Barkology: Unleash your dogs potential

Author: Angelique de Kock & Chantal Karyta

Join Angelique and Chantal, two passionate dog behavior consultants, as they embark on a journey into the world of dogs, exploring their behavior, training and well-being. Theyre here to help you unlock your dogs full potential and provide and life filled with love, joy and harmony.
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Language: en

Genres: Kids & Family, Pets & Animals

Contact email: Get it

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Research Bite: Contrafreeloading & Why Dogs Work for Food When It’s Free?
Sunday, 29 December, 2024

In this episode of the Barkology Podcast, Chantal and Angelique dive into the fascinating world of contrafreeloading—a behavioral phenomenon where animals choose to work for food even when identical, freely available food is present. Drawing insights from the research, we explore: - The surprising findings from research on contrafreeloading in dogs. - How factors like stimulus changes and environment influence dogs’ preferences. - Why some dogs engage with puzzle feeders while others go straight for the free meal. - Practical ways to use this knowledge to improve your dog’s mental stimulation and well-being. References: Rothkoff, L., Feng, L., & Byosiere, S. E. (2024). Domestic pet dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) do not show a preference to contrafreeload, but are willing. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1314. Osborne, S. R. (1977). The free food (contrafreeloading) phenomenon: A review and analysis. Animal Learning & Behavior, 5(3), 221-235.