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Old 01-21-2015, 11:50 AM   #1
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Default Shut up and pet me! New study on petting vs. vocal praise.

I just came across a research article on whether dogs prefer petting or vocal praise, and the jury is in: Dogs prefer petting to vocal praise, paws down! In fact, they would rather be petted by a stranger than receive vocal praise from their owners. And, they liked vocal praise only a little better than no interaction at all. The study included two Yorkies named Nick and Snickers, so this study applies to Yorkies as well. Here is the link to the article, which is probably behind a pay wall, but I'll quote from some of the article below:

Shut up and pet me! Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) prefer petting to vocal praise in concurrent and single-alternative choice procedures

Highlights

•Both shelter and owned dogs prefer petting to vocal praise in concurrent choice, even when the owner provides vocal praise.
•Preference for petting continued even when only one alternative was available at a time.
•Vocal praise produced as little proximity-seeking behavior as no interaction from the experimenter.
•Dogs showed no evidence of satiation for petting.
•Petting is likely an unconditioned stimulus and promotes social behavior in dogs but vocal praise likely has to be specifically conditioned.

Abstract

The nature of the interactions that maintain the social behavior of dogs toward humans and which interactions dogs prefer have not been thoroughly investigated. We focused here on dogs’ preference for petting and vocal praise, and the influence that familiarity (owner vs. stranger) has on that preference. We first used concurrent choice to evaluate dogs’ preference for petting or vocal praise and measured the initial choice, the time spent with each alternative, and the number of within-session alternations. We assessed dogs’ preference for petting or vocal praise in (1) shelter dogs, (2) owned dogs with strangers providing both interactions, and (3) owned dogs with the dog's owner providing the interactions. Across all experimental groups, dogs preferred petting to vocal praise. We next assessed time spent with each alternative when only one alternative was available at a time in shelter dogs and owned dogs (Experiment 2). Shelter dogs were tested with a stranger and owned dogs were tested with their owners providing the interaction. Dogs alternated between petting and vocal praise, vocal praise and no interaction, or received only petting for eight 3-min sessions of each comparison. Both shelter and owned dogs spent significantly longer in proximity to the experimenter when the interaction was petting compared to vocal praise. Vocal praise produced as little proximity-seeking behavior as did no interaction. Additionally, dogs did not show any sign of satiation with petting across all eight sessions. Overall, petting seems to be an important interaction between dogs and humans that might maintain inter-specific social behavior but vocal praise likely has to be specifically conditioned.


[..]


Overall, our results point to petting, or contact comfort (Harlow & Zimmerman, 1959), as being an important interaction for dogs that can produce social behavior. It is likely also relevant in attachment formation between dogs and humans. Using petting and other preferred activities for dogs, such as food delivery, we should focus on the development of attachment between dogs and humans and the role these interactions might play in shaping and maintaining separation related problem behaviors.
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Old 01-21-2015, 12:49 PM   #2
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I read this study and thought that I must have really conditioned my dogs to love vocal praise from me and all other humans, including strangers. Max and Teddy both love hearing their names, being told they are good looking or good boys, and they love cheering.
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Old 01-21-2015, 01:40 PM   #3
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My German Shepherd was difficult to train (extremely intelligent) until I went crazy with rather high-pitched, very excited vocalizations---The turn-around in her response to me, was immediate and positive. She learned throughout her entire 12 years and was always highly responsive to: "Did you do good? Yes, you did..." in my excited voice. I find with my Piper that she always perks up when I acknowledge her with my coming home greeting (no matter time of day or place); she just gets wiggly and happy. Love that researchers, scientists, et al, spend the time, money and effort in learning about what makes dogs tick---Points out the importance of canines in our lives!
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Old 01-21-2015, 03:59 PM   #4
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Bella does respond to verbal praise, but what she loves even more are treats and letting her lick my face .
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Old 01-21-2015, 04:23 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pstinard View Post
Bella does respond to verbal praise, but what she loves even more are treats and letting her lick my face .


I thought of 2 examples demonstrating how much my boys love verbal praise: they love listening to the teller at the bank drive through praising them. They can't see her, but they swoon hearing her sweet nothings through the intercom. Okay, they also know a treat is coming in the tube.

