Jessica Dawson
Jess joined the ARG as an Honours student in 2015 and commenced her PhD in 2017. Whilst her interests broadly encompass all things anthrozoology, Jess’ current research area concerns companion dog breeding practices. In particular, she is interested in the role that early experiences have on adult dog behaviour and the subsequent dog-owner relationship outcomes.
Deanna Tepper
Deanna is interested in the benefits of interacting with dogs, with her PhD focusing on young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Her research explores whether interacting with dogs can improve sleep and daily living skills. In particular, Deanna is interested in skills associated with working memory, attentional control, inhibition, and problem solving ability.
Maike Foraita
Maike joined the ARG in February 2019 as an international PhD student from Germany. Maike’s PhD project looks at executive functions in dogs, especially inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility. Maike’s project is investigating what influences shape executive function in dogs, how we can assess executive functions in dogs, and what role executive functions play in dogs’ success in working as well as pet roles.
