Canines and humans are not only connected by companionship. In fact, we are evolutionarily linked and tied together by something far more complex—our brains.  Join canine expert Dr. Brian Hare as he takes a peek into the inner workings of a dog’s brain through the lens of human cognition. With a mix of upbeat stories andinformative interviews from leading scientists, psychologists, anthropologists, veterinarians, and dog owners, Dr. Hare tackles questions of memory, word learning, nutrition, and even love. DogSmarts is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind, a breakthrough in pet nutrition created to nourish a dog’s mind. Discover more at BrightMindEffect.com. 

Dogs have more jobs now than ever before. They help people with disabilities, and their presence can even help make sick people feel better. Dr. Hare speaks with several experts in the field of working and therapeutic dogs, and concludes that our furry friends have a rare and unique ability—plus the desire to work—to be our best friends. Featured Guests: Betsie Hughes and her CCI Service Dog, Hansen III; Jamie Togal, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at Leader Dogs for the Blind; Paul Mundell, CEO of Canine Companions for Independence.

We can’t help it if we love our dogs so much. There are very scientific reasons for this social bond: Dogs physiologically win over our hearts by causing our brains to release the chemicals responsible for feel-good emotions. Dr. Hare explores the importance of love and what it means for our relationship with dogs, and, most importantly, how they are one of the only animals on Earth to tap into this. Featured Guests: Ragen McGowan, Senior Scientist in the Behavior Group at Nestle Research and Development Center; Sue Carter, Director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington; Ramiro Joly-Mascheroni, PhD Student at the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit at City University London; Dr. Evan MacLean, Assistant Professor, School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona.

Do you talk to your dog? Do you ever wonder if they actually understand what you are saying? Dr. Hare discusses how much our dogs understand about what we say and do, and how a dog named Rico learned to memorize and associate over 200 words. Featured Guests: Dr. Josep Call, Professor in the Evolutionary Origins of Mind at the University of Saint Andrews; Dr. Adam Miklosi, Head of the Department of Ethology at Eötvös University in Budapest, Hungary. 

Canines have incredible memories. It is a powerful part of cognition. And just like in humans, there are different kinds of memory in dogs. In this episode, Dr. Hare chats with a top expert in the field of canine cognition who specifically studies memory in man’s best friend. Featured Guest: Dr. Evan MacLean, Assistant Professor, School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona.

Do some dogs have a built-in GPS? Dr. Hare explains how dogs use a sensation of the earth's magnetic fields to hone in on where they're going. Two top experts in the field of canine navigation discuss why some dogs get lost and others always manage to find their way home. Featured Guests: Dr. Evan MacLean, Assistant Professor, School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona; Dr. Alexandra Rosati, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.

Dr. Janet Jackson and Dr. Gary Pan are leaders in research and development at Nestle Purina Petcare. With a team of over 400 scientists, they formulated Bright Mind™ Adult and Bright Mind™ 7+ to support brain health in dogs. Dr. Bill Milgram, a leader in canine cognitive aging, helped Purina confirm the positive impact of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) on dog cognition. They’ll discuss their research and the essential nutrients that help support brain health as a dog ages. Featured Guests: Dr. Janet Jackson, VP of Nutrition Research at Nestle Purina Petcare; Dr. Gary Pan, Principal Research Scientist at Nestle Purina Petcare; Dr. Bill Milgram, Co-founder of CanCog Technologies.