'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
BREAKING Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.