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Do you believe in dog? 2016

Showing posts with label Project: Play with your dog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Project: Play with your dog. Show all posts

21 January 2014

2014: Canine Science For All

2014: Canine Science For All

Wendy74ca's photostream used with permission via Crazy and Little
Hi Mia!

I couldn’t agree with you more! It has been a long time since we chatted about what we’re up to. 

2014 is off to a great start, apart from the fact that it is your summer and my winter. I will always see that as unfair. Keep in mind you started us on this path of “weather comparisons” by posting  that covetous picture of the dog chillin’ in the sun with lemonade. 

Life on the East Coast couldn’t be any different. I raise you with a video of dogs playing in the snow. ;)


These are the cards I’m playing with in 2014:

Playtime at the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab
Last year we started Project: Play With Your Dog looking at inter-specific play behaviors between dogs and their owners. We received oodles of videos (because that’s a scientific number) from around the globe and are getting a handle on the nuanced behaviors of dogs and their owners. More to come on that this year!

Project do-the-PhD is a GO
You’ll be getting full-on PhD support from me; I want to see those salivary cortisol meta-analysis results! I recently jumped into the PhD boat at the Animal Behavior and Comparative Psychology program at CUNY. My supervisor is Diana Reiss who investigates animal cognition and communication in a number of species, although dolphins have been her focus. Looking forward to all that’s to come in this area!

Writing dogs
I’m keeping the pencil to the paper as much as possible and writing for The Bark, Dog Spies at Scientific American and most recently The Dodo with Think Your Dog Has A "Guilty" Look? Think Again. I’ve written a lot on this topic, and I’m happy it seems to be reaching more hands. And there’s also the audio version 'Anthropomorphism: Are we guilty?' thanks to you all at Human Animal Science! 

My first piece for The Dodo
Talking dogs
Interest in canine research has only grown since we met at the 3rd Canine Science Forum in 2012. Last year, I got to cover The Science and Politics of Anthropomorphism and Contextualizing Canine Behavior and Cognition Research at APDT 2013. 

This March, I’m looking forward to speaking at the 2nd Canine Science Symposium: A Day of Dog Research in San Francisco with other researchers from UF Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab / the Canine Science Collaboratory at ASU. 


Excited to keep trucking along in canine behavior and cognition and see what 2014 brings. As you said, we’ve been meeting a lot of researchers in the field, and highlighting others’ research here at DYBID? has been very well-received. Looking forward to more of that.
 
Here’s to a dog-filled New Year!

 Julie
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The Dodo

21 January 2013

When coping is not enough

When coping is not enough


Hi Julie,

Snapshot from Project: Play with your Dog's 'Wall of Contributors'
I’m so pleased to hear that Project: Play with Your Dog is going well. I’ve enjoyed watching the wall of contributors grow and it’s awesome that The Bark featured the research project – but then, why wouldn't they? It’s a fantastic project!

As you mentioned, I’ve been keeping busy getting organised for my presentation at next month’s RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar. This event is held annually and brings together a wide range of speakers to share the latest knowledge relating to animal welfare research and practices with other academics, industry representatives and anyone else who is interested in coming along to listen. 

The day features a range of talks based around one central theme. These themes (such as ‘How much space does an elephant need? The impact of confinement on animal welfare’) are notoriously designed to cover a range of opinions and promote debate. I've certainly witnessed many spirited discussions between speakers and audience members in previous years.

This year’s theme is:

‘When coping is not enough - Promoting positive welfare states in animals’.
(source)
I’m excited about the day and looking forward to hearing the keynote presentation by Dr James Yeates from RSPCA UK. Yeates has published discussion papers in the scientific literature surrounding the recent introduction of the term ‘a life worth living’ in reports arising from farm animal welfare discussions and policy. 

Dr James Yeates (source)

As we’ve talked about previously, animal welfare can be tricky to measure and defining what makes for ‘good’ animal welfare, or a life worth living, in quantitative terms that can be applied in real-world policy and industry applications, is no easy task for scientists.


It will be great to listen to James speak about this area that really applies to how we consider all animals. He’s also making a couple of stops around Australia’s East coast to give a free public lecture titled How happy does an animal have to be (and how can we tell)? to others who are interested and unable to make it to Canberra.

The other person to speak to the day’s theme is Professor David Mellor who is based in New Zealand. I have always enjoyed listening to him speak at previous conferences.

I will tell you more about Mellor's research and what I’ll be speaking about at the Scientific Seminar next time. 

 For now, I hope you’ll forgive me, but I have to go and play with my dogs,
FOR SCIENCE!

Mia

 p.s. Tell Josh I said G'day!

 Further reading:

Yeates J. (2011). Is 'a life worth living' a concept worth having?, Animal Welfare, 20 (3) 397-406. Link: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ufaw/aw/2011/00000020/00000003/art00009

 Yeates J. (2012). Quality Time: Temporal and Other Aspects of Ethical Principles Based on a “Life Worth Living”, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 25 (4) 607-624. DOI:

© Mia Cobb 2012


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when coping is not enough

15 January 2013

The feeling of play

The feeling of play

(Source)
Hi there Mia,

 2013 is looking pretty good! I loved your recent post on motor, sensory and structural aspects of laterality in dogs. This is the type of research that gets me going. Who would think any information could come from this, and then... Tada!!!
Dogs with clockwise chest whorls were more likely 'right-pawed'

Feels like play
Project: Play with Your Dog is going well! We’re getting loads of submissions from people across the globe, and we'll be collecting submissions through Spring 2013. It’s exciting that people are opening up and sharing little tidbits into how they interact with their dogs. 

Bark magazine blogger, JoAnna Lou recently gave the study a shout out, and that has definitely resulted in the submission of more videos!


