Dog Science 101: The Impact of how we think and feel about our pets with Julia Espinosa

​How do we think and feel about our pets? And what’s the impact on our pets, their environment, and even their welfare? What else does it influence?

​A lot, as it turns out. Join us for a chat with Julia Espinosa about her newest study What Do We Think About Our Pets where she will share why scientists are studying this question!

​We will talk about topics like:

• ​Anthropomorphism (aka the humanization of pets): when does it help and when can it be harmful to our pets or to ourselves.

• ​How do humans perceive the mental state of another species. Ex. I think my dog looks happy. Or my dog is being spiteful. How mind perception plays a role in our behavior.

• ​And much more!

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​Julia is a Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology at the University of Toronto in Canada. Her research investigates how dogs think and learn about the physical world. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Julia worked as a veterinary assistant and dog trainer, and walker for several years in both the US and Canada. Julia's furry friend is Winnie, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

​Julia has studied animal brains to understand how they think and process information. But, this is only half of the puzzle when it comes to understanding companion animal-human relationships. The other half lies in investigating how humans perceive and think about their pets.

​Btw, this study is really easy to participate in - it’s a 10-minute long survey and you will be entered in a raffle to win a $50 Amazon gift card.