Second is when we walk in front of the school and tons of kids start screaming, "Puppies! Cute puppies!" My boys consider puppy a term of endearment, so they sit down and act like embarrassed celebrities being showered with affection.
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Old 01-21-2015, 09:34 PM   #6
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Interesting. When I realized my dogs could do all their tricks just by my hand motions, I realized words were less important than I thought. I do talk to them all them time, but I also make a point of petting them regularly. When I acknowledge them after being away, I make physical contact with each of them and I think they appreciate that.
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Old 01-22-2015, 03:54 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximo View Post
I read this study and thought that I must have really conditioned my dogs to love vocal praise from me and all other humans, including strangers. Max and Teddy both love hearing their names, being told they are good looking or good boys, and they love cheering.
I enjoyed this article/study....mine respond so well to vocal praise, but they would turn themselves inside out, to be held and tummy rubs.....most of mine will lay on their back in my arms, and let me stroke....insist that I stroke them continously!!

My little Boss who was a very successful in show rings, used to ADORE vocal praise and clapping and cheering! After I would groom him, I would put him down and we would clap and cheer and have fits over how gorgeous he was, and he would strut and prance all over the room, REALLY showing off his MOJO!! You could almost see the smile on his tiny precious little face!
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Old 01-22-2015, 06:39 PM   #8
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Interesting. Thank you for sharing it. Jaya loves being petted, but when she hears anyone say the word"cute" her ears perk up. She knows!!
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Old 01-22-2015, 08:24 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1 View Post
I enjoyed this article/study....mine respond so well to vocal praise, but they would turn themselves inside out, to be held and tummy rubs.....most of mine will lay on their back in my arms, and let me stroke....insist that I stroke them continously!!

My little Boss who was a very successful in show rings, used to ADORE vocal praise and clapping and cheering! After I would groom him, I would put him down and we would clap and cheer and have fits over how gorgeous he was, and he would strut and prance all over the room, REALLY showing off his MOJO!! You could almost see the smile on his tiny precious little face!
There is nothing like a proud Yorkie strut.

My boys love physical affection too, but not really from strangers. Max hugged our vet, lol, and he tolerates the head rubbing from strangers.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4carolyn View Post
Interesting. Thank you for sharing it. Jaya loves being petted, but when she hears anyone say the word"cute" her ears perk up. She knows!!
So sweet!
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Old 01-25-2015, 04:10 PM   #10
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My Tibbe is a little different from this study on some things, during training and some other times, too. I've always talked to him, all day long. He hears how much he's loved, how cute he is, how good he is, etc., very often during the day and loves it when I talk to him while I'm doing something such as cooking or working about the house. He tends to step back when you try to pet him most times, especially when anyone but me tries it, but especially during training or if one is standing or sitting over him but really jumps for joy when he gets smiles and lots of verbal praise or talking to in a high, squeaky voice, telling him how wonderful he is. His favorite is a high, happy voice telling him how good and smart he is, how proud I am of him - and he seems to expect the word "love". He's all for that kind of attention, softens his eyes, folds his ears back when he hears good things. So I early on learned that he's not big on petting much of the time but actually seems to prefer verbal communications over a pat - especially one on his head - that's not appreciated at all.

Now he's almost always near or touching me on some point of my body most of the day and night, resting on a foot/feet or touching my thigh/leg during naps, if possible, and sleeping with his bottom up against my cheek on my very pillow nights - so he loves close touch.

He really feeds off verbal praise and celebrating now when he does something right such as comes running when called, potties on command outside or even when we're just alone in a room. When I'm teaching him a new behavior, command or trick, I treat lavishly at first but soon we segue to mostly verbal praise, celebration and a sometimes a little tickle.

During down times, he's more than fine with petting, rubbing & scratching(favorites), cuddling and will even initiate sessions himself but honestly, to see his face and reactions, I think he's been conditioned to prefer my verbal expressions over some of petting, tickling or touching him unless we are down. But if I don't talk to him, praise or tell him I love him pretty often or am quiet for a day, he's soon on the floor standing in front of me just staring as if to say - "What's wrong with you? Talk to me, momma!". Because if I do, he's usually fine then and stops the staring, questioning look and goes about his day.
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