A cognitive assessment is a game or activity designed to measure how an individual thinks about the world. Like humans, dogs may experience cognitive changes as part of the aging process, so a key part of our research is to develop ways to understand how dogs experience and process the world around them. We are especially interested in how canine cognition may change over time.
The Dog Aging Project employs a wide range of cognitive assessments in our research. These include surveys, which ask owners to report on different dog behaviors, and activities, during which owners play games with their dogs and record the results.