Canine Chat, Emotional Support Animals, Sniffer Dogs
Feb 5, 2025
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Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach, a licensed clinical social worker and director of veterinary social work, discusses her research on the mental health benefits of emotional support animals. She highlights the intriguing trend of dogs using soundboard buttons to communicate. The conversation also sheds light on the profound bond between humans and animals, particularly in mental health crises. Additionally, they explore the incredible capabilities of sniffer dogs, including their role in disease detection and search and rescue efforts.
Dogs have shown the ability to use soundboards to form intentional two-word combinations, indicating a deeper level of communication with humans.
The extraordinary sense of smell in dogs enables them to assist in critical roles like search and rescue, and even detect COVID-19.
Deep dives
Unlimited Mobile Connectivity
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The Remarkable Abilities of Sniffer Dogs
Highly trained dogs are proving essential in various challenging situations, including search and rescue operations following devastating events like wildfires. Their extraordinary sense of smell enables them to locate victims amidst rubble, showcasing their invaluable contribution to emergency response efforts. In a recent study, dogs were also trained to detect COVID-19, demonstrating their potential in public health scenarios. The capabilities of these canines underline the vital role they play in improving human safety and health in diverse environments.
Dog Communication through Soundboards
Recent research indicates that dogs can communicate with humans through soundboards, using buttons that trigger pre-recorded words. Studies conducted with soundboard-trained dogs revealed that these animals were not just pressing buttons randomly but forming specific two-word combinations that suggest intentional communication. The findings challenge previous assumptions about interspecies communication, highlighting the bond between pets and their owners. As researchers delve deeper into understanding how dogs process and pair button presses, more insights are expected regarding canine cognition and interaction with humans.
Today, we dive into the science around man’s best friend to celebrate the Puppy Bowl airing on Animal Planet, February 9th. Sam explores what’s really going on with the recent phenomenon of people teaching their dogs to communicate through word buttons. Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach joins the show to discuss her research into the mental health benefits of emotional support animals. Finally, we tackle the power and possibility of a dog’s sense of smell.