We can promote animal welfare by making learning a rewarding experience.













Last year I wrote about a study by Ragen McGowan et al that found dogs prefer to work to earn a reward , rather than just be given the reward. The study had an ingenious design in which dogs were taught a set of tricks using some novel equipment. Sometimes they got the reward for doing the trick; other times they just got the reward anyway.





Dr. McGowan told me, “Think back to last time you learned a complicated new task… do you remember the excitement you felt when you completed the task correctly? Our work suggests that many dogs also experience this ‘Eureka Effect.’ In other words, learning itself is rewarding for dogs.”

















How you can use rewards in dog training

Giving dogs opportunities to learn is good for them.



You don’t have to pick a complicated task; begin with sit or shake paw before you build up to difficult tricks.





If you’re new to training, it’s easy to get started. All you need is food that your dog likes: chicken, cheese, hot dog, peanut butter cookies, tuna fudge, roast beef... See what your dog prefers (and adjust meals as necessary). If you like, you can use a clicker.





Training is like any other skill: it takes patience, practice and consistency. If you want to improve your technique, you could sign up for classes with a local force free trainer. Be warned: you might find you and your dog have a new hobby!



Other ways to make your dog happy may include petting, walks, hiking, swimming, paddling, fetch, tug, puzzle toys, chew toys, agility, nose work playtime with other doggie friends , rolling in stinky stuff (the dog, not you!), and so on…



If you want to give your dog 'lightbulb' moments, pick something that involves problem-solving, like training for food rewards (i.e.



If you want to give your dog 'lightbulb' moments, pick something that involves problem-solving, like training for food rewards (i.e. positive reinforcement ). Otherwise, any activity you both enjoy will make your dog happy.





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References

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 152 , 52-63 DOI: Casey, R., Loftus, B., Bolster, C., Richards, G., & Blackwell, E. (2014). Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors, 52-63 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.12.003

Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 9 (2), 58-65 DOI: Deldalle, S., & Gaunet, F. (2014). Effects of 2 training methods on stress-related behaviors of the dog (Canis familiaris) and on the dog–owner relationship(2), 58-65 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2013.11.004

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117 (1-2), 47-54 DOI: Herron, M., Shofer, F., & Reisner, I. (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors(1-2), 47-54 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2008.12.011

Animal Cognition, 17 (3), 577-587 DOI: McGowan, R., Rehn, T., Norling, Y., & Keeling, L. (2013). Positive affect and learning: exploring the “Eureka Effect” in dogs(3), 577-587 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-013-0688-x

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 132 (3-4), 169-177 DOI: Rooney, N., & Cowan, S. (2011). Training methods and owner–dog interactions: Links with dog behaviour and learning ability(3-4), 169-177 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.03.007

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, is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy . She is the founder of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology , where she writes about everything from training methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today and has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article in 2017. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband and two cats.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy affiliate, I earn from qualifying Etsy purchases.