Study: dogs prefer petting over vocal praise

[Ivan]

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/se...-vocal-praise/

It makes sense, really, cuz we primates are a vocal bunch, and canines are silent communicators. But we both enjoy love.

[Lisa]

Ummmm...Doxies - silent communicators?!?!? Not in my house.

Mine don't care if they are getting touched or talked to. It's all about the treats all the time

[lotsadox]

That's mine, Lisa! It's the food that counts!

Of course, that's not to say that Cash doesn't love his tummy rubs, but food trumps everything else. And if he's not getting what he wants, he tells you. LOUDLY.

[LexieLuvr]

I read that. Very interesting article but I wonder how many dachsies were in the study!

[oceangirls]

When mine were little and we were working on housebreaking, we noticed Cassie did better with food rewards and Angel did better with verbal praise. Cassie still looks at us weird when we tell her she is good for going in the right place .

Otherwise, she really likes verbal praise, though. Any human attention is good for Cassie. She will do mischievous things to get (negative) attention and then she's immediately submissive and apologetic until you tell her she's good again. Then she's happy .

Angel doesn't really get negative attention, as she doesn't do much wrong. I don't think she gets the concept of doing something to get a reward or a punishment. She lives in Angel World where she gets food and kisses and gets to lick things for hours on end, and life's pretty good .

[Alex's Mom]

Frankly, mine are all little attention hogs and will take what they can get. An interesting article though!

[Rae]

. She lives in Angel World where she gets food and kisses and gets to lick things for hours on end, and life's pretty good .

Savannah lives in Angel World as well, even though she is NOT an angel.

[bittyup]

Nerogirl is all about the attention. She is attention addicted. I guess when you spend almost a year in a shelter with cold floors you make up for lost time.

[Tanya]

Piper is all about food. Peaches needs human touch...petting, snuggles, etc. Neither of them care what I say!

[lotsadox]

Piper is all about food. Peaches needs human touch...petting, snuggles, etc. Neither of them care what I say!

That's about normal.