Welcome to The Thinking Pets Program at NC State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where we enroll both dogs and cats for our behavioral research studies diving into the minds of our furry friends.

Our study participants are canine and feline companion animals, residing in the Triangle area, who come visit us for a day of games, treats, and fun!

Our researchers have broad areas of interest including studies of behavior, cognition, neuroaging, naturally occurring pain, and olfaction. In addition to our non-clinical studies, we also conduct clinical research in partnership with external companies, such as those developing animal health technologies, to improve the everyday life for our furry friends.

our fresh tracks

Study Opportunity

Now enrolling dogs and their humans for an exciting new study exploring how chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain affects dogs’ emotions and decision-making.

What we learn will help us build better tools to understand pain, improve veterinary care, and support research that benefits both pets and people.

Recently Published

A Reliable and Holistic Approach to Evaluating Hearing and Cognitive Auditory Processing in Adult and Aged Companion Dogs

“While comprehensive behavioral hearing tests exist for people, veterinary audiology lacks methods to assess central auditory function in dogs. This study aimed to develop behavioral hearing tests for dogs.”

Recent Presentations

Lab members presented findings at multiple symposiums in 2024

“These presentations were a valuable opportunity to share our findings with the broader scientific community and engage in meaningful discussions with peers and experts in the field.”

Thinking Pets Program Alumni

Meet the dogs who have made our research possible! These smiling faces have all participated in the program and completed a variety of cognitive tasks. Check out the Get Involved and Our Research pages to learn more, and find us on social media to see more Thinking Pets in action!