If you have a cat or dog at home, chances are they love spending time with you. Now you have one more way to show them your love – with citizen science, just in time for National Dog Day on August 26! Below, we highlight projects you can do at home with your four-legged friends. Try them out and let us know what you think! Find more projects and events on SciStarter, to do now or bookmark for later.
Cheers!
The SciStarter Team
You know your dog better than anyone. Help researchers at the University of Pennsylvania standardize how canine temperament and behavior are evaluated. Fill out a short survey about the way your dog behaves.
There’s also a survey for cats called Fe-BARQ.
Location: Global, online
You can be a part of the largest dog research group in the world when you participate in the Family Dog Project.
Listen to dog and human sounds to determine emotions and help researchers better understand relationships between dogs and humans.
Location: Global, online
Do you have a purebred dog? The Canine Health Project tracks individual statistics on purebred dogs such as height, weight, date of birth, genotype, and more.
Add your dog’s stats today!
Location: Global, online
Researchers at the University of Lincoln, England, are trying to better understand animal behavior, including how much animals understand, known as cognition.
Fill out a survey about your dog or cat to contribute to their research!
Location: Global, online
Cats have built a reputation on their mysteriousness. But you can learn more about the secret life of your cat with Cat Tracker. Learn where your outdoor cat hangs out and what they eat (beyond the bowl) or study your cat’s personality with a quick survey!
Discover more citizen science on the SciStarter calendar. Did you know your SciStarter dashboard helps you track your contributions to projects? Complete your profile to access free tools. Want even more citizen science? Check out SciStarter’s Project Finder! With 1100+ citizen science projects spanning every field of research, task and age group, there’s something for everyone!