When it comes to our pups, there are many things we’ve been conditioned to assume they love. We have all seen the classic cartoons with a dog drooling over a steak and burying the remaining bone in the backyard for later enjoyment. Every canine should beg for belly scritches, bark at the mailman, and chase a thrown tennis ball. We have the token set of toys and treats that “all dogs love!” But what happens if they don’t show the level of enthusiasm we’ve been taught to expect? If I had a nickel for every time I recommended a client’s dog try a frozen lick treat and they’ve said “We tried that, but they don’t like peanut butter so it won’t work”…well, I would have a lot of nickels!
And there are reasons for it! Most pet stores have a large array of toys, food, and treats available to choose from. However, the prevalence of a few “standard” items like Kongs and Milk Bones can make it seem like all dogs must LOVE these things, right? The reason some items have become so standardized as things our pets love are because many pets do, in fact, enjoy them! However, we have likely all experienced a dog that just doesn’t seem to fit the mold in one way or another. If we want to find out what our pets truly enjoy we have to conduct a preference test. But if they can’t verbally tell us what they like, how will we know? Well, it’s all in the way we present it.
Check out the how-to steps for preference testing below (in this example, I am using dog-specific items/activities, but this same process of preference testing can apply to all species! You can also try this same process with just food! Here’s an excellent video of Allie showing that process here):
01. Prepare three different options for your pup. For my dog Olivia, I may prepare a snuffle mat, a shreddable cardboard box, and a frozen Toppl with treats inside.
02. In a calm, familiar environment, place all three activities in a space and settle yourself somewhere within eyesight.
03. Observe your dog and try to answer the following questions:
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- Do they check each activity before getting started with one?
- Do they just choose whatever is closest to them?
- What order do they work through the activities?
04. Repeat this process with the same assortment of items two more times on different days. Take note of what your dog picks, in what order, and how much time they spend on each activity.
Once you’ve conducted your test, you can explore options to combine activities! Olivia enjoys chewing a bully stick, so I may put her bully stick inside a paper bag, inside a folded up cardboard box. She not only gets to problem solve and shred, but it ends with her getting to settle in with a chew.
There are additional factors to consider when it comes to preference testing for our pets:
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- Environment – Have you ever noticed that when no one is home, your dog will chew on their bully stick until it’s gone, but when a friend comes over and you offer your dog the bully stick, they completely ignore it? The environment is likely too exciting at this moment for your dog to focus on their chew.
- Energy Levels – If you notice your dog tends to do one activity right before they take a nap, like chewing on a chew toy, they might not be able to perform that activity when they’re bursting with energy!
- Order of activities – Similar to energy levels, sometimes dogs need a de-escalating (or in some cases, escalating) order of activities to be able to focus on each activity.
- Different activities serve different functions! For many dogs, sniffing, chewing, licking, and shredding have calming effects. Activities like puzzle feeders, treat dispenser balls, and physical activities like fetch or flirt pole are typically more energizing. However, dogs are still individuals! For my dog Olivia, shredding tends to be an activity that energizes her, while licking a frozen treat tends to make her sleepy. If I wanted to burn some energy when she’s excited that one of my friends is visiting, I would give her a box to shred. This gives her an appropriate outlet to engage with when she isn’t sure what to do with her excitement. If we’ve just returned from a short walk and I need to hop on a zoom call, I would give Olivia a frozen Toppl to work on transitioning her from wide awake to nap time.
Knowing what your dog’s favorite activities are and how they serve them is a tool every pet owner should have, and will help you build your pet’s enrichment menu! It can be quite a fun discovery too. Try to get creative and let your dog show you what they love!
Now What?
Find three treats or activities your pet enjoys and follow the preference testing steps! Try variations of each activity or treat to see if there’s any changes in preference when you try, say, squeeze cheese vs. applesauce!
Happy training!
Claire