Dogs are remarkably social, perceptive companions who communicate with us in ways we are still learning to fully understand. Many caregivers want better tools and knowledge to strengthen their relationship with their dogs and support their wellbeing.
At the Human-Animal Interaction Lab, we explore how dogs think, feel, and respond to their environments so we can reduce stress, improve communication, and support one of the most meaningful interspecies relationships on Earth.
Your support helps us improve dog welfare, develop practical tools for caregivers, and train the next generation of professionals who will shape a healthier, more compassionate future for dogs and the people who love them.
Some examples of how your generous support can help us answer the questions that matter most to dogs and dog caregivers:
$25-$50: This amount can cover basic supplies, equipment, enrichment toys, dog treats to support one dog’s participation in a behavior study (a complete study may include 20-100 dogs).
$500: Enough to help support the expenses involved in stress-reduction research for one dog-human pair, including environmental enrichment and data collection tools that help us understand how dogs and humans can best live together.
$1,000: Enough to cover expenses associated with one dog-human participant pair enrolled in a dog-training or dog-assisted intervention study, including behavioral assessment tools, training supplies, handler education materials, and data analysis.
$5,000: Enough to help support paid undergraduate research experience in dog behavior and welfare science, training the next generation of researchers, trainers, and advocates who will shape a healthier future for dogs and the people who love them.
$10,000: Enough to launch a focused research project (e.g., 20 dogs + owners) exploring dog cognition, welfare, or the human-dog relationship, including participant recruitment, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings to both academic and dog-owner communities.
$25,000: Enough to sustain a dedicated graduate student research assistant plus supplies for one term of dog behavior research, including study design, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and sharing findings with both researchers and the public.
$100,000+: Enough to support a comprehensive research initiative or endowment providing critical ongoing program support that can transform our understanding of dog-human bonds and improve welfare for both species. If you are interested in establishing a named fund, facility, or research initiative at this level, we would love to hear from you and assist you in this process.
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