Dogs and people (DAP): Working with sentient beings: Establishing methods for collaboration and cooperation with canines (and other animals) while ensuring safety and wellbeing for all

We are beginning an exploratory investigative study. The overall aim of the project is to investigate ways to assess and work with the sentience (Bekoff, 2013) and intelligence of, in this case dogs, but in a later series of developments to includes other animal species and the relationship of theirs and our health and well-being in general. There are a large number of animal owners with digital lives, who are looking for best practice methods for training, walking and quality of lifestyle issues surrounding the care of and communication with their animals that impact them on a daily basis. For example, we note owners using technology to address and/or correct activity levels for the animals and/or owners issues of guilt at being away from their animals for too long etc.). Many of these issues impact heavily on peoples (and the animals) daily lives.