Why Do Dogs Value Their Rewards So Highly?

[Simply Grand]

How did I miss all these great comments on my own question?

Huski, thank you for the link to your blog, I think my thoughts are along the lines of what you are saying, it's the reward experience, not just the reward item that they work for.

I absolutely think that the inclination to 'work with their human' has to be developed. Building value in what we can provide and, going back to NILIF, 'you can have stuff but you have to earn it' is beneficial to our dogs and ourselves.

I also like the oxytocin study, which seems to indicate that it feels good for both us and our dogs to achieve something we ask and work together to achieve :)