Have you ever wondered whether your dog would rather hear you say “Good boy!” or receive a tasty treat? As dog parents, we use both food and affection to show our dogs how much we love them. But if our dogs could choose, which reward would they prefer?
No one has ever been able to completely explain how dogs became our closest animal companions. The relationship between humans and dogs is special and unique. Our dogs share our homes, accompany us through life’s ups and downs, and somehow seem to understand us in ways that other animals do not.
Naturally, we want to reward them for their friendship and good behavior. But since we cannot simply ask our dogs what makes them happiest, we have to rely on their behavior and body language for clues.
We know that most dogs enjoy food rewards, and many seem equally delighted by our attention and praise. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to know which one they actually prefer?
As it turns out, scientists have found a fascinating way to look for the answer. And what they discovered may change the way you think about rewarding your best friend.
The Science Behind What Makes Dogs Feel Rewarded
In the past, researchers have studied dogs’ preferences by observing their behavior. They might offer a dog two different rewards and see which one the dog approaches first or works harder to obtain.
These tests can provide valuable information, but they have limitations. For example, a dog might choose food because he is hungry, because the food is easier to reach, or simply because it is more exciting at that particular moment.
It can be difficult to separate the dog’s true preference from the circumstances surrounding the reward.
Researchers at Emory University decided to investigate the question in a different way. Instead of relying entirely on behavior, they used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe what happened inside dogs’ brains when they anticipated different rewards.¹
This approach allowed scientists to examine the brain’s response to food and social interaction, giving us a glimpse into what our dogs might find most rewarding.
What Happens Inside a Dog’s Brain?
Previous research has identified an area of the mammalian brain called the ventral striatum, which plays an important role in motivation, reward, and anticipation.¹,²
In simple terms, this region helps the brain recognize experiences that are worth seeking out or repeating.
This part of the brain is also associated with chemical signaling involved in social relationships, including oxytocin.³ Oxytocin is sometimes called the “love hormone” because of its role in bonding and social attachment.
Studies have suggested that oxytocin is important in relationships between humans and dogs, just as it is in social bonding among other mammals.⁴,⁵,⁶,⁷
When we interact positively with our dogs, we are doing more than simply providing entertainment or affection. These experiences can involve biological processes that help strengthen our relationships.
For the Emory University study, researchers focused on reward-related brain activity, particularly in the ventral striatum, to investigate how dogs responded to the anticipation of food compared with praise from a familiar person.
The idea was that differences in brain activity might help reveal which type of reward individual dogs valued more.
The Experiment: Hot Dogs Versus Human Praise
The researchers worked with 15 dogs who had been trained to remain still during MRI scans while awake. This is especially important because sedation would interfere with the normal brain responses the scientists wanted to observe.
Each dog was taught to associate three ordinary objects with three different outcomes:
- A toy car: The dog’s primary caregiver would appear and offer approximately three seconds of verbal praise.
- A toy horse: The dog would receive a high-value food reward, specifically a piece of hot dog.
- A hairbrush: Nothing would happen. This object served as the control.
The objects themselves were not intended to be rewarding. They were simply signals that allowed the dogs to anticipate what would happen next.
Each object was presented on the end of a stick so that the person displaying it would not be visible to the dog. As the dogs watched the objects, researchers measured their brain activity using fMRI technology.
By comparing the responses to each signal, the scientists could see whether the dogs’ reward centers reacted more strongly to the promise of food or the anticipation of praise from their favorite person.
And the results were fascinating!
So, Do Dogs Prefer Treats or Praise?
The researchers discovered that dogs do not all value rewards in exactly the same way. Of the 15 dogs studied, four showed stronger reward-related brain responses to the anticipation of praise than to food. That’s approximately 27% of the dogs!
Only two dogs showed a strong preference for food rewards. The remaining nine dogs responded similarly to both food and praise. In other words, most of the dogs in this small study showed brain responses suggesting that praise was at least as rewarding as food.
For those of us who love dogs, this is an exciting finding. We often assume that food is the ultimate motivator for our canine companions. After all, most dogs are more than happy to perform a trick for a delicious snack. But this study suggests that some dogs may find positive attention from their favorite humans even more rewarding than a tasty treat.
It is important to remember that the study involved only 15 dogs, so we cannot assume that these percentages represent all dogs. Brain activity also provides an indirect measure of reward value rather than a definitive answer about what a dog is feeling.
Still, the results offer scientific support for something many dog parents have suspected all along: Our dogs may value our love and attention just as much as the treats we give them.
What Does This Mean for Training Your Dog?
One of the most useful things about this research is how it may help us better understand our own dogs. We often hear that food rewards are essential for successful training. And there is good reason for that. Treats can be highly effective because they are easy to deliver immediately after a desired behavior, making it clear to the dog exactly what he has done right.
But food is not the only thing dogs find rewarding. Some dogs are especially motivated by enthusiastic praise, a favorite toy, a game of fetch, or the opportunity to interact with their favorite person.
The key is recognizing that each dog is an individual. A dog who is strongly motivated by food may learn a new behavior more quickly when treats are involved. Another dog may be delighted by your cheerful voice and attention, particularly when practicing something he already knows.
And many dogs may appreciate a combination of both. Of course, the brain-imaging study measured dogs’ responses to anticipated rewards. It did not establish that praise is always as effective as food for teaching new behaviors. What a dog enjoys and what works best in a particular training situation are not necessarily the same thing.
