What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to understand how free-ranging dogs prioritize different rewards when interacting with humans.

May 22, 2026Ethology

Food, Affection and Gaze: Which Cues Do Free‐Ranging Dogs Prioritise for Engaging With Humans?

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Randomized trial investigates interaction cues in free-ranging dogs, suggesting prioritization of food over social contact.

The aim is to understand how free-ranging dogs prioritize different rewards when interacting with humans.
Investigated 150 free-ranging dogs in West Bengal, India, using a between-subjects design.
Offered five types of rewards: high-value food, low-value food, petting, human gaze, and human presence.
Measured outcomes included number of rewards accepted, approach latency, duration of proximity, and behavior via a Socialization Index.
High-value food was the main driver of dog approach behavior and sustained interaction.
Petting elicited higher Socialization Index scores but led to quicker satiation compared to food.
Human gaze maintained dog attention longer than human presence alone.

Nandi et al. (2026) studied this question.

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