About this Webinar:

To tell the evolutionary story of domestic dogs is to tell the story of their brains. In this webinar, we will trace how domestication has shaped the canine brain across evolutionary time, from the earliest domestic dogs to the highly specialized breeds we know today. We will discuss general trends in wild canid brain evolution before turning our focus on the hypothesized changes that occurred in the dog brain during the first stages of domestication. Then we will explore how breed formation and selective breeding have further influenced dog’s brains, minds, and behaviors. Finally, we will consider how experience continues to rewire the canine brain today.


Learning Outcomes:

1) Become familiar with basic dog brain anatomy and function.

2) Understand the major evolutionary changes in the dog brain from early domestication through the modern era.

3) Recognize that nature and nurture interact to produce the diversity of canine minds seen today.

Meet your Instructor

Sophie Barton

Sophie A. Barton is a Ph.D. candidate in the Hecht Lab at Harvard University, where she also earned her master’s degree. She is a founding member of the Canine Brains Project, a research initiative dedicated to understanding dog neuroscience, cognition, and behavior. Her work explores how both selective pressures and individual life experiences shape the canine brain. Beyond her academic research, Sophie serves as secretary for the New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society. In her free time, she enjoys nose work and canicross with her mixed-breed dog, Tamsin.