A Happy Healthy Five Element Dog’s Wants and Needs
By Elizabeth Anne Johnson.
What do I need to know about my dog’s wants and needs? See Below!
Is there a crossover of wants and needs? YES!
Is there a difference between wants and needs? Yes!
These are questions I often get from pet owners. Within the Five Element Archetype structure a dog’s wants and needs are pivotal indicators that are unique to understanding each element archetype AND creating a happy, healthy dog.
These constitutional wants and needs work from a deep-seated motivation that is very specific to each dog element. Let’s talk about nearly every dog’s “fave-want” for a minute – treats!
Most dog’s absolutely love treats! We humans associate giving our dog’s a yummy treat with either a dog’s persistent want, cuteness, or correctness if the treat is used as a training enticement.
Let’s see how each dog elemental archetype acts when the treats come out…
The Treat Scenario…
A Wood element dog may associate a treat with learning or working. They will pay close attention, perhaps sit down quickly, offer other learned behaviors or tricks, or just be very quiet and focused on what they need to do next to get the treat.
A Fire element dog will get super excited and show pure joy and often do a happy wagging dance, then eventually quietly sit and look adorable, while longingly and lovingly staring into your eyes – the ultimate begging pose.
An Earth element dog will be excited in a different way – they will be quick to pose into the easiest and most favorite learned behavior, usually a quick sit with an over-excited – OMG, I can’t wait any longer! – look on their face. Patience – which is usually an Earth dog’s virtue – is now overtaken by their innate foodie obsession.
The Metal element dog will be calm, purposeful in his task of sitting proper, and maybe a bit picky about which treat you give him. Metal’s discernment can overcome motivation and their motivation usually does not come from food, it comes from purpose.
The Water Element may want a certain treat one day and change their mind on another day. Picky, but more from the fickle, emotional and sometimes suspicious angle.
Wants are an urge, not necessarily a need. Yes, a dog’s wants and needs can crossover and be both but there are distinct differences in how and when they show that to us and why.
Needs however, are vitally important to your element dog’s well-being. We all know that basic survival needs like food, water, housing, and love are essential to our pets.
But each element has its own specific archetypal needs that keep your dog happy and healthy, gift them longevity, and the feeling of being understood while creating partnership and love. The following archetypal needs are associated with each of the five element dogs.
Archetypal Needs:
Wood Element Dog – Movement, clear boundaries, a job
Fire Element Dog – Social stimulation, touch, adoration, grounded owner
Earth Element Dog – Food! routine, family, touch
Metal Element Dog – A purpose, a job, trust in handler
Water Element Dog – Deep connection with human partner, trust, quiet
Meeting these essential archetypal needs can radically change unwanted behaviors and lower stress levels keeping our dogs healthy and happy. Wants can come and go. Wants work more on the happiness/urge quota for our dogs. But these simple “needs” should be met for each element archetype to thrive.
You will be amazed at how much more cooperation and pure dog happiness you see and feel when you finally meet the “elemental needs” of your best friend!
To find out your dog’s element archetype, get a full list and descriptions of your Five Element dog’s wants and needs, AND so much more, be sure to pick up my book:
Know Your Dog’s True Nature – Understanding Canine Personality through the Five Elements
Available at booksellers around the world in paperback, eBook, and audiobook!
Also, our next month article will be all about stressors and how to find your Dogs Element!
Hint…this works for humans also! Check out the second half of the book if you have any humans that are a mystery for you!
By Elizabeth Anne Johnson, 4Legged Wisdom & Wellness.
Go to ElizabethAnneJohnson.com for free recorded video interviews, podcasts, blog articles, and more. Help your dog live a happy, healthy life!
My dog LOVEs food–so per the categories, she’s EARTH. Yet, she also has big-time WOOD qualities. — Surely you discuss this in your book–but it would be nice to add a short acknowledgement of how the categories can/do overlap in same dog. Thanks.
Hi Austin,
For some reason I did not see your message and even though it’s been quite some time, feel I should answer you.
First of all – we all have five elements in us, dogs included. But the primary, secondary and so on are all about the percentages of each element. In my book there are extensive quizzes that you can use to determine the primary, the secondary, the tertiary and so on. This helps you better understand the primary wants and needs that are most important to manage in your dogs element. Hope this helps!
Elizabeth, I love presenting how dogs with different elements respond to common scenarios. Potty training, noise fear, walking, and so many more. The treat reactions were very illustrative.
I also love in the book that you present how knowing the type can even predict possible ailments. If you have a dog (earth or wood, I think) who is predisposed to mobility issues with aging – teach them early on how to LOVE swimming and water as they may need hydrotherapy a decade later.