Why Do Dogs Continue to Perform Tricks Without Rewards?
All animals, including our beloved dogs, are born without sin. They don’t inherently know the difference between good and evil. Their primary hope is love, respect, and kindness. They place a great deal of trust in us and that’s why they still trust us for food and drink, as well as kindness. God bless them for living in hope, devoid of gratitude for our actions. On Judgment Day, mankind will be judged by our deeds—good or bad—and there will be no excuses. Let us hope that God has mercy on our souls.
It is a common misconception that dogs perform tricks only because they are rewarded with treats. In reality, the truth is much more fascinating and complex. Dogs do everything they do because they find the action intrinsically rewarding. A dog barks at something because it finds it rewarding. This is how the dog’s brain works. For behaviors that are new and foreign to the dog, intermittent rewards may be necessary, but for behaviors that come naturally and are genetically hardwired, the action itself is the reward.
Living in Hope
Training a puppy or dog should ultimately aim to reduce the frequency of rewarding them for desired behaviors, as they consistently obey. With my puppy Monroe, I have transitioned from rewarding her obedience with treats to engaging her in a game of fetch, which she often prefers. When teaching new tricks or skills, a high-value treat is used, even though Monroe is now almost five years old and learns faster without treats almost all the time.
Dogs, being pack animals, derive a sense of fulfillment from fulfilling roles within the pack. Performing tricks gives them a sense of having a useful job. All organisms with brains behave according to the rewards they receive. If a dog continues to perform a trick for months or even a year without a tangible reward from you, they are indeed getting a reward, though it might not be something you recognize.
Rewards Beyond Treats
Dogs persist in behaviors because they are getting a reward, which could be:
Personal satisfaction: the dog just enjoys doing the trick because it’s fun. Admiration: nearby people praise and laugh at the trick, providing a social reward. Praise: the dog is among those motivated by human praise, even if others aren’t. Fear: the dog might perform the trick to avoid punishment, finding relief in avoiding it. Something else: rewards come from various sources and can be complex.Identifying and addressing the underlying reward for a dog’s behavior is crucial for better training. For instance, if a dog licks the couch or carpet persistently, it might be due to self-soothing. The reward is the reduction in anxiety. The solution is to offer more appealing activities, enhance positive training, increase exercise, and, if necessary, use anti-anxiety medication.
To conclude, understanding and respecting the intrinsic motivations of dogs greatly enhances the training process and strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend.