Uncover the patterns of individual differences in dog cognition
Research in the last two decades has yielded remarkable insights into the minds of dogs. Most notably, dogs have been shown to possess a variety of human-like social skills not commonly reported in other nonhuman animals. In contrast, dogs’ abilities for reasoning about the physical world appear to be comparatively unremarkable. Despite these species-level characterizations, individual dogs vary tremendously in their behavior and cognition. Most research to date has focused on describing general features of dog cognition, and individual differences have largely been treated as ‘error variance’. I will describe a line of research that aims to uncover the patterns of individual differences in dog cognition, and to systematically understand these patterns in terms of variance in multiple independent cognitive constructs. I will first compare the patterns of individual differences in dogs, nonhuman apes, and human children, and discuss the implications of these data for understanding dog cognitive evolution. I will then turn to how the study of individual differences in dog cognition can be applied to real world problems to identify dogs well matched to various working roles (e.g. assistance dogs, explosive detection dogs).
Course Objectives:
- Overview of the dog’s ability to possibly “reason” and the fact that individual dogs appear to vary tremendously in cognitive abilities.
- Examine a line of research that aims to uncover the patterns of individual differences in dog cognition.
- Compare the patterns of individual differences in dogs, nonhuman apes, and human children, and discuss the implications of these data for understanding dog cognitive evolution.
- Learn how the individual differences in dog cognition can be applied to real world problems to identify dogs well matched to various working roles (e.g. assistance dogs, explosive detection dogs).
Speaker: Evan MacLean, PhD
Available as a recording.
NOTE: Both the Live and the Recording are approved for the same amount of CEUs.
Cost: $25.00
CEU’s Available:
2 IAABC CEU’s
2 CCPDT CEU’s
2 ABCDT-L2 CEU’s
2 NADOI CEU’s
2 PPAB/PPG
Members of APDT, CCPDT, IAABC, ABCDT-L2 or NADOI receive over 25% off.All Lecture Series Webinars are only $18.00 each. See instructions below on how to find the password to take part in this professional discount.
IAABC members, Click HERE to apply your discount.
Email cheryl@e-trainingfordogs for the passcode.
NADOI, CCPDT, ABCDT-L2, PPG, IACP and APDT members, click HERE to apply for your discount.
Email cheryl@e-trainingfordogs for the passcode.