Dogs are often considered an integral part of the family — and, if you’re anything like those of us at 2nd Story and UKAM — these furry creatures ARE family. Join Dr. Ellen Furlong for an enlightening discussion about canine cognition and the special relationship that exists between dogs and their humans.

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Dr. Ellen Furlong is an Associate Professor in Psychology at her alma mater, Transylvania University. She studied Mathematics at Transy and subsequently earned her PhD in Psychology from The Ohio State University. Before joining the faculty at Transy, she taught at Illinois Wesleyan University and spent three-years as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University where she studied dogs as well as rhesus monkeys at a research station on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. 

Dr. Furlong teaches courses on dog cognition and behavior and has team-taught travel courses on animal cognition and welfare with her father, a bioethicist. She has won several teaching awards, including, in 2018, the inaugural Most Influential Professor award at IWU.

She directs a research group exploring cognition in dogs and nonhuman primates, and has published papers and presented work at academic conferences on chimpanzee, orangutan, and dog cognition. She recently authored an Audible/Great Courses book entitled Decoding Dogs: Inside the Canine Mind and a textbook on learning entitled Learning and Behavior. Her works have been featured in numerous media outlets including, most recently an ABC Australia documentary, A Dog’s World.

Dr. Furlong is a board member of several organizations including the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) and the Primate Rescue Center. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association Council representing Division 6 (The Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology). She also serves as science advisor for Pack Animals, a new startup focused on improving human and canine lifelong well-being.