Dogs prefer to earn treats than have them get handed to them. This is a great way to confirm why dogs who get treats/ rewards learn faster. Think of the treats/rewards as a paycheck for them.
The Study
The study was conducted by Dr Ragen Mcgowan and colleagues at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden.
12 Beagles were paired off into 6 groups. Each pair had one dog learn how to use 3 tools, while the other dog would learn 3 different tools – such as a lever to make a bell ring, pushing objects or playing a key on a piano.
After a week the researchers brought in one of the dogs, the experimental dog, and presented them with the three tasks to learn. If the dog successfully completed the three tasks within 5 minutes they were given the choice between three different rewards: a treat, human contact or another dog to play with.
They then had the control dog, who was untrained on those particular tasks enter the room. They didn’t have to successfully complete any of the tasks to receive their reward. Regardless of what they did, they were given their reward.
Each dog played both roles several times. The researchers observed that the experimental dogs who had to complete their tasks seemed much more excited to return to the room than the dogs who did nothing before claiming their reward. They were wagging their tails and lining up to use the equipment again. Their counterpart on the other hand, the control dogs, were more reluctant to re-enter the room again.
The Results of the Study
The researchers said ‘animals may experience positive affective states in response to their own achievements.’ In other words dogs might enjoy problem solving just as humans do.
The dogs in the study were not only excited about the reward, they were excited about the fact that they themselves could control access to the reward. The study suggests that dogs enjoy solving problems and making decisions, and that those opportunities have a positive effect on our dogs overall well being.
