Dogs wanted for cultural identity study
The University of Lincoln is seeking dogs for a study that aims to identify whether a dog's cultural identity impacts its behaviour, like it does people.
Lincoln is one of three universities carrying out the study, with Budapest's Eötvös Lóránd University and Vienna's Messerli Research Institute already completing the first two stages of the investigation.
Researchers from Lincoln's School of Life Sciences will be completing the study to discover whether cultural differences exist among dogs from different countries.
The university is appealing for owners to bring their dogs along for play date sessions, which will compare and contrast the dogs' reactions to new, mentally challenging experiences.
Daniel Mills, from the university, said: "This collaboration is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the dog/owner bond on cognitive performance and we are really keen for owners to help us, as the results could be very wide-reaching implications for how we study things like the intelligence of animals in general."
The researchers are seeking medium-large sized pure-breed dogs, such as border collies, labrador retrievers, cocker spaniels and huskies. The dogs must be at least one year old and be kept as mainly indoor pets. They must also have the potential to be motivated to work for food.
Sessions will take place between January 10 and March 25, 2013, at the university's Riseholme campus. If you are interested in taking part with your dog, contact Dóra Szabó via email.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
