'Earning their Ph-Dog': B.C. researchers seek canines for cognition study
Researchers out of the University of British Columbia are looking for participants in a new study — but in order to qualify, they must have four legs and enjoy belly rubs.
In a news release, UBC's Vancouver campus says it has opened a human-animal interaction lab and will soon be inviting dogs and their owners to engage in canine cognition research.
"The goal is to uncover knowledge about why dogs do the things they do and how do we determine the individual differences of specific dogs," says the lab's director Dr. Alexandra (Sasha) Protopopova in the release.
Researchers say investigating dog cognition could help them discover new knowledge that will improve animal shelter practices and therapy dog programs.
"We'll also conduct studies on animal-assisted interventions using trained therapy dogs to benefit the well-being of dogs working in assistance roles, as well as refining methods of using therapy dogs in educational settings for the benefit of both the child and dog," researchers say.
The canine lab has undergone safety inspections by UBC veterinarians and is outfitted with 360-degree cameras, as well as a two-way mirror with an observation room next door.
Dog toys and other homey touches have been added to the space to make the laboratory feel more warm and inviting.
"The comfort of the animal is a priority," says Protopopova. "Our work is completely non-invasive, and we take that very seriously. All research is made to benefit the welfare of animals and the dogs that come in."
Protopopova says while many different studies will take place in the lab, the main goal is to understand the differences in dog cognition, in terms of both breed differences and individual differences.
"We take a behavioural angle to our research and look for differences between dogs on a small-scale level," she says. "For example, we will be looking at how dogs interact with the world and what kinds of differences we might observe in fundamental aspects of their learning, like speed of knowledge acquisition and how quickly or slowly the dog might engage with a new item."
Protopopova says an example of a cognitive experiment they could run involves the "touch" command, where a pooch is taught to touch its nose to the palm of the owner's hand. Researchers then would change the rules by having the dog learn to touch both palms of the owner's hands and then monitor how long it takes the pup to adapt to the new rules.
Researchers add that it won't just be up to the owner on whether or not to participate in the study, but the dog too.
"It’s important for us to ask the dogs if they would like to participate in the same way we would invite children to participate in studies," she says. "While we have consent forms for the owner, we also have assent procedures for the dog as well, just like we would have for children. The dogs are always given the opportunity to engage and re-engage in the experiment. If the dog does not want to go forward, or if we observe any stress signs, we let the owner know and immediately stop the experiment."
All pups are rewarded with a certificate, graduation cap and sash, regardless if they finish or not.
"We like to think of it as earning their Ph-Dog," says Protopopova.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.