About this Webinar

This course explores the role of social neuroscience in understanding dog behaviour. You will dive into the neural mechanisms that drive social interactions, including the role of mirror neurons, empathy, and attachment. The course examines how dogs interpret social signals, facial expressions, and body language, and explores the evolutionary and cultural influences on social behaviours. By understanding these social processes, participants will gain insights into how dogs form bonds, navigate social hierarchies, and respond to human and dog interactions.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand the neural mechanisms behind social behaviour, including the role of mirror neurons and empathy.

  2. Explore how dogs process social signals such as facial expressions and body language.

  3. Learn how evolutionary and cultural factors shape social behaviour in dogs.

  4. Analyze the role of attachment and social bonds in canine behaviour.

  5. Develop strategies for applying social neuroscience insights to enhance dog training and behaviour modification.

Meet your Instructor

Daniel Shaw MSc, CDBC is an animal behaviourist with expertise in psychology, animal behaviour, and neuroscience. As the owner of Animal Behaviour Kent (ABK), he supports dogs and cats with behavioural challenges, provides expert witness assessments for legal cases under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and has contributed to Parliamentary discussions on dog bite reform. With a master’s degree in neuroscience, Daniel combines research with practical applications and has been featured on BBC Southeast Today, TalkTV, and LBC News. He organizes the annual ABK Dog Behaviour Conference and runs ABK Learn, a platform offering science-based education in animal behaviour, training, and neuroscience, helping professionals understand and approach a wide range of cases.