How do dogs learn? A Luther professor on Thursday begins a research project on that topic

Starting Thursday, Luther College psychology professor Kristy Gould will be putting at least 30 dogs through a series of tests designed to test how dogs learn.

Gould is partnering with Knox College biologist Jennifer Templeton to run tests to determine how dogs get information from humans about what they should be doing.

She says there are at least two possibilities to explain why dogs do a good job of picking up cues from humans--that either dogs have been bred over the centuries to have those skills, or that while they might be primed to follow cues, they need to learn how to do that.  If the second possibility is the case, then Gould and Templeton want to learn how dogs pick up those skills.

The two will be conducting experiments on the cognitive abilities of shelter dogs as one group and family-owned dogs as another group, to learn why family-owned dogs, as a whole, are better than shelter dogs at picking up human cues.  The two are especially interested in finding training techniques that will make shelter dogs more likely to be adopted.  That information could be useful to animal shelters, where shelter volunteers could teach those skills to the dogs at the shelters.

So far 32 Decorah area residents have agreed to bring their dogs to Luther College to run through one hour's worth of tests while being videotaped while the dogs are given simple problems to solve.  Gould says she would appreciate being contacted by people who provide foster care to shelter dogs, to see whether those dogs are closer in habits to the shelter dogs or the family-owned dogs.

It will take only one hour of time, with the date and time flexible.  Those participating will have their have put into a drawing for a $100 Petsmart gift certificate.  Contact Kristy Gould at (563) 419-3738 or goulkr01@luther.edu.

Luther College psychology professor Kristy Gould

Knox College biology professor Jennifer Templeton