Dogs prefer food to toys, studies show

Man’s best friend is as obsessed with treats as we all think.

Nine out of 10 dogs chose food over toys in the first study of its kind, conducted by University of Florida psychologists. The study allowed dogs to choose their favorite food and favorite toy, then placed them head on in an experiment that mimicked a training experience. Most dogs respond more strongly to the food reward.

“I was surprised, but no one had looked at how dogs would work for toys versus food before,” said Nicole Dorey, a lecturer in the UF Department of Psychology who conducted the study with her students. students and other collaborators.

The researchers recruited 10 pet dogs from the local area. Each dog was presented with six foods—including treats, cheese, carrots and hot dogs—and six toys, such as a tennis ball, a squeak toy, a plastic bone or a stuffed animal. Each dog had a chance to choose their favorite food and favorite toy.

In another set of experiments, the dogs had to work harder and harder for their reward. Most dogs give up sooner when offered a preferred toy reward than when given a favorite treat.

Other studies have shown that dogs may prefer human attention to food.

“I think the next study should look at all three—attention, food, and toys—and what dogs really want when training,” Dorey said.

Some dog trainers suggest using toys instead of food in training to avoid excess calories and to make the experience more fun for the dog. If dog owners want to follow this advice, the key is not to have toys that compete with food, the researchers say.

“Be sure to train your dog with toys if you start early,” says Dorey. “This is what is done with search and rescue dogs, they start really early with toys as reinforcers.”

The study was led by UF undergraduate students Xenabeth Lazaro and John Winter, who have since graduated. Collaborators from the Florida Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University also contributed. The authors published their findings in the journal Animals.