Listening to Dogs: Stress, Signals, and Welfare-Centered Research
If you work with (or just adore) canine partners, don’t miss this conversation with veterinary behaviorist Dr. Simone Sidel and researcher Jaci Gandenberger from the University of Denver’s Institute for Human–Animal Connection (IHAC). We dig into their new open-access paper, “Recognizing and Mitigating Canine Stress in Human–Canine Interaction Research,” and the big idea behind it: centering dog welfare so studies treat dogs as true participants—with consent cues, low-stress handling, and ethical protocols—rather than research tools. You’ll come away with practical ways to spot and reduce stress, design kinder sessions, and still produce rigorous science that benefits both species.
Listen to Episode #202 Now:
BIO:
Dr. Simone Sidel received her B.A in Biology from the University of Rochester in 2006 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. George's University - School of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She completed her clinical year of studies at The Ohio State University. After graduation, Dr. Sidel completed a rigorous rotating small animal internship at Bluepearl Specialty and Emergency Medicine in New York, New York. Dr. Sidel then moved to Chicago, where she gained ample experience working in emergency medicine, general practice, and shelter medicine. Dr. Sidel moved to Colorado in 2017 to finally pursue her passions in behavior medicine with a residency program under E'Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB.
Dr. Sidel is passionate about the overlap between underlying medical diagnoses and behavioral issues in companion animals. Her background in emergency medicine and general practice allow her to maintain a holistic approach to behavior, and treat both the brain and the body.
Dr. Sidel loves teaching both clients and colleagues about low stress handling practices, and has presented lectures nationally to help educate the veterinary community on the importance of behavior minded practice.
In her free time Dr. Sidel enjoys live music, skiing, boating, hiking, reading, and road trips. Dr. Sidel has two dogs, her Silky Terrier, Yogi, who she adopted in her first year of veterinary school, and her Australian Shepherd Mix, Xula, who particularly loves boating and hiking. Her tuxedo longhair cat, Mossimo, joins her for the reading activities!
Jaci Gandenberger earned an MSW from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work in 2019 and an MA in Middle East Studies from the University of Oklahoma in 2014. She has three years of experience working as a university Fulbright Award advisor and in teaching intercultural awareness skills to prepare students to engage more successfully with diverse groups within the United States and internationally. This foundation informs her interest in examining the field of animal-assisted social work through a lens that considers implications for diverse and marginalized communities. Gandenberger is currently serving as a Research Fellow with IHAC, examining the impacts of animal- and environment-based interventions in residential treatment centers for adolescents.