{"id":2472,"date":"2018-01-10T13:56:42","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T18:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=2472"},"modified":"2018-01-10T13:56:42","modified_gmt":"2018-01-10T18:56:42","slug":"dogs-enjoy-work-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/dogs-enjoy-work-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Doggone Satisfying: \u00a0Dogs Enjoy Work, Too!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dogsAs an adult, you\u2019ve probably experienced the satisfaction of a hard day\u2019s work. It might come as a surprise, but you and Fido may not be so different after all! A recent study from Sweden revealed that dogs, too, enjoy earning their rewards. They just prefer peanut butter to a paycheck.<\/p>\n

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The Study<\/h3>\n

A study published in Animal Cognition<\/a> supports the hypothesis that dogs get more excited for a reward that is earned.<\/p>\n

In the study, a group of 12 beagles were trained to perform a variety of tasks and received a reward in the form of food, human contact, or play with another dog once they completed the task. A group of control dogs was also brought into the training room and rewarded with one of these items regardless of their behavior.<\/p>\n

The study was able to demonstrate that dogs were more excited and less frustrated when they were performing tasks, rather than just receiving a random reward. They also showed a preference for food over the other rewards. Go figure!<\/p>\n

Why Dogs Enjoy Work<\/h3>\n

From an evolutionary standpoint, enjoying a hard day\u2019s work makes sense. Emotional arousal has been shown to aid in learning and boost memory, which may have some survival implications. For our housepets, though, this trait may not have such dramatic effects. The fact remains, however, that dogs enjoy work, and Oakland Veterinary Referral Services<\/a> knows that a happy dog makes a happy home.<\/p>\n

So how can you use this information to enrich your pet\u2019s life? Here are some easy ideas to keep your canine companion satisfied:<\/p>\n