That is why I encourage dog parents to pay attention to what motivates their own pets rather than assuming that every dog responds to the same rewards.
How Can You Tell Which Reward Your Dog Prefers?
You probably already have some idea of what makes your dog happiest. Does he light up when you reach for the treat jar? Does his entire body wiggle when you tell him what a wonderful dog he is? Does he seem happiest when you stop what you are doing and give him your undivided attention?
These reactions can offer clues about what your dog finds rewarding. You can also try a simple experiment at home. Choose a behavior your dog already knows well, such as sitting on command. During a few short, positive training sessions, reward him with a small treat. During other sessions, use enthusiastic verbal praise.
Pay attention to his enthusiasm, willingness to participate, and eagerness to repeat the behavior. Does he seem equally interested in both types of rewards? Does he lose interest when treats are removed? Or does he happily continue working for your praise?
This is not a scientific test, and factors such as hunger, excitement, and the surrounding environment can affect your dog’s responses. But it may help you better understand what motivates him.
You may even discover that his preferences change depending on the situation. For example, praise might be enough to reward a familiar behavior in your quiet living room, while a particularly delicious treat may be more effective when you are working around distractions.
Remember, too, that not every dog enjoys physical affection in the same way. Some dogs love being hugged and petted, while others prefer verbal praise or simply being near their people. Always respect your dog’s body language and personal boundaries.
The best reward is one that your dog actually enjoys, not necessarily the one we humans think he should enjoy.
Why Your Attention May Mean More Than You Realize
I think one of the most meaningful aspects of this study is what it tells us about the human-animal bond. Dogs have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years. They have become remarkably skilled at reading our gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
They pay attention to us in ways that are sometimes easy to overlook. When your dog looks up at you during a walk, follows you from room to room, or eagerly greets you after a long day, he is participating in a relationship that is important to him.
We may think of praise as something small or insignificant. After all, saying “Good dog!” requires very little effort on our part. But for some dogs, those few seconds of positive interaction may be genuinely rewarding.
The Emory University findings suggest that the anticipation of praise from a familiar caregiver can activate reward-related brain regions as strongly as, or even more strongly than, the anticipation of food in some dogs.
That does not mean every dog values praise above all else, or that a loving relationship can replace proper training and care. It does remind us, however, that our attention has value. And perhaps we should not underestimate how much our dogs appreciate simply being acknowledged by the people they love.
The Best Reward May Be a Little of Both
Although we dog lovers might enjoy imagining that our dogs are only “in it for the love,” the truth is a little more complicated. Dogs are individuals, and their preferences are influenced by many things, including personality, learning history, environment, and their relationship with the person providing the reward.
Some dogs may favor praise. Others may be more food-motivated. Many seem to appreciate both. And there is certainly nothing wrong with giving your dog a delicious treat while telling him how wonderful he is! In fact, pairing food rewards with positive attention can be a wonderful way to make training enjoyable while strengthening your bond.
Just remember that treats should be appropriately sized and included in your dog’s daily calorie intake. Praise, on the other hand, is something we can offer generously without worrying about extra calories.
For dogs who need to watch their weight, discovering that they respond well to praise, play, or other nonfood rewards may be especially helpful.
The Bottom Line: Your Dog Wants More Than Just Treats
We may never know exactly what our dogs are thinking, but studies like this bring us a little closer to understanding the remarkable relationship we share with them. The findings remind us that our dogs have emotional and social needs in addition to their physical needs.
Providing nutritious food, exercise, veterinary care, and a safe home is essential. But so is making time for positive interaction, play, companionship, and affection in whatever form your individual dog enjoys.
You do not have to choose between treats and praise. Both can have a valuable place in your dog’s life. So the next time your dog does something wonderful, go ahead and tell him how proud you are. Give him a treat if he enjoys one, too.
Because while we may not be able to ask our dogs which reward they prefer, science suggests that, for many of them, hearing from the person they love is a reward in itself.
Scientific References
- Cook, P. F., Prichard, A., Spivak, M., & Berns, G. S. (2016). Awake canine fMRI predicts dogs’ preference for praise versus food. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
- O’Doherty, J., Dayan, P., Schultz, J., Deichmann, R., Friston, K., & Dolan, R. J. (2004). Dissociable roles of ventral and dorsal striatum in instrumental conditioning. Science, 304(5669), 452–454.
- Freund-Mercier, M. J., Stoeckel, M. E., Palacios, J. M., Pazos, A., Reichhart, J. M., Porte, A., & Richard, P. (1987). Pharmacological characteristics and anatomical distribution of [3H] oxytocin-binding sites in the Wistar rat brain studied by autoradiography. Neuroscience, 20(2), 599–614.
- Rilling, J. K., Gutman, D. A., Zeh, T. R., Pagnoni, G., Berns, G. S., & Kilts, C. D. (2002). A neural basis for social cooperation. Neuron, 35(2), 395–405.
- Young, K. A., Liu, Y., & Wang, Z. (2008). The neurobiology of social attachment: a comparative approach to behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurochemical studies. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 148(4), 401–410.
- Odendaal, J. S., & Meintjes, R. A. (2003). Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs. Veterinary Journal, 165(3), 296–301.
- Romero, T., Nagasawa, M., Mogi, K., Hasegawa, T., & Kikusui, T. (2014). Oxytocin promotes social bonding in dogs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 111(25), 9085–9090.
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