Contrafreeloading

How it works

It is frequently quoted as evidence that dogs would rather work for their food than be given it. The dog evidence is narrower than that. In the study most often cited, dogs were willing to work while free food sat a few feet away, but they generally cleared the free bowl first. That still supports feeding through puzzles and foraging, as something dogs will readily do rather than as something they prefer to a bowl.

What it looks like

A dog is offered a bowl of kibble and a snuffle mat holding the same kibble a few feet away. They empty the bowl first, then go to the mat and work the rest out of the fabric rather than walking away from it.

Commonly confused with

Foraging

Foraging is the behavior of searching for food. Contrafreeloading is a research finding about when animals choose to do it, specifically when easier food is available at the same time.

Related terms