Human-Animal Wellness Collaboratory - HAWC at Monmouth University

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Human-Animal Wellness Collaboratory - HAWC at Monmouth University

The mission of the Human-Animal Wellness Collaboratory (HAWC) at Monmouth University is to apply the
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Are you a dog or cat owner that would like to participate in some of our citizen science studies? Please complete our Dog & Cat Participant Interest Form here to receive more information:

https://monmouthpolling.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_87b7vex70EHV069

05/16/2023

In this information-packed behavior & training conference, you will learn about the latest research in canine behavior, training, sheltering, & welfare. Perfect for practitioners who value & use evidence-based interventions to improve the lives of dogs

05/16/2023

Introducing a new avenue of cognitive research At the Dog Aging Project, we study age-related...

05/13/2023

The Second Saturday in May is recognized as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.
Please see this resource from https://www.ready.gov/pets that you can share with pet owners on making sure their fuzzy-family members are prepared in case of disaster.

02/27/2023

Monday morning glow

# jerseyshore

02/18/2023

🎙📢 Why is pet ownership on the rise as households with children are declining? If you're like me, you probably consider your pets as family members and maybe even treat them similarly to children. I had so much fun chatting with Austin Cross on NPR's affiliate Los Angeles station AirTalk this morning about the psychology behind this "furbaby boom" 🐕 🐈 and how the science of human-animal interactions is showing us how similiar dogs and cats are developmentally and behaviorally and why we might anthropomorphize them so easily.

Listen in here: https://www.kpcc.org/podcast/airtalk/too-crowded-in-the-situation-room-how-public-opinion-influences-presidential-decision-making Don't be fooled by the link... I am no expert on presidential decision making 🙃 Our interview on pets is the third one down (title in pic).

Thanks to for inviting me and setting it all up!

11/22/2022

Are you a dog owner? Please consider taking 20 minutes to participate in our latest survey study on dog behavior and attachment. We expect this will be a beneficial learning experience for you as a dog owner! You can sign up for the study using the QR code below. If you have any questions, please direct message us or email the Principal Investigator Dr. Lindsay Mehrkam at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration and participation!

https://monmouth.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4OyLbxOEyHdg62O

11/28/2021

We're working on new enrichment programs this weekend, and it looks like HAWC mascot Kobe is already dropping hints for our toy wish list in our Applied Animal Behavior Research Clinic! Despite their obvious holiday name, Jolly Balls are a year-round favorite for this tough senior dog. These soft, but durable ball-and-rope toys allow for chase, chewing, and tugging!

Our lab is preparing for a new study on dog and cat well-being for Spring 2022! We'll be sharing science-backed enrichment ideas for dogs 🐕, cats 🐈, horses 🐎, and even fish 🐠 and their families who are interested in providing a little extra fun and games for their companions. Have some ideas of your own? We'd love to hear them too!

05/30/2021

📣 New presentation alert! 📣

Several members of our HAWC research team presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention this year in the Applied Animal Behavior track! The poster presentation titled, "Unleashing the EAB Lab: Teaching Behavior Analysis and Humane Education Through a Virtual Animal Behavior Clinic," shared the successful outcomes of how a psychology students could learn about basic learning principles by hands-on training their own dogs and cats through humane, science-based behavior change techniques. The course was conducted in the Fall 2020 semester during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are already looking forward to continuing it into the future.

Congratulations to our Monmouth University student authors Ashley Farrell, Cristina Naha, and Nicholas Quinn as well!

To request a full copy of the poster, please leave us a comment or send an email to [email protected]. 🐾

05/29/2021

It's , and that means we celebrate another HAWC cat client! Meet super senior Peppermint! He is approximately 19 years old and gets his name from his striking stripes that remind us of the stripes on a candy cane. Peppermint was found as a stray, huddled under a car when he was a kitten, possibly having been abandoned. Peppermint is very lively and really likes to interact with people. We love seeing him on Zoom! When he was younger, Peppermint loved to practice his species-typical pouncing and scratching skills (we love seeing those natural, beautiful claws!). Now that he is an old guy he likes to sleep on a bean bag, chill out with his family, and listen to the birds chirping outside!

05/26/2021

Calling all cat owners for our latest HAWC study! My name is Cristina Naha and I will be conducting an undergraduate research thesis study in psychology, specifically about human-animal interactions. Please consider taking 45-60 minutes to participate in my study with your cat(s). Your participation will consist of a recorded Zoom video conference involving a brief movement-based mindfulness exercise and/or active interaction with cats. I expect it will be fun and enriching for both you and your cat(s). You can sign up for the study “Of the Mind and Meows” by telling us a bit about your cat using the link below: https://monmouthpolling.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_87b7vex70EHV069
Thank you wholeheartedly for your consideration, time, and participation!

Address

400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch, NJ
07764

Telephone

+17329234624

Website

https://lrmehrk.wixsite.com/muhawc

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Videos

Goldfish Soccer!

Who says fish only have a 3 second memory? This #throwbackthursday, we remember busting that myth in our inaugural Goldfish Learning Lab (now in its 3rd year!), where students train goldfish using positive reinforcement. Using the principles of operant conditioning, students in MU's psychology of learning class were able to teach this lively learner how to play soccer! #tbt #monmouthuniversity #hawc #goldfishlearning #psychology

Can't get enough of Bijou the spunky Boston Terrier we met at Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge last week! #hawc #communitydays #monmouthuniversity #ramapobergenanimalrefuge

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Bringing the science of human-animal interactions to our community.

The Human-Animal Wellness Collaboratory is a non-profit research organization within the Department of Psychology at Monmouth University. We conduct both in-house research evaluating training, enrichment, and the humane use of animals in teaching as well as with off-site at collaborating animal shelters and zoological facilities. We are also involved in community outreach initiatives that aim to improve the well-being of both animals and the people that care for them.