Una is living her dog dream

Una Kranzelic, a young woman from Greece, always had a passion for studying animals, particularly dogs and dolphins. However, she was unsure about the career opportunities in this field. After exploring different jobs and educational paths, Una decided to reevaluate her life and pursue her dream. Through a Google search, she discovered the Applied Ethology and Animal Biology program at Linköping University in Sweden.

Una enrolled in the program and found it even better than she had imagined. Unfortunately, the pandemic affected her first year of education, leading to the cancellation of her planned study trip to South America. Instead, for her degree project, she received a scholarship to Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. The university is known for its cutting-edge dog research and has a well-equipped lab for conducting various experiments with dogs.

Una describes her time in the lab as a dream come true for a dog lover. The dogs were pampered and cuddled to help them calm down and focus before the tests. Afterward, they were eager to play. The tests involved releasing the dogs one by one into a room and observing their behavior through cameras. The dogs had to choose one item out of two and return it to their owners. The items were neutral objects with different shapes and textures, unrelated to the dogs' previous experiences. Una's research suggests that the dogs relied more on texture than shape for object generalization. Texture played a crucial role, although factors like color and smell may have also influenced their choices.

Una often gets asked about the intelligence of dogs. While border collies are often considered highly intelligent, Una's study classified them as "typical dogs" rather than "gifted word learners." Una explains that the perception of a dog's intelligence can be subjective and influenced by the ease with which they learn commands from their owners. Intelligence in dogs is a complex and multifaceted concept.

Una intends to continue working with animals because of her fascination with their behavior. She sees potential opportunities in fields like healthcare and elderly care, where dogs are utilized for their sense of smell, trust, and ability to provide a sense of safety. For example, some veterinarians employ dogs to calm other dogs during clinic visits. Wherever Una's future takes her, dogs will surely play a significant role. Although she doesn't currently own a dog due to her frequent travels, Una plans to have one in the future, followed by starting a family.