Preference and motivation tests can facilitate animals in captivity to express different priorities. The motivation can be assessed by having the animals “pay an entry cost” (e.g. push a weighted door) that increases with time to get access to a resource. The highest price that the animals are willing to pay for this resource is called “the maximum price paid”.

In this study, the preference and motivation of bush dogs were assessed. The bush dog is a small and rather unknown neo-tropical canid.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the maximum price paid for a preferred food type in a group of bush dogs kept at Kolmården Wildlife Park.