As reported by a new study published in the journal Animals, nine out of 10 dogs prefer to receive food rather than toys. To measure this response, the research allowed pets to choose their favorite snack and toy and then put them face-to-face in an experiment that simulated a dog’s training experience.
The researchers then recruited 10 companion dogs near the University of Florida, where the research was conducted. Each dog was given six foods and six toys to determine which were his favorites. In general, the scientists who participated in the study were surprised by the result.
Preference for edible reward
In an official statement, Nicole Dorey, a professor in the psychology department at the University of Florida, said that the study is innovative in the field. “I was surprised, but no one had analyzed how dogs function in terms of toys and food,” she pointed out.
As mentioned above, each dog participating in the experiment had the opportunity to choose his favorite toys (balls, bells, plastic bones or stuffed animals) and food (biscuits, cheese, vegetables or meat). After determining the winners, they would have to perform some activities to win the prize.
As the amount of effort to obtain the reward increased, the researchers noticed some interesting information. In general, most dogs dropped out of activities sooner when they received a toy reward than when they received their favorite treat.
Dog behavior
One of the main reasons why researchers at the University of Florida discovered this type of dog behavior is because previous studies have already shown that dogs may prefer human attention to food. It would therefore be interesting to see whether food would also fall behind toys on the priority scale.
“I think the next study should look at all three – attention, food and toys – and what dogs value most during training,” Dorey said in an official statement. According to many dog trainers, using toys instead of food when training your pet tends to be better for preventing your pet from consuming excessive calories, not to mention making the training experience more fun.
Therefore, the best way to train your dog without him becoming prone to obesity is to prevent toys from competing with food during this phase. For Dorey, anyone can train their dog with his favorite toy if this exercise starts early in the animal’s life.
This is normally a technique widely used in the training of search and rescue dogs, who tend to receive toys as positive reinforcement from their first steps in life. It is obvious that training your pet with the help of food is not a criminal act and can even generate truly impressive results. However, if you don’t want your dog to be too chubby, it’s best to avoid it!
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
