A Dog is Our Best Friend. But Is It A Happy Dog?
- femkevaniperen
- Aug 26
- 12 min read
Updated: Oct 3
In the West, we often care for our dogs in a similar way: we crate them, reward them with treats when they do something well, and make it clear who's in charge. But do these methods actually lead to a happy dog? Welfare expert Judith Versluis sees room for improvement and shares her insights.
Hi Judith, you are a dog behaviourist and have been trained in accordance with the principles of Turid Rugaas, among others. How would a dog behave and spend its day if it were completely free in nature or on the streets?
Well, there is a unique 'Indian dog ethogram' that illustrates how a dog lives in a more natural environment outside the confines of a home. It highlights the activities the dog engages in throughout the day, its behaviours, and its needs.
Through the ethogram we discovered that a free-ranging dog spends 54% of its life resting and sleeping. It dedicates 27% to walking and other individual activities. Social interactions with other dogs take up 10% of its time. Foraging for food and engaging in self-care activities account for 6%, while vocalising occupies 3% of its time. Interestingly, researchers found that 0% of its time is spent being aggressive. What's more , when we compare this lifestyle to that of our average domestic dogs, we notice very few similarities!
What does a free-ranging dog require in life to be happy and healthy?
The ethogram shows that if we want our dog to live a happy, healthy and content life, a few things are essential. So, the researchers identified five fundamental needs that must be fulfilled. The foremost need, upon which the others rely, is the dog's essential requirement to feel safe. The second need is quality sleep, followed by exercise at third, with food and drink at fourth. Lastly, the fifth need is taking care of its own body.
But when you ask people what they believe a dog needs most, they rarely mention the importance of feeling safe or having quality sleep. Even though these are the most fundamental needs.
Ok, but if we gave them all those things, wouldn’t we be spoiling our friend?
If we want to give our dog the bare essentials it needs in life, we aren't spoiling it. On the contrary: it's essential for their well-being. Consider sleep for a moment: enough good quality sleep is crucial for a dog to stay in balance. Dogs are polyphasic sleepers, requiring more sleep phases than humans. They need to complete a sleep cycle approximately six times, with each cycle lasting around 45 minutes and including both light REM and deep sleep. What this means is that an adult dog needs 14 hours of sleep every day, while a puppy needs 18 hours.
A dog also needs enough space to stretch out when lying down, as this is important for its spine and back health. It should be able to regulate its temperature and have multiple sleeping spots. Then, being able to lie at a higher level provides a sense of security. This is why dogs often prefer the couch: it's not about dominance. Providing a dedicated sofa or placing a throw on the couch can be a good solution.
So, what would happen if we actually did those things for our dog?
A dog that feels safe at home and gets enough quality sleep is mentally more robust. It is less prone to show behaviours we find undesirable, such as lunging at other dogs or people, excessive barking, or destroying items. This is assuming the behaviour is not due to pain or physical discomfort, of course. We need to remember that if such behaviour appears suddenly and seems out of character, it is always advisable to visit a vet.
"A dog that feels safe at home, and that gets enough quality sleep is mentally stronger and will be less likely to show undesirable behaviour."
Many dog owners use a crate. But is it the right choice for the dog?
Actually, in today's Western world, it's common for people to use crates for their dogs. Many new puppy owners already have a crate prepared when they bring their pet home. Additionally, most dog training schools include crate training in their programs. A large number of dog owners keep their dogs in crates for several hours each day. Initially, they entice the dog inside with treats. When they leave for work, they lock their dog in the crate for half a day or longer. At night, the dog often has to return to the crate.
Puppies, in particular, are often confined to a crate alone at night. We might not be aware, but isolating a young animal in this way is not acceptable. It has just been separated from its mother, siblings, and everything that was familiar and comforting.
We often refer to a crate as a "safe place" to rationalise or justify its use. But that is really primarily for the owner's convenience. And what’s is actually wrong with the rest of the house, why would they feel unsafe? If we provide our dog with a stable and secure environment from the beginning, would we need a crate?
How would a dog experience a crate?
When you think about it, a crate is really just a cage. And what animal is comfortable with being locked up? When we lock a dog in a crate, it often enters a state of learned helplessness. There will be stress because we have restricted it. However, realising it can't escape, the dog accepts the situation. This is its way of coping.
Another thing we are not really aware of, is that a dog doesn’t sleep well in a crate. As mentioned, a dog needs to modulate its body temperature and it can’t do that when it is shut in. A dog should have the freedom to choose its sleeping spot.
As welfare-oriented professionals, we would rather see the complete elimination of crates. Humans have designed them for their own convenience. A dog does not feel comfortable in them. In fact, some Scandinavian countries prohibit crate training and the use of crates with closed doors.