(Source)
One of the best parts of watching the videos is seeing all the different ways that dogs and people enjoy one another. Play is such a unique exchange, and from one dyad to the next, it can look so different. One reason that play is so varied is that play pulls from so many different cognitive arenas like memory, attention, synchronized behavior and timing. Play between dogs and people can sometimes look so fluid that it’s almost like watching water ballet (not that I watch much water ballet). Some play incorporates routines like tug, chase or fetch, and other players create their own rituals and activities.

The feeling of anticipation
The other thing I love about play is the overarching feelings of excitement, joy and anticipation -- with anticipation probably being my favorite. Play with my cat Josh is mostly about anticipation (And as you know, Josh is behind the world famous Tumblr page, http://thingsmycatbroke.tumblr.com. The page hasn’t been updated in a month, which is probably a good thing). 

(Source)
At various times in the day, Josh will dash into the bedroom, bound onto the bed, and assume his crouching pose that indicates -- It’s play time! Come and get me! When I jump up, he takes off running down the hall. I get a kick out of it, and based on his behavior, I assume he gets a kick out of it too.

In fact, play is often used as an indicator of “positive welfare.” How do we know whether an animal -- or a group of animals -- is doing well, feeling good, and generally happy? How do we explore their welfare? If animals have the time, energy and overall fitness to play, it's often assumed their basic biological functions and physiological needs are met. So a playing animal could indicate that an animal is doing well physiologically and emotionally.

Mia, you’re preparing to speak on the topic of emotional states and working dogs at a really interesting conference organized by RSPCA Australia: When coping is not enough - Promoting positive welfare states in animals. Do working dogs get time to play? What else will you be talking about? Tell tell!

Happy 2013! Let play (and happiness) reign!

 Julie

Reference
Boissy A., Manteuffel G., Jensen M.B., Moe R.O., Spruijt B., Keeling L.J., Winckler C., Forkman B., Dimitrov I. & Langbein J. & (2007). Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare, Physiology & Behavior, 92 (3) 375-397. DOI:

© Julie Hecht 2013
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thingsmycatbroke

18 December 2012

'Tis the season to be Doggy, fa la la la laaaa...

'Tis the season to be Doggy, fa la la la laaaa...

Hey Julie,

 I absolutely LOVE Project: Play with your Dog study and how the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab are crowd sourcing using citizen science! I don't think a better way of contributing to scientific understanding can possibly exist! I look forward to hearing updates about how the research goes. I will certainly participate - next time we head to the river to play, we'll take our camera to get some video!

So you might have noticed the silly season of festivity has landed upon us... Assuming we live past Friday (and I really hope we do, because Friday is my birthday and I selfishly want the fun of a full birthday!) I thought I'd look at some ideas that might inspire gifts for the two- and four-legged doggy friends and family members in our life.


(source)
1. Read about a Dog

 I have been re-reading Inside of a Dog recently and thoroughly enjoying it (again). 

 This book would make a fantastic gift for anyone who would like to understand more about dogs, the science looking at dogs, how it all fits together and is relevant to our shared encounters with dogs.
(source)

 2. Give a Dog

After all those posts about the science of children and dogs I do think every child should have a dog. 

But make sure it's an appropriate dog. 
(source)

(source)
Not every household or child is suited to owning a real dog, but that can't stop you giving that special little person in your life a gorgeous handmade pooch! 
Here are some I fell in love with on Etsy.

(source)
(source)


3. Holiday with a dog
(source)
It's Summertime in Australia right now and my dogs love nothing more than coming away on holiday/vacation with us to the beach. What better way to show your dog you've enjoyed their company than to include them on your trip away?

 Winter escapes can be fun for dogs too!
(source)

It's easier than you might think to find pet-friendly accommodation in your favourite holiday destination. 

Just head to favourite online search engine and enter 'pet friendly accommodation *insert district name here*'. 
Alternatively just ask normal rental options if they'll allow you to bring a 4-legged friend. You might be surprised how many places will say yes if you just enquire and give them some reassurance that your dog will respect the house rules!
(source)
(source)

 4. Save a Dog


You can impress your dog loving friends or family members by donating money to your local welfare, shelter or dog rescue group in lieu of a gift. Who really needs another recipe book when the same amount of money could help pay for care to help save a 4-legged life?
 I do love Giddy and Twinkle's words of wisdom! (source)
If you really need a gift to wrap, most of these non-profit, volunteer-driven organisations have calendars they sell to help raise funds.




5. Spend time with a Dog
(source)

 At the end of the day, most of our dogs just want to spend time with us. 

 So take time this festive season to go for that extra walk, give that extra pat, groom or game of fetch (depending on what your dog likes and if it is a game, be sure to take a video and submit it to help science!). 

 If you don't have a dog, consider volunteering at your local shelter or welfare group. The festive season is an insanely busy period for these places and they are often overrun with dogs who have strayed while their owners are away, who are scared of fireworks or who have been dumped. 
(source)
Just volunteering your time to help clean, feed, walk and care for half a day or three could make a huge difference to the dedicated staff. These people tend to miss out on Christmas lunch with their families or New Year's Eve partying year after year because they nobly spend it looking after our 4-legged friends.



So there you have it - my top 5 gift ideas for two- and four-legged friends this silly season. What's on your gift list?

Wishing you and yours a safe and fun festive season this year Julie.
Here's hoping we all make it past Friday and if we do, I'm sure 2013 is going to be a cracker!

 Fa la la la laaaa, la la la laa!

 x Mia 

Further reading:

Sitler R.K. (2006). The 2012 Phenomenon New Age Appropriation of an Ancient Mayan Calendar, Nova Religio, 9 (3) 24-38. DOI:

© Mia Cobb 2012
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