The Anthrozoology Research Group (ARG), founded in 2002, is an Australian research team dedicated to exploring the complex bond between humans and animals. ARG brings together researchers from diverse fields, including psychology, social science, animal behavior, and veterinary science.
ARG’s primary focus is on companion animals, particularly dogs. Their research investigates various aspects of human-animal relationships, such as the cognitive abilities of dogs, the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, and the optimal practices for raising and training assistance dogs.
Members of the Anthrozoology Research Group are regularly at work on different projects exploring the interactions between humans and dogs, with some of the projects featured below.
- A Pup’s Tale: What makes the human-dog relationship successful?
- Changing lives: How do assistance dogs benefit the families and children who receive them?
- Puppy raiser experiences and practises: How can we improve on assistance dog success rates?
- Sniffing “superpower”: Can volunteers train their pet dogs for conservation work?
The group operates out of two main facilities: the Dog Lab at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus and the Dog Hub at the Bundoora campus. These facilities provide opportunities for hands-on research, including studies on canine behavior, cognition, and the human-animal bond.
There are opportunities to pursue graduate research degrees with ARG, or participate in ARG’s innovative program to train assistance dogs for veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Website:
https://anthrozoologyresearchgroup.com/