Study finds puppies prefer praise over treats

ATLANTA (WLS) -- Puppies love snacks, but not as much as they enjoy the loving praise of their owners.

A study done at Emory University showed that dogs, much like humans, value social reward from their loved ones over an edible treat.

Researchers used MRIs to monitor 13 dog's brain reaction to food versus praise in a series of exercises. Out of those dogs, 11 showed stronger neurological reaction to praise than to food.

The study is one of the first to combine brain-imaging data with behavioral experiments to see what rewards dogs prefer.