Social interaction can function as a reinforcer for dogs: Effects of stimulus duration and session parameters. 2023

Erica N Feuerbacher, and Caitlin Togher, and Jonathan E Friedel
Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA.

Prior research has produced mixed results on whether human social interaction can function as a reinforcer for dog behavior. However, that research used either short durations of social interaction or rapid, repeated trials such that satiation could have been a factor. We investigated whether two durations of social interaction (30 s or 4 s petting plus vocal praise) would maintain more responding than extinction, than each other, or than food. We limited each session to 10 trials and temporally spaced sessions within and across days. Both durations of social interaction produced more responding than extinction, but there was no difference in responding between the two social interaction durations. When we compared responding in food sessions to 30-s and 4-s social interaction sessions, we could not determine differences in responses emitted per session for two dogs due to ceiling effects, but the third dog doubled her responding when food was provided. Additionally, latencies in food sessions for all dogs were significantly lower than expected from a random sampling of latencies. Our results suggest both durations of social interaction can function as a reinforcer, especially when delivered sporadically, but they are still not as effective as food as a reinforcer for most dogs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260 Female Females
D005502 Food Substances taken in by the body to provide nourishment. Foods
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000083505 Social Interaction Process involving reciprocal response between two or more individuals. This includes the development of cooperation and competition, the influence of status and social roles, and the dynamics of group behavior, leadership, and conformity. Persistent social interaction between specific individuals leads to the formation of social relationships. Social Functioning,Functioning, Social,Functionings, Social,Interaction, Social,Social Functionings
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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