Chasing solutions: A response to Bastos et al. (2024).

Abstract

Two sentence summary: In this response to a recent commentary by Bastos et al. (2024) on our study showing a superiority of aversive over positive reinforcement training to inhibit chasing in dogs under specific conditions, we emphasize three points: (1) failing to inhibit chasing can result in injuries and fatalities to dogs and people, (2) dog owners want and need rapid solutions (more time-consuming approaches are less likely to be implemented), and (3) the existing literature favoring positive reinforcement is based on correlational and quasi-experimental methods that cannot determine causality.