Dogs are one of the most familiar animals in the world, serving as loving, empathetic companions, vigilant guards of our homes and farms, and invaluable allies for hunters as well as law enforcement. As “man’s best friend,” learning to understand dogs can be nearly as important as understanding the humans in our life, whether we want to communicate more effectively with our pets, train and employ “working dogs,” or help rescue and care for dogs as a veterinarian or shelter professional.

Dogs are close relatives of wolves, but their evolution alongside humans over millennia has shaped their biology and behavior in many ways. They were likely the first species to be domesticated, and the depth of their bonds with their human masters are unparalleled in the world of animal behavior. This has allowed us to develop a thorough understanding of these animals based on the long history of this relationship as well as more recent advances in cognitive science that have given us insights into dog psychology and emotions from a new perspective.

Thus, today we have more ways to learn about dogs and their behavior than ever - and it is as deeply rewarding to do so as it’s always been.

Because dogs are relatively easy to train and have many useful traits such as their keen senses of smell and hearing, they have been “employed” by humans in many roles throughout history. Dogs may work as guard dogs, herding dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, seeing eye dogs, and even therapy dogs, making them important coworkers for careers in fields as diverse as law enforcement, livestock management, and emergency response.

Between these diverse working roles and their most familiar role as the most popular housepet, an understanding of dogs is essential to a career as a veterinarian. Veterinarians are responsible for the care and treatment of animals of all kinds, requiring expertise in animal behavior and veterinary medicine. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these experts in animal welfare earned a median annual salary of $95,460 in 2019, and these jobs are expected to grow much faster than the national average over the next decade.

Yes! Whether you want to learn the truth about cats and dogs to deepen your understanding of your pets or to pursue a career as a veterinarian, Coursera has opportunities to learn from top-ranked schools like Duke University and The University of Edinburgh. And even though you’re learning remotely, your education about dogs and other animals will benefit from video lectures and live office hours from leading experts on animal welfare and animal behavior.