Move Beyond the Five Domains
Framework of Shelter Dog Needs
A Six-Part Lunch & Learn Series for Animal Care Staff and Volunteers
Let's move beyond the 5 Domains! This webinar series introduces the Framework of Dog Needs for shelter settings, an adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs into a Framework of Dogs’ Needs by Animal Welfare Researchers. The welcome video and Lesson 1 are available immediately, while Lessons 2-5 will be released over the next 3 months, giving you time to practice application between lessons.
With sessions under one hour, the course is ideal for bite-sized learning—whether during lunch-and-learns, team meetings, or volunteer orientations.
Your Presenters
Two animal welfare experts in one course!
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Dr. Karen Griffin, PhD is a research scientist in the field of shelter dogs and dog rehoming. She earned her doctorate in animal sciences at the University of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. The scope of her research experience and interest within this field includes how a dog fits into a home environment, what qualifies a successful dog placement, and how to improve the likelihood that a placement will be successful. Her research is based in both the US and Europe, and she is focused on the practical and real world applications of its findings. With a background in the social sciences, Dr. Griffin employs an interdisciplinary approach to her research. She is also the founder and Executive Director of The Dog Rehoming Project, a non profit organization with the mission of bridging the gap between research and the people who need it, to put science behind dog sheltering and dog rehoming.
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Laurie Lawless is a nationally recognized expert in shelter dog behavior, with over 15 years of experience shaping behavior-forward systems across animal welfare organizations. Her career was sparked in 2008 when she rescued an 85‑lb Boxer named Charlie - his behavioral challenges launched her into the world of professional dog behavior work, and she’s been “blaming Charlie” ever since.
Laurie is the founder of Shelter Behavior Integrations (SBI) and advises shelters across the U.S., helping them reduce euthanasia, increase adoption, and boost staff morale by embedding proactive behavior strategies into daily operations. Her philosophy is simple: every shelter can implement behavior-forward frameworks, with or without a dedicated behavior team, to benefit dogs, staff, and communities.
