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Yeah, the hard part is just that cats have different motivations than dogs. Dogs will do something just because they know you want them to do it and you are abo

Yeah, the hard part is just that cats have different motivations than dogs. Dogs will do something just because they know you want them to do it and you are above them in the pack. They are also more likely to be food motivated. One of my cats is very food motivated. She will always come running for the word "treat". One of them is extremely not food motivated. He gets excited when I say treat because the other cats get excited and he loves excitement. But when the treats are dispensed, he might eat one, maybe. The first cat will usually finish his. He's motivated by attention. He will come when called by his name, just because he knows you will pick him up and snuggle him. Of course, this also means that if he's bored, he quite quickly learns what you don't want him to touch or jump on, and will do it just so you go after him for it.

pmoriarty 10y ago
"Dogs will do something just because they know you want them to do it and you are above them in the pack. They are also more likely to be food motivated." Dr. John Pilley, who trained his dog Chaser to learn over 1000 words and even syntax (like the difference between "To ball take Frisbee" and "To Frisbee take ball")[1], said Chaser is best motivated by play. "My last words to the class were to remind them that play was Chaser’s reward. I told them that they should always reward their dogs for good behavior by playing with them and petting and praising them. We all learn better and faster when learning is fun."[2] [1] - https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/how-to-teach-language-to-dogs/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/how-to-teach-... [2] - http://www.chaserthebordercollie.com/the-book?_escaped_fragment_=# http://www.chaserthebordercollie.com/the-book?_escaped_fragm...!
- cowpewter 10y ago
  That is super cool. So perhaps amend my statement to something like, "all animals have different motivations, and the best way to train one involves finding the strongest motivation for that individual."
- int_19h 10y ago
  Some dogs are more reward-motivated (not necessarily food - some like to be pet more), others are motivated by pleasing the owners. But either way, dogs are better conditioned to obey commands for the sake of something they like. Not really surprising, since that's what we've been selectively breeding them for, unlike cats.

pmoriarty 10y ago

"Dogs will do something just because they know you want them to do it and you are above them in the pack. They are also more likely to be food motivated." Dr. John Pilley, who trained his dog Chaser to learn over 1000 words and even syntax (like the difference between "To ball take Frisbee" and "To Frisbee take ball")[1], said Chaser is best motivated by play. "My last words to the class were to remind them that play was Chaser’s reward. I told them that they should always reward their dogs for good behavior by playing with them and petting and praising them. We all learn better and faster when learning is fun."[2] [1] - https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/how-to-teach-language-to-dogs/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/how-to-teach-... [2] - http://www.chaserthebordercollie.com/the-book?_escaped_fragment_=# http://www.chaserthebordercollie.com/the-book?_escaped_fragm...!

cowpewter 10y ago
That is super cool. So perhaps amend my statement to something like, "all animals have different motivations, and the best way to train one involves finding the strongest motivation for that individual."
int_19h 10y ago
Some dogs are more reward-motivated (not necessarily food - some like to be pet more), others are motivated by pleasing the owners. But either way, dogs are better conditioned to obey commands for the sake of something they like. Not really surprising, since that's what we've been selectively breeding them for, unlike cats.