Trained dogs do not give up: Effects of advanced training on the persistence of domestic dogs

Abstract

Prior research with highly trained dogs suggests they may be more successful than pets in independently solving problems when it is possible, yet they may engage in social strategies involving human partners when they face unsolvable tasks. One of the factors underlying these differences may be their persistence, which is usually studied as motivation towards a task. However, highly trained dogs often need to perform lengthy sequences of behaviors with no reinforcement, highlighting the need for research focusing on their performance under extinction conditions. In this sense, persistence can be also examined as resistance to extinction. We compared 26 trained and untrained adult dogs of various breeds and mixes on a gazing task and a non-social problem solving task, each following a pattern of acquisition and then extinction. Results indicate that trained dogs exhibited a greater resistance to extinction than untrained dogs in both tasks. This increase in persistence could be beneficial for their performance, particularly when they need to conduct lengthy chains of behaviors with no immediate reinforcement.