not so sure it doesn't mean the idea doesn't hold. What about dogs that are distraught by missing their companions (such as when one of their fellow dogs dies) and stop eating to the point of it being dangerous for their health? Rascal did this when his former owner died and I literally had to shove food down his throat to get him to eat enough to keep medicine down. Roast beef, chicken, bones, toys... all of it was worthless to him.

As a general rule, sure, animals will seek to fulfill their most basic of needs before moving on to others, I think the theoretical pyramid is a fine idea. But I still don't think that affection/companionship is any less a "basic need," assuming the organism is not in immediate danger of dying.

I read a story about a Canaan Dog that had been rehomed and refused to eat until her breeder came and took her home more than a week later. As soon as the Canaan got home, she dived into the food and ate ravenously. Apparently she had been drinking very little as well, but she must have been drinking enough to keep her alive. She seemed prepared to starve herself, though, poor thing. 

dogs frequently reject food when stressed. I think it's part of the "fight or flight" pathway- the dog might need to run like heck if something stressful is going on, so the appetite shuts off. Oddly seems to work the other way around for most people- stressed, eat, put on fat for later? 

 DPU, I've also seen a horse, after dumping his rider, continue jumping the course. What, precisely, do you think his motivation was? maybe he was just having fun. His horse-buddies were all standing in a group to one side, he could have joined them.

mudpuppy

 DPU, I've also seen a horse, after dumping his rider, continue jumping the course. What, precisely, do you think his motivation was? maybe he was just having fun. His horse-buddies were all standing in a group to one side, he could have joined them.

C'mon...MP, there was a HUG waiting for him at the end of the course.  Everyone knows the answer to that.  =D 

 Xerox, you are so naughty.  Stop teasing.

I have said it many a time... certain things have to happen before other things.  Not that they are more important as such, just like, if I want to vacuum my living room I have to clear away the toys first.  Neither task is more important, one just has to happen before the other.  In the same way, a dog is generally not going to let his guard down to eat if he feels unsafe.... hence why "click to calm" sometimes fails; the owner tries to take the dog too close to the trigger too quickly and then the dog is not interested in his reward (his extra tasty food treat or special favourite toy or whatever it may be).