A British documentary showed that dogs left alone at home were depressed and extremely stressed. How do dogs experience things that we as humans take for granted, and don't think about?
Dogs are pack animals and thrive in family settings rather than living alone. So, it's unfair to frequently leave a dog alone at home for extended periods. And if you are going to do it, it should be handled gradually. Today, many behavioural experts specialise in separation anxiety and work with owners to help dogs learn to stay home alone.
Another thing we consider normal is to have a dog running alongside our bicycle. Despite the safety concerns, I would never advise anyone to do this. After such a bike ride, people often remark that their dog is now pleasantly tired, allowing them to leave the house all day without guilt. However, a dog tethered to a bicycle in traffic definitely doesn't feel secure. This practice offers no real benefit to them.
When a dog tied outside a store yawns and licks its nose, it's experiencing significant stress and trying to calm itself. Humans often don't realise that what seems normal to us can be very stressful for animals.
"Humans often don't realise that what seems normal to us can be very stressful for animals."
We make the majority of decisions for our dog. Is this beneficial for them?
Not long ago, I noticed a dog sitting while its owner continued walking. It made me curious about what would happen next. To my pleasant surprise, the owner returned and asked the dog if it wanted to walk in a different direction. Such moments are rare.
We make all the decisions for a dog and then claim: "It likes it." But would a dog have stood beside a bicycle with an inquisitive, inviting expression? If we refer to the ethogram, this would clearly not be the case. It’s humans who have invented all these activities for them. We don’t allow them to decide; we decide for them.
"It’s humans who have invented all these activities for them. We don’t allow them to decide; we decide for them."
Can you share some information about food and what contributes to a happy and healthy dog?
Many dogs are given the same food twice daily throughout their lives. Yet, we reprimand them when they take food from the table. No one consumes the same meal every day for 15 years, so why do we impose this on our dogs? Although dogs have fewer taste buds than humans, they still require some variety from time to time.
In fact, if you want a happy dog, and a healthy one, it's crucial to keep stimulating all their senses throughout their life, including their sense of taste. Allowing them to make choices is significant for their well-being. For instance, you can arrange several chews in a circle on the floor and let your dog select one, similar to how you might let a child pick a treat from a tin.
And what are your thoughts on exercise?
When you take your dog for a walk, consider leaving your phone at home or, at the very least, avoid looking at it. Focus on observing your dog, its body language, and enjoy the time spent together.
Additionally, a dog benefits from what is often referred to as a 'sniff walk.' Allowing your dog to be on a loose or long leash it can set the pace and choose the route, enabling it to sniff around freely, after all, this is its version of social media.
I conduct scent or track training sessions with dogs and their owners. I always start with a trial lesson. If the dog isn't interested, the course won't proceed. By the way, I haven’t experienced that yet. Tracking and scent detection are activities that dogs genuinely love. In fact, a dog's well-being and mental state rely on regularly engaging its sense of smell. When we implement this, feel-good hormones are released in the dog, benefitting their brain. Working together to solve a puzzle as a team is truly a win-win for everyone involved.
By the way, suppressing play can be detrimental to a dog’s brain development. Playing with other dogs is important and owners should find suitable playmates when they can.
As 'dog owners' we should discipline them when they misbehave. Right?
Punishment is never a solution. It's crucial to understand that dogs never deliberately seek to irritate us. Unwanted behaviour usually arises from our own misinterpretations: we fail to comprehend our dogs and don't communicate clearly with them. If we can't read their body language, how can we genuinely understand them? Our anger is a result of our own frustration. Looking at our ethogram again, a dog is not naturally aggressive.
If your dog is barking at another dog across the street, there's a reason behind it. The dog is behaving as expected, not barking without purpose. Similarly, I frequently notice people with unhappy expressions tugging at their dog for certain behaviours. "Hurry up," they call out, irritated, even though at other times the dog was permitted to do the same thing.
Incidentally, if a dog engages in behaviour you find undesirable, it's often just their natural instinct. Dogs dig and bark; it's part of their nature. When a dog is on a leash and encounters another dog, the leash might make them feel threatened, and so they begin to bark. It's unfair to correct or punish this behaviour, as a dog's natural instincts cannot be unlearned. This is something inherent to dogs and beyond their control.
"Punishment is never a solution. It's crucial to understand that dogs never deliberately seek to irritate us."
What can we do instead?
Well, we can turn things around. With lots of patience and a positive reward system, desired behaviour can be taught. This is achieved by being completely predictable and ensuring our dog trusts us, feels secure, and receives support when needed. I believe that Turid Rugaas' book, ‘On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals,’ is essential reading for any dog owner.
