Purina invests in human/dog interspecies communications

The company is partnering with UC San Diego to explore AIC communication between dogs and humans.

Purina has announced a $200,000 investment in a research partnership with the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) to explore Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) between dogs and humans. This partnership, through the university's Comparative Cognition Lab, aims to investigate the use of soundboard-based audio buttons to enhance canine communication.

The research focuses on training dogs to use audio buttons that play recordings of words like 'outside' or 'play when pressed, allowing them to potentially convey their thoughts and needs. By better understanding pets' cognitive abilities, Purina hopes to assess the feasibility of future citizen science studies that utilize this technology on a broader scale.

Dr. Annie Valuska, a principal scientist at Purina, emphasized the exciting potential of this research to give dogs a more direct voice in understanding their wants and needs. Similarly, Dr. Federico Rossano, founder of UC San Diego's Comparative Cognition Lab, highlighted the opportunity to improve pets' health and well-being through more effective communication.

Purina has a history of supporting such research, previously selecting FluentPet, an AIC-focused startup, as the grand prize winner of its 2022 Pet Care Innovation Prize. This ongoing investment in pet communication innovation aligns with Purina's broader commitment to improving pet care and well-being.

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