If you had to choose between your favorite food and your favorite toy, which would you choose?

In a scientific survey, only 40 percent of respondents said they would choose their favorite food over toys, the latter include knitting needles and wool, telephones, and video games.

If you choose food, then you're not the only one in the animal kingdom - a new study has found that dogs have a preference for their favorite food over toys.

Dogs may love their toys, but researchers wanted to explore whether they preferred toys over treats and whether they would be an effective training reward.

Study author Nicole Dorey said in a statement, "We were surprised, but no one has studied whether dogs will work for toys or food."

To answer their question, the research team recruited 10 dogs from the local area through social media ads and word of mouth.

The dogs included a variety of breeds and ages, ranging from 11 months to 8 years old.

These dogs were first asked to choose their favorite food and toys. Six toys and six food choices were offered.

Toys included tennis balls, plastic bones, and stuffed toys, and treats included regular snacks, meats, and cheeses.

Favorite toys and treats are then competed for in a simulated training experience.

Nine out of ten dogs responded when food was used as a reward.

The researchers also found that the dogs gave up sooner when they were offered a favorite toy compared to a food reward.

Between toys and food, our canine friends tend to be more motivated by food.

These results could be useful when training dogs. "Understanding a dog's preferred rewards is critical to effectively shaping behavior," the researchers said in their conclusion.

"If you start at a young age, you can train your dog with toys," Dorey said. "That's what search and rescue dogs do, they start using toys as rewards as puppies."

Of course, this outcome is not set in stone, some dogs have a strong food drive and others have a strong drive to explore.

Dog owners need to train their dogs according to the situation for better results and fun.

The team also noted that another factor may also play a role, with other studies finding that dogs may prefer human attention over food.

"We think the next study should cover all three - human attention, food, and toys," Dorey concluded.