We should remind ourselves again and again that our dog is not to blame for our frustration. It doesn't always comprehend what we mean, and it often ends up as the victim in these situations. This should just never happen. It is fear, uncertainty, discomfort, and a lack of safety that lead them to exhibit behaviours we deem undesirable.
And finally, Judith, what is the best way to truly 'see' our dog?
When you purchase a dog from a breeder, shelter, or foundation, you become its owner. However, it's important to understand that a dog doesn't view itself as your property. It truly desires to be your friend. How amazing is that!
Truly, dogs are the animals that most enjoy living alongside humans. We have a responsibility to ensure their life with us is as enjoyable and meaningful as possible. We should strive to be their best friend and always treat them as part of the family, not just when it's convenient for us.
Interestingly, this situation is mutually beneficial. Our physical and mental health greatly improves from having such a close and unconditional bond.
My guidance may not always be pleasant for my clients to hear. However, as an animal welfare expert, I must prioritise the dog's well-being. So, I always say: be a consistent owner. And whenever you plan to do something with your dog friend ask yourself: How would they feel about it? This way you will also become their best friend and you will create the best chance that your dog is a happy dog.
"Ask yourself what your dog would think if you did something with him or her. This way you will also become their best friend and you will create the best chance that your dog is a happy dog."
Judith’s training is based on:
First, the work by internationally-renowned Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas. Her book On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals is considered a classic in the field of dog behaviour and cognition. The book focusses on the essential needs of dogs for a safe, happy, and healthy life.
Secondly: The study "A dog’s day with humans – time activity budget of free-ranging dogs in India." Free-ranging dogs, Canis lupus familiaris, play a crucial role in human environments in India and other countries, providing insights into human-dog domestication. The researchers highlight that there is limited knowledge about the behavior of free-ranging dogs, but their analysis indicates that these dogs are generally lazy, friendly, and submissive during infrequent interactions with humans. Therefore, they conclude that dogs typically do not pose a threat to human wellbeing, and peaceful coexistence is possible with appropriate management and tolerance (Majumder, Sreejani & Chatterjee, Ankita & Bhadra, Anindita. (2014). A dog’s day with humans – time activity budget of free-ranging dogs in India. Current science. 106. 874-878).
Third, Judith's training is based on unique research, including a dog ethogram from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in West Bengal. This inventory of dog behaviours, based on free-ranging dogs rather than dogs raised by humans, serves as a model to help us better understand our domestic dogs (Time-activity budget of urban-adapted free-ranging dogs, Arunita Banerjee and Anindita Bhadra1, Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur Campus, Mohanpur 741246 West Bengal, India).
About our Interviewee: Judith Versluis
Judith Versluis is a renowned dog welfare behavioural specialist. Judith helps dogs and their ‘owners’ find balance in life. Just like people, dogs can handle life better if their capacity to handle things and stressors are in balance. Judith’s site also has tips. For example, how a dog’s health and state of mind depend on regular use of its nose seeking system, such as scent training.
Judith's Dog Welfare In A Nutshell (click here)
Try to give your dog a varied diet, such as sometimes adding a boiled egg or a piece of fish. Feed half of the meal from the food bowl and the rest from a Kong, snuffle mat, or lick mat.
A dog who isn't interested in his food and leaves it untouched may simply not like it (anymore). So, it's time for a change. Eating should be a joy.
Ensure your dog has a supportive bed where it can stretch out its back and legs and lie down properly.
A variety of sleeping places: To regulate its temperature, the dog needs to be able to move around.
Offer a slightly elevated sleeping area if the couch isn't an option. Higher means safer for a dog.
A crate is better not to use, but if you do have one, always leave the door open.
Make your dog feel safe by not leaving it alone at home for long periods, and observe its behaviour. Does it feel safe near a bicycle?
Allow your dog to make its own choices and decisions occasionally (according to Turid Rugaas this helps overcome anxiety). For example, by letting the dog go left or right during a walk (this is really fun to do), or by giving them different chews and letting them choose.
Let the dog sniff, sniff, sniff: it's Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. By sniffing, they gather important information about all sorts of things. This is really important for them, don't deprive them of it.
Use of harnass: It's important that their head, neck, and shoulders are free. Don't use training leashes. Preferably a well-fitting Y-harness and a leash of at least 2.5 meters.
A bag of treats for the journey (these can also be their own kibble). Scatter a handful on a grassy area along the way and let the dog search. When the search system is activated, feel-good hormones are released, making the dog feel content and satisfied.
Getting angry stems from our own frustration. If we took the time to learn our dog's body language, much of this could be avoided.
Be a predictable owner and ask yourself everything you do, "What does my dog think?" Then you'll become his best friend too.
