I’m an animal behavior researcher, science writer, and public speaker. The New York Times once wrote that I “find my bliss in canine urine.” This is true. Urine may be meaningless to us — except when it crams itself in our nostrils on scorching hot NYC summer days. But to dogs, it’s jam packed with info year round. Therefore, I give many hoots about it.

I entered this field in 2010 because, probably like you, I’m a dog person. I wanted to understand them not as I wished them to be, but as they are. I conducted research on companion (pet) dog behavior, cognition, and welfare with Dr. Alexandra Horowitz’s Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College in NYC and with the Family Dog Project at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest with Dr. Ádám Miklósi and Dr. Márta Gácsi.

For six years, I maintained the Dog Spies blog on Scientific American. Along with my friend and colleague, Dr. Mia Cobb, we explored the field of dog behavior and welfare science at Do You Believe in Dog?. My writing regularly appeared at The Bark magazine, and I hold lectures for student groups of all ages and dog enthusiasts.

I earned my PhD in Cognitive and Comparative Psychology at the Graduate Center, CUNY, working with Dr, Diana Reiss. My research focused on cat-human-play. I’ve taught undergraduate Animal Behavior as well as courses for the Animal Behavior and Conservation Masters Program at Hunter College as well as Applied Animal Behavior for Canisius College’s Anthrozoology Masters Program. 

I received a Masters with distinction in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. My interest in ethology (animal behavior) began at The University of Wisconsin-Madison in Patricia McConnell’s Zoology class. I’m very happy I took her class.

And, yes. I would like to meet your dog. On their terms, of course.