4.7
stars
4,384 ratings

Brian Hare

200,184 already enrolled

Offered By

Dog Emotion and Cognition

Duke University

About this Course

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Dog Emotion and Cognition will introduce you to the exciting new study of dog psychology, what the latest discoveries tell us about how dogs think and feel about us, and how we can use this new knowledge to further strengthen our relationship with our best friends.

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Approx. 22 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Cognitive Science
Evolution
Animal Behavior
Dog

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Approx. 22 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

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Instructor

Instructor rating

4.81/5 (823 Ratings)

Brian Hare

Associate Professor

Evolutionary Anthropology

200,184 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Duke University

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(35,064 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

11 minutes to complete

Course Information

Dog Emotion and Cognition is a course designed to introduce the exciting new science of dog psychology to any level of dog enthusiast. In learning about dogs you will be introduced to evolutionary and cognitive theory, learn about experimental methodology, see how dogs compare to other species, and even have the chance to try some of the cognitive games you learn about with your own dog. The course is a great introduction to the field of animal cognition and animal behavior but is also relevant to anyone interested in human evolution or even dog training. When you finish you will think about your dog in a new way, will be ready to apply your new knowledge, and will be prepared to take higher level classes in the evolutionary or cognitive sciences.

11 minutes to complete

1 video (Total 1 min), 1 reading

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

The Paradox of a Best Friend That Evolved From Our Worst Enemy

This module will provide an introduction to cognitive psychology and evolution, while having direct application to your dog. At the beginning of each lecture, Dr. Hare will suggest an optional reading from his book The Genius of Dogs, as well as free Dognition games to play at www.dognition.com/mooc. Dr. Hare discusses how our evolutionary relationship with dogs is a puzzle. He describes the meaning of cognition and what it looks like with modern research on animals. Last, he discusses what Dognition is and how can be used like a laboratory for the class.

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 41 min), 4 readings, 4 quizzes

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

How Biology Studies Cognitive Evolution

4 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 67 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes

10 videos

Why Experiments, Part 16mWhy Experiments, Part 28mWhy Experiments, Part 33mEcological Approach to Evolution, Part 18mEcological Approach to Evolution, Part 28mEcological Approach to Cognition, Part 17mEcological Approach to Cognition, Part 28mTheory of Mind, Part 14mTheory of Mind, Part 25mTheory of Mind, Part 35m

4 readings

Why Experiments: Lecture Slides10mEcological Approach to Evolution: Lecture Slides10mEcological Approach to Cognition: Lecture Slides10mTheory of Mind: Lecture Slides10m

5 practice exercises

Review: Why Experiments?30mReview: Ecological Approach to Evolution30mReview: Ecological Approach to Cognition30mReview: Theory of Mind30mModule Quiz: How Biology Studies Cognitive Evolution30m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Dogs Are Cognitively Remarkable

In this module, Dr. Hare describes how dogs are cognitively remarkable. He begins by explaining theory of mind, which, when viewed through the ecological approach, suggests that social problem solving drove primate and human cognitive evolution. Next, he describes how good dogs are at understanding communicative intentions, especially compared to apes. Dr. Hare has three hypotheses to explain the remarkable communication found in domestic dogs.

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 35 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

5 videos

Communicative Intentions, Part 17mCommunicative Intentions, Part 27mCommunicative Intentions, Part 37mOrigins of Dog Sociality, Part 16mOrigins of Dog Sociality, Part 25m

2 readings

Communicative Intentions: Lecture Slides10mOrigins of Dog Sociality: Lecture Slides10m

3 practice exercises

Review: Communicative Intentions30mReview: Origins of Dog Social Cognition30mModule Quiz: Dogs are Cognitively Remarkable30m

Week5

Week 5

4 hours to complete

Evolutionary Accidents and Survival of the Friendliest

In this module, Dr. Hare explores three of his research studies he's done with foxes, New Guinea Singing Dogs, as well as research on wolves. He describes how early dog-wolves may actually be a product of natural selection rather than artificial selection, contrary to popular belief. He introduces a hypothesis called Survival of the Friendliest, which may explain how dogs, bonobos, and modern species evolved in contrast to close relatives, such as wolves and chimpanzees. Last, he relates the high level of social tolerance of these species to human by looking at human self-domestication.

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 63 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes

9 videos

Discovering Domestication, Part 17mDiscovering Domestication, Part 28mDiscovering Domestication, Part 37mArtificial vs Self-Domestication, Part 16mArtificial vs Self-Domestication, Part 27mApe Self- Domestication, Part 17mApe Self-Domestication, Part 27mHuman Self-Domestication, Part 14mHuman Self-Domestication, Part 25m

4 readings

Discovering Domestication: Lecture Slides10mArtificial vs Self-Domestication: Lecture Slides10mApe Self-Domestication: Lecture Slides10mHuman Self-Domestication: Lecture Slides10m

5 practice exercises

Review: Discovering Domestication30mReview: Artificial versus Self-Domestication30mReview: Ape Self-Domestication30mReview: Human Self-Domestication30mModule Quiz: Evolutionary Accidents and Survival of the Friendliest30m

Week6

Week 6

3 hours to complete

Problems That Dogs Can and Cannot Solve

In this module, you will learn about the genius of dogs. Brilliant examples of the canine mind will be explored. Dogs seem to be capable of inferential reasoning using the "principle of exclusion" as well as learning new words by imitating humans. Next, Dr. Hare discusses dog's abilities to understand physical problem solving compared to other species (hint, this isn't most dog's strong suit). Last, he will discuss how dogs are not cooperative breeders, do have a relaxed social system, and are excellent hunting companions for humans.

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 55 min), 3 readings, 4 quizzes

8 videos

Dog Social Explosion, Part 18mDog Social Explosion, Part 27mDog Social Explosion, Part 38mPhysical Cognition Explosion, Part 16mPhysical Cognition Explosion, Part 25mDog Cooperation, Part 17mDog Cooperation, Part 26mDog Cooperation, Part 34m

3 readings

Dog Social Explosion: Lecture Slides10mPhysical Cognition Explosion: Lecture Slides10mDog Cooperation: Lecture Slides10m

4 practice exercises

Review: Dog Cognition Explodes: Understanding the Social World30mReview: Dog Cognition Explodes: Understanding the Physical World30mReview: Dog Cooperation30mModule Quiz: Problems That Dogs Can and Cannot Solve30m

Week7

Week 7

4 hours to complete

Finding Your Dog's Genius

In this module, Dr. Hare will discuss the common myths of breed differences and what research (including citizen science Dognition data) has actually been done to understand potential differences between breeds. You will also listen to Dr. Hare debunk "aggressive dog breed" stereotypes by learning about the literature and studies that have been done on dog aggression. He poses an interesting question about the actual culprit for the dog aggression problem, which is not even a dog! Next, he will explain how important understanding dog cognition is to training strategies. Dr. Hare will discuss how, unfortunately, not all cultures love dogs, and some see them as food and pests. He suggests ways that humans can live with dogs for mutual benefit. Taking all that you've learned into account, Dr. Hare then discusses how Dognition is revolutionizing what we know about dogs and how beneficial it could be to your relationship with your dog as well as for science!

4 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 63 min), 6 readings, 4 quizzes

10 videos

Breed Differences, Part 14mBreed Differences, Part 25mDog Aggression, Part 16mDog Aggression, Part 29mTeaching Genius, Part 16mTeaching Genius, Part 27mTeaching Genius, Part 35mDog's Best Friend8mCitizen Science6mDognition Report2m

6 readings

Breed Differences: Lecture Slides10mDog Aggression: Lecture Slides10mTeaching Genius: Lecture Slides10mDog's Best Friend: Lecture Slides10mCitizen Science: Lecture Slides10mDognition Report: Lecture Slides10m

4 practice exercises

Review: Breed Differences in Cognition?30mReview: Dog Aggression30mReview: Teaching Genius30mModule Quiz: Finding your Dog's Genius30m

Week8

Week 8

1 hour to complete

Final Exam

1 hour to complete

Reviews

4.7

1305 reviews

5 stars
77.55%
4 stars
16.13%
3 stars
4.03%
2 stars
1.04%
1 star
1.23%

TOP REVIEWS FROM DOG EMOTION AND COGNITION

by HWDec 31, 2015

Thought provoking. Different cultural attitudes toward dogs a little unsettling - given number of bites and attacks, resources devoted to dogs rather than to humans, is a serious question.

by EEJun 20, 2018

This was a great introductory course for dog evolution and cognition. I hope there will someday be a part two to this - presenting more insights into dog cognition as more research is done.

by PRNov 13, 2016

I really liked this course. It was really fun. I learned a lot and I will put it to good use with my dog, Boomer. I also haven't got a chance to do Dognition so I will try to do it, It sounds so fun!

by DFJul 17, 2019

Really interesting course that gives a great overview of some of the latest research in canine behavior. Helpful even for a regular dog-owner that just wants to understand the mind of their dog.

View all reviews

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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
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Dog Emotion and Cognition

Dog Emotion and Cognition

About this Course

Skills you will gain