BRAY Lab
About The BRAY Lab
At the BRAY (Behavioral Research Across Years) lab, we study how dogs think, problem solve, and interact with their world and our own species, including the various factors that influence those behaviors over the life course. The BRAY lab is directed by Dr. Emily Bray, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine. We seek to answer all the questions below and more within our main study species, the domestic dog.
The BRAY Lab is investigating how pets, specifically companion dogs and cats, and humans can benefit each others’ mental wellbeing across the lifespan. We’re particularly interested in aging populations, where we are exploring how older adults talk to their pets, and the role of pet presence on momentary wellbeing outcomes.
This research is part of the groundbreaking Pets and Wellbeing Study (PAWS) program, the largest-ever research initiative exploring the impact of pet ownership on human mental health and wellbeing funded by Mars Waltham. Our study is conducted in collaboration with the Human Animal Behavior (HAB) Lab, the Human Memory Lab, the Neuroscience of Emotion and Thought (NET) Lab, and the Naturalistic Observation of Social Interaction (NOSI) Lab.