Research in the past two decades has shown that dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) as a result of selection pressures during domestication, have evolved an understanding of human forms of communication not to be found in other species (including chimpanzees and wolves). Selection pressures during domestication not only shape animals’ morphology but also animals’ behaviour and cognitive processes. The so-called domestication hypothesis claims that one domain in which domestic dogs have especially adapted to the human environment is in their ability to flexibly follow human forms of communication (gestural and vocal). This webinar will summarise research, which seems to support the hypothesis that dogs have specifically adapted to the human in this domain. Webinar Objectives Understanding how domestication might have affected dogs abilities to use human communication. Understand how dogs developed social skills, which seem to be functionally equivalent to those of human infants. Understanding how dogs understanding of human communication is flexible. Discuss whether the underlying mechanisms in how gestural communication in dogs and infants is understood.

Sponsor:Pet Professional Guild British Isles
Speaker(s):Dr. Juliane Kaminski

Contact: Louise Stapleton-Frappell
 Email: louise@petprofessionalguild.com
 Web: http://www.ppgbi.com/event-2105730