Dr Britta Osthaus

Before I started at CCCU in 2007 (!) I was a teaching fellow at the University of Exeter whilst doing my PhD on canine problem-solving.

My research focuses on animal cognition in domestic animals, in particular in dogs, horses, donkeys, mules, but also sheep and goats (and cats, if they cooperate).

Currently I teach mostly across our MSc programmes, on the research project and some webinars on research methods.

My research is in domestic animal cognition, and my teaching focus is research methods, evolutionary psychology, and psychology of design. Particularly dogs, horses, mules and donkeys, with the overall aim of improving welfare by enhancing our understanding of their thinking.

• Shelter-seeking behaviour in domestic donkeys and horses in a temperate climate. International Society for Applied Ethology Conference, Charlottetown, Canada, 30. Juli – 3. August 2018.
• Weathering the weather: effects of the environment on donkey, mule and horse welfare. UFAW Animal Welfare Conference - Recent Advances in Animal Welfare Science VI, Newcastle, 26. June 2018.
• Evaluation of two observational methods to assess the numbers of nesting puffins (Fratercula arctica). International Conference in Protecting Biodiversity, Mannampandal, Tamil Nadu, India, 16.-18. February 2017.
• Dogs are stupid - what science knows about dog intelligence. Middlesex University, 5. May 2016.
• Face perception and detour behaviours in dogs. Queen Mary University London, 14. January 2016.
• Dogs are stupid.Annual Research Conference, College of Arts and Science, Nottingham Trent University, 2. October 2015.
• Detour behaviour in equines. International Equine Science Meeting, Nürtingen, June 2015.
• Dogs are stupid. Keynote - "Recent Advances in Canine Behaviour", Anthrozoology Institute, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, 25. April 2012.
• Dogs are stupid. Reading University, October 2010.

I work part-time and remotely. Please contact me via email and I will get back you asap.