Is it possible for a dog to enjoy certain types/levels of pain, to the point where the more something hurts, the more it motivates/drives them on?

__________________

I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
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if you want motivation, wouldn't using mega high value rewards be more effective?

not something i would do personally but what scenario are you imagining using pain as a motivator for?

I didn't mention training at all.

Im asking if its possible for a dog to derive its own enjoyment/motivation from painful experiences.

__________________

I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down

Pain causes stress and the chemical effects of which can be 'addictive' in all mammals as its the same system. Think of adrenaline junkies etc.

Pain is also associated with arousal (part of the stress response) and yes intensity of response may increase in its wake.

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

Straining against a collar when "pulling" can cause stress reaction which blocks the discomfort, if this becomes the way to get to the park, perhaps in keenness it pushes itself harder and through pain.

Dogs can be very stoic, there's a story of a sheep dog winning a trial after breaking a leg the day before (perfect score)! No idea if it's true though.

So would you say its possible for a dog to go out and seek that "high"?

__________________

I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down

I would say that anything is possible but I might yes if I had more info as to the context.

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

Ah sorry, I thought you were talking from a training point of view.

I'm trying to picture a scenario where pain could be a motivator and coming up a bit short.

If a dog chases a deer and gets hurt trying to take it down (for example) I would think it would be the thrill of the chase / prey drive that would motivate it to continue, not the pain.

If a dog chases a squirrel and is being shocked by a collar but continues to chase anyway, I'm sure it would be the prey drive not the pain that is the motivator - although perhaps the pain would add to the adrenaline?

I'm not sure whether 'pain = something that is enjoyable' is a bit of a human concept.

Can you suggest a scenario?

Am sure more knowledgable people than me will be along with a better idea!

(ah they already did lol. i am slow today!)

Think of stressful things causing a "heightened state", if it becomes habituated then the feeling becomes in itself rewarding.

I would think a dog overstressed by owners exciting it into too much "Fetch!" might fit. After a while the dog actually might seek out the hyper-active state, as I understand it. That might explain dogs running round maniacally "playing" which don't switch off and such, despite physical exhaustion, or over-use injury.

I read of dogs becoming Chilli addicts for example, thanks to use of it as a taste-aversive, Capsicain actually is an irritant which we habituate ourselves to and then enjoy.

but are we then talking about pain in a 'tired/stressed/exhausted' way which might lead to injury because the dog can't stop (eg hyper state) or are we talking a physical pain that might motivate the dog?