Dogs: Behavior, evolution, and domestication
HEB 123
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
What makes dogs behave the way they do, and what can this teach us about our own species? In this course, we will explore the evolution of canine behavior through the lens of ethology. We will discuss current research on the evolutionary history of dogs, and consider whether this might parallel some aspects of human evolution. We will also examine communication, cooperation, attachment, and other aspects of behavior in dogs, humans, and other species. Students will learn to understand behavior as an adaptive, evolved trait and consider artificial selection as a window on mechanisms of behavior evolution. In the weekly 3-hour lab, students will also receive hands-on training in the collection and analysis of dog behavior data through a semester-long group research project.
Course Notes
Dog behavior data will be collected on campus in the Canine Brains Project dog behavior lab space.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
NOTE: This course requires additional sections; you will be prompted to choose secondary components during the Add to Cart process
