Is Your Dog More "On The Ball" Than You Think?

• Main Authors: McGhan, Mariah, Strobel, Kathryn, Jaeger, Katlyn
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato 2019
• Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2019/poster-session-B/25

Human-animal interactions play a significant role in our everyday lives. There are numerous interspecific interactions between humans and non-human animals, yet none are more striking than the social relationship that exists with the domesticated dog. Dogs were among the earliest species to be domesticated, with evidence of purpose-bred breeding dating back approximately 14,000 years. Each of these breed purposes potentially pose a wide variety of cognitive demands on the dogs that may ultimately influence brain organization and evolution. Recently, the systematic assessment of cognitive abilities in domestic dogs has gained interest in the fields of psychology and cognitive science. This study aims to examine cognitive abilities in the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) utilizing citizen science research methodology. Specifically, here we seek to (1) assess the public perception of the cognitive abilities in their dogs and (2) raise awareness through active participation in dog cognition research from the perspectives of psychology and cognitive science. Furthermore, this research will increase our understanding of (3) brain-behavior relationships in dogs and (4) provide insight into brain organization and evolution. This research will also help to (5) highlight possible varying sizes in brain structures between individual dog breeds. Currently we are collecting data through an online survey and establishing connections with participants for the citizen science portion of this study.