Three Things to Know
Researchers sought to determine whether verbal praise is as effective as clicker training in teaching shelter dogs the basic command “sit”.
The study found that dogs trained with verbal praise learned the “sit” command more quickly than those trained with a clicker, although all dogs eventually acquired the skill.
Furthermore, the study revealed that untrained dogs maintained the “sit” position longer in familiar environments with familiar trainers, highlighting the importance of consistency in training settings and handlers.
The Full Picture
Many stray dogs end up in shelters, where poor conditions and lack of socialization can hinder their adoption. Studies indicate that adopters prioritize traits such as friendliness, sociability, and obedience, yet many dogs remain untrained, leading to stress, behavioral issues, and decreased appeal to potential adopters.
To increase adoption rates, some shelters employ training methods like behavior modification and socialization to prepare dogs for diverse social settings. While clicker training has been widely used, recent research suggests that food and verbal rewards may be equally or more effective training tools. This study, titled “Obedience training helps encourage potential owners to adopt shelter dogs,” aimed to compare the effectiveness of these alternative methods to traditional clicker training in shelter dog training.
Study Methods
Researchers conducted three experiments on 37 randomly selected shelter dogs to evaluate the effectiveness of two training methods: verbal praise with treats and clicker training with treats. These experiments assessed the dogs’ ability to learn the “sit” command, recall commands, and adapt to changes in environment and trainer.
Study Results
Experiment 1 Objective, Procedures and Results
Objective: To measure how long it takes for a dog to sit without a verbal command.
Procedure: Nine dogs were individually leashed by a familiar trainer. A stranger stood one meter away, and a recorder, three meters away, timed the dog’s voluntary sit (up to 60 seconds). Any attempt to sit was rewarded with verbal praise and a treat, but only a full sit stopped the timer. After each trial, the stranger left for 30 seconds. The process was repeated an hour later with the recorder becoming the stranger.
Results: The dogs’ latency to sit decreased steadily across the first 10-trial session, indicating learning. The average latency further decreased in the second 10-trial session performed one hour later. While most dogs showed similar performance, individual differences in learning rate were observed.
Experiment 2 Objective, Procedures and Results
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of verbal praise and clicker training in teaching shelter dogs to sit.
Procedure: Twelve dogs were randomly assigned to either a verbal praise or clicker training group. Each dog underwent ten trials, repeated after a two-day break. For verbal praise, the trainer (a stranger) used “good dog!” and a treat; for clicker training, a clicker sound preceded the treat. If a dog did not sit within 60 seconds, the trial was paused, and the trainer left for 30 seconds before using a lure technique.
Results: Dogs in the verbal praise group consistently sat faster than those in the clicker group. Both groups showed a learning effect, with decreased latency and standard deviation across trials. These findings suggest that verbal praise combined with treats may be a more efficient method for teaching shelter dogs to sit.
Experiment 3 Objective, Procedures and Results
Objective: To assess the impact of training and environmental factors on a dog’s ability to maintain a sitting position.
Procedure: Over five days, sixteen dogs (eight trained, eight untrained) were tested in four conditions: familiar trainer/familiar location, familiar trainer/unfamiliar location, unfamiliar trainer/familiar location, and unfamiliar trainer/unfamiliar location. Each dog’s sitting duration was recorded for up to 15 minutes.
Results:
Trained vs. Untrained Dogs: Trained dogs consistently outperformed untrained dogs in maintaining a sitting position across all conditions. On average, trained dogs sat for nearly 10 minutes, while untrained dogs sat for only about 3 minutes and 24 seconds. Both groups fell short of the 15-minute target, but trained dogs were significantly closer.
Environmental and Trainer Influence: For untrained dogs, familiarity with the environment and trainer played a crucial role in their ability to maintain a sitting position. They exhibited the longest sitting duration in a familiar environment with a familiar trainer. However, changes in either the environment or the trainer, particularly the latter, led to a decrease in sitting duration.
Prior training and familiarity with the handler and environment significantly influence a dog’s ability to maintain a sitting position. Untrained dogs, especially, are sensitive to changes in their surroundings and handler.
Conclusion
This study challenges the prevailing notion of clicker training as the superior method for shelter dogs, demonstrating that traditional verbal praise and reward can be equally or more effective. Unlike previous studies, this research specifically focused on shelter dogs and their response to different reinforcement methods in varying environmental and social contexts. Results showed that dogs trained with verbal praise learned to sit faster and maintained the position longer than those trained with a clicker. It also aligns with a previous study which suggested that human voice and presence positively influence shelter dogs.
Moreover, the study confirmed the impact of environmental and handler familiarity on dog behavior. Untrained dogs held the “sit” position longest in a familiar setting with a familiar trainer, with performance decreasing in unfamiliar environments or with unknown handlers. Notably, changing the trainer affected sit duration more than changing the location, suggesting that consistent handler-dog interaction fosters stronger responses. This finding supports recommendations that shelter training programs should ideally involve familiar trainers to maximize obedience outcomes.
By prioritizing consistent human-dog interactions and employing effective reinforcement methods, shelters can improve the trainability and adoptability of shelter dogs, ultimately reducing their time in shelters and increasing successful adoptions.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
–
Year of Publication:
2024
External Link:
Karina Tunaitytė, Vytautas Ribikauskas, Jūratė Kučinskienė, Obedience training helps encourage potential owners to adopt shelter dogs, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 75, 2024, Pages 54-61, ISSN 1558-7878, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2024.07.001