Anthrozoology Research Group

- the study of human (anthro) and animal (zoo) relationships

ph: (03) 5444 7460
anthrozoologyresearchgroup@gmail.com

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Mia Cobb

Mia Cobb

Background:

Following an undergraduate degree focussing on animal behaviour (BSc Hons: Zoology; 1999) I worked at RSPCA Victoria, gaining invaluable first-hand experience in a wide range of human-animal interactions and animal welfare issues. From 2003, I worked as the Training Kennels & Veterinary Clinic Manager at Guide Dogs Victoria. My work experiences have directly influenced my research and I am very interested in the lives of ‘working’ animals and how animals handle living in captive environments, such as domestic dogs housed kennel facilities. I would like to learn more about the relationship between welfare, or quality of life, and the performance in training and tasks of the working animals who directly benefit our human lives in so many ways. I would like my research to contribute to maximising both the welfare and performance of these animals for the ultimate benefit to both animals and people.

In 2012, I left my position Guide Dogs Victoria to focus on my research and involvement advancing the welfare of Australia's working dogs. I am a current member of the federal government’s Australian Animal Welfare Strategy working group for ‘Animals used for Work, Sport, Recreation or on Display’ and scientific representative for the RSPCA Victoria animal ethics committee.


Current research:

I am currently undertaking a PhD researching the effects of social and environmental enrichment on the welfare and work performance of kennelled dogs as a member of the Anthrozoology Research Group, through Monash University and as part of the Animal Welfare Science Centre. My supervisors are Associate Professor Pauleen Bennett and Associate Professor Alan Lill. This research was awarded the RSPCA Australia Alan White Scholarship for Animal Welfare Research in 2010.


Research interests:

Animal behaviour; animal stress physiology; animal welfare; enrichment; welfare assessment methodology; human-animal interactions; animals in confinement; captive animal environment design; animal performance science; working dogs; sustainability of industries involving working/sporting animals.

Peer reviewed journal articles:

McGreevy, P.D.; Starling, M.; Branson, N.J.; Cobb, M.L.; Calnon, D. (2012) An overview of the dog-human dyad and ethograms within it. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research. 7(2) p.103-117.


Other publications:

N. Branson, M. Cobb, P. McGreevy (2012). Australian Working Dog Industry Action Plan 2013-15. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

N. Branson, M