ANNENBERG PETSPACE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE EXPLORES THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE HUMAN-DOG RELATIONSHIP ON NATIONAL PET DAY

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Apr 11, 2022, 13:30 ET

Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits and Future of Human-Dog Interactions is a collection of interdisciplinary articles examining how humans are reshaping our relationship with dogs and the possibilities for future research about the human-canine connection

PLAYA VISTA, Calif., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Leadership Institute released an e-book today, aggregating a collection of comprehensive articles centering on the state of human-dog interactions and the future of those studies. The compilation, titled "Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits and Future of Human-Dog Interactions," is available as a free download through the international peer-reviewed journal, Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Cover of Newly Published E-Book "Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits and Future of Human-Dog Interactions"

Several influential researchers in the human-animal interaction field contributed to this publication as part of their participation in the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Leadership Institute, including Mia Cobb, Alexandra Horowitz, Evan MacLean, Sandra McCune, Cindy Otto, James Serpell, and Clive Wynne, among others.

"Our bond with dogs is undeniable. We saw this underscored during the coronavirus pandemic," said Sandra McCune, Visiting Professor at the University of Lincoln. "From a sharp increase in dog ownership to using working dogs to sniff out the COVID-19 virus, the benefits of the human-dog connection have taken center stage. This compilation is a timely examination of our relationship with dogs and urges further exploration of how we can improve the lives of both humans and canines. Equally important, various authors also encourage researchers to consider "both ends of the leash" regarding studies, dog training, and welfare."

The collection explores the historical origins of the human-dog relationship, the training and selection of working dogs, the positive effects that working and companion dogs have on human health, the welfare of working dogs, and ways we can improve research on domestic canine science.

"Furthering our understanding of the human-animal bond is the heart of our mission," said Gabrielle Amster, Director at Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. "We are proud to support the interdisciplinary convening of some of the best minds on the subject and sponsor the publication of this e-book so that others can benefit from these important collaborations. This collection provides innovative ideas on how both humans and canines can mutually benefit from our unique connection."

The articles included were published individually between 2020 and 2021 following the second convening of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Leadership Institute in early March 2020. The retreat provided an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration between well-known and upcoming researchers. The papers in this collection provide a detailed treatment of key topics surrounding canine science discussed by the fellows during this retreat. Sponsored by Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, this anthology aims to contribute to the current standard of understanding of human-animal interaction and suggest future directions in applied research.

Contributing authors to this work include:

Sandra Barker, Virginia Commonwealth University
Emily Bray, Arizona Canine Cognition Center
Frances Chen, Cellular Longevity, Inc.
Mia Cobb, Monash University
Aubrey Fine, Cal State Polytechnic University
Nancy Gee, Virginia Commonwealth University
Nathan Hall, Texas Tech University
Jessica Hekman, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Harold Herzog, Western Carolina University
Alexandra Horowitz, Barnard College
Angie Johnston, Boston College
Elinor Karlsson, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Eldin Alfred Leighton, Canine Genetic Services, LLC

Brittney Logan, Karlsson Lab at UMMS and Broad
Evan MacLean, University of Arizona
Sandra McCune, University of Lincoln
Cindy Otto, Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Daniel Promislow, University of Washington
Kerri Rodriguez, Colorado State University
Jane Russeberger, International Working Dog Registry
James Serpell, University of Pennsylvania
Eric Strauss, Loyola Marymount University
Janet Trammell, Pepperdine University
Monique Udell, Oregon State University
Clive Wynne, Arizona State University

About Wallis Annenberg PetSpace
Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is a unique community space featuring an interactive place for pet adoptions, an education center, and an academic leadership institute. The mission of Annenberg PetSpace is to strengthen and promote the human-animal bond.

Annenberg PetSpace represents an extension of Wallis Annenberg's philanthropic work, which has long supported organizations and projects dedicated to improving the wellbeing of people and communities in Los Angeles, surrounding regions, and throughout the world.

Learn more at www.annenbergpetspace.org

SOURCE Wallis Annenberg PetSpace