#29: Dr. Lisa Gunter on sleepovers and field trips for shelter dogs
In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, Dr. Spaulding interviews Dr. Lisa Gunter about her work on reducing stress and improving welfare in shelter dogs. If you work or volunteer in a shelter – or work closely with shelter or rescue dogs - this is the podcast for you! Lisa Gunter is an Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech in the School of Animal Sciences, and she directs the Center for Applied Animal Behavior and Education. Before beginning her graduate studies, she worked for nearly a decade in animal shelters and with pet dogs and their owners.The goal of Lisa's teaching, research, and extension is to better the lives of people and their pets. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Coastal Carolina University and the Maddie's Fund Research Fellow at Arizona State University. Lisa is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and earned her Ph.D. and M. A. in the Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology program at Arizona State University. In the canine science collaboratory. Dr. Gunter discusses how weekend foster stays and brief field trips affect shelter dogs. Specifically, she explains how these activities influence stress and length of stay. Another factor that may impact length of stay is breed labeling – Dr. Gunter shared key insights from her research on this topic as well. This exciting research sheds light on how shelters can best serve the animals in their care. Next, Dr. Gunter and Dr. Spaulding share their thoughts on the future of animal sheltering– it’s a very different model than what is being used today! Finally, make sure you stay to the end to learn more about the upcoming Canine Science Symposium!00:00 Introduction to Research Bites Membership00:53 Welcome to the Research Bites Podcast01:27 Introducing Dr. Lisa Gunter01:44 Dr. Gunter's Background and Research Focus03:34 The Importance of Shelter Dog Research05:44 Impact of Short-Term Foster Stays08:42 Measuring Stress in Shelter Dogs10:24 Challenges and Methods in Collecting Data10:55 Findings from Sleepover Studies24:48 Field Trips vs. Sleepovers32:13 Understanding Animal Stress in Shelters32:48 Interpreting Cortisol Levels in Shelter Dogs35:47 Field Trips and Their Impact on ShelterFor more information, please check out my website and social media links below! Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/ Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites Facebook ...
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#28 Science Myths Busted: Understanding Behavior and the Role of Science
In this episode, we explore two common myths about science and how they relate to the world of dog training and behavior:Myth #1: Science is elitist and doesn’t apply to the real world.The Truth: Science is for everyone! You don’t need a fancy degree to understand and apply science in meaningful ways.Science is deeply connected to real-world applications, including the everyday work of dog training and behavior.Dr. Spaulding shares examples of research that directly informs and improves how we work with dogs.Myth #2: There are black-and-white answers about behavior.The Truth: Behavior and biological systems are incredibly complex.Oversimplifying them can hinder our ability to truly understand and help animals.Science evolves as we learn more, and this is a good thing! Progress means discovering better ways to do things, rather than sticking to outdated methods.Key Takeaways:Science matters! It can be approachable and valuable for anyone working with animals. Complexity is part of what makes science (and behavior) fascinating—and embracing it can lead to better outcomes.Learning and adapting as new evidence emerges is essential for growth, both as individuals and as practitioners.This episode is about making science less intimidating, highlighting how it connects to what you do every day, and encouraging curiosity about the way we approach training and behavior.Let’s dive in!Unlocking Resilience course (starts February 5th, 2025): https://sciencemattersllc.com/unlocking-resilience Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites For more information, please check out my website and social media links below! Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/ Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites Facebook ...
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#27: Dr. Sara Hintze on animal well-being and intrinsic reward
00:00 Introduction to Research Bites Podcast 00:30 Join the Research Bites Membership 01:08 Introducing Dr. Sara Hintze 02:01 Dr. Hintze's Journey into Animal Welfare 04:43 The Evolution of Animal Welfare Science 06:22 Understanding Positive Welfare in Animals 09:33 Challenges in Measuring Animal Emotions 14:58 Individual Differences in Animal Welfare 19:28 Cognitive Bias and Optimism in Animals 22:28 Assessing Well-Being in Individual Animals 28:40 Balancing Individual Differences in Animal Training 30:23 The Importance of Addressing Underlying Problems 33:01 Introduction to Flow in Animal Behavior 34:10 Defining Intrinsic Reward and Flow 37:13 Exploring Flow in Animals 48:31 Inducing Flow in Companion Animals 51:39 Future Directions in Animal Welfare Research 54:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, host Dr. Kristina Spaulding welcomes Dr. Sara Hintze, who studies animal welfare and emotions. They discuss the evolution of the study of animal welfare, shifting from focusing solely on reducing suffering to promoting positive emotional states. Dr. Hintze explains the complexities of measuring subjective experience in animals and highlights research related to cognitive bias, optimism, and individual differences in animal behavior. The conversation also delves into the intriguing concept of 'flow' in animals, exploring how activities such as herding and hunting might induce a state of intrinsic reward. The importance of choice, agency, and varied enrichment for enhancing animal well-being is also discussed. For more information about Dr. Hintze, you can click here.For more information, please check out my website and social media links below! Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/ Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites Facebook ...
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#26: Dr. Daniel Mills on understanding animal emotions and behavior
In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, host Dr. Kristina Spaulding interviews Professor Daniel Mills, a renowned expert in veterinary behavioral medicine from the University of Lincoln. They explore the complexities of animal behavior, the evolution of different behavioral models, and the role of emotions in influencing behavior. Professor Mills shares insights from his extensive research, including the development of the psychobiological model for assessing animal behavior and his work on using AI to detect emotions and pain in animals.Key Topics Covered:Behavioral Models Explained: Differences between the medical, behavioral, and psychobiological approaches to animal behavior.The Role of Emotion in Behavior: Considering internal states is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of animal behavior.AI and Emotion Detection: How artificial intelligence is being used to recognize emotions and pain in animals, including dogs, cats, and horses.The Impact of Cognitive Load: How factors like discomfort or anxiety can affect an animal's cognitive capacity and behavior.Human-Animal Interactions: How dogs respond to human facial expressions and vocal cues, and the importance of building a positive relationship with pets.Challenges in Scientific Communication: Addressing the uncertainty of science, biases, and the influence of beliefs on interpreting behavior.Key Quotes: "Dogs live in an emotional world, often looking to synchronize their emotions with those of their human companions." "Science is about reducing uncertainty, not finding absolute truths."Timestamps:[00:05:45] Discussion of different behavioral models[00:18:47] The function and importance of emotions in animals[00:24:03] Using AI for emotion recognition in animals[00:46:47] The effects of cognitive load on behavior[00:48:42] How dogs respond to human emotions and facial expressions[00:59:57] The complexities of scientific communicationResources Mentioned:Dr. Daniel Mills' On FacebookAt the University of LincolnFor more information, please check out my website and social media links below! Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/ Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites Facebook ...
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1:10:11
Podcast Update!
Hello everyone! I am taking a break to develop a more effective and consistent system for podcast production so that I can release episodes on a regular timeline. That means I need to take a short break to get everything organized, but rest assured we will be back soon!For more information, please check out my website and social media links below! Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/ Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites Facebook ...
The goal of Research Bites is to bring the science of applied animal behavior to non-scientists. In each episode, Dr. Kristina Spaulding interviews an animal behavior researcher and talks about how we apply science and research to working and living with dogs. Research Bites members get access to full-length episodes, as well as monthly webinars and chats about current research in dog behavior. Visit https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites for more details or to become a member.
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