Purina and University of California Explore New Frontier in Pet Communication

With a $200,000 grant, Purina and UC San Diego researchers aim to better understand how dogs can use these buttonsPhoto byChewyonUnsplash

Purina has teamed up with the University of California San Diego’s Comparative Cognition Lab to explore how pets might communicate with humans using Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) devices. The study focuses on using soundboard-based buttons, which play recordings of words like "outside" or "play" when pressed, to investigate pets' cognitive abilities and communication skills.

With a $200,000 grant, Purina and UC San Diego researchers aim to better understand how dogs can use these buttons to express their wants and needs, the organizations stated in a release. The research could lead to breakthroughs in how we interact with our pets, enhancing their well-being.