You read that right, I went to Harvard. Now, I always knew I was smart, but it’s nice to have the affirmation from one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
The Canine Brains Project at Harvard is studying brain organization, behavior, and temperament in dogs. When I found out they were looking for volunteers, I had to sign up (they’re enrolling through December 2024)! After a series of exchanges with some of the team at the Hecht Lab, we landed on a date/time for me to visit. They provide parking on-site if you’re coming in from out of town.
I won’t go too into depth about the experiments, but they were mostly just little activities and exercises which were a lot of fun (my skill and expertise were rewarded with treats).
The results were fascinating! I found out that I am left-brain oriented, extremely persistent (I was the “most persistent participant” with an exercise that involved getting a treat from a closed container), and that my separation reaction is fairly typical (my humans assumed I’d be worse – proved them wrong!).
I had a great time exploring the campus too. I think I blended in perfectly.
If you’re in the region and interested to learn more about your pup’s behavior, consider reaching out! And definitely follow the Project on social media for pupdates, cute photos, and results:
- Instagram: @canine_brains
- Twitter: @LabHecht, @pawgamesstudy, @howlingstudy
- Facebook: Canine Brains
What's Brewing, Barley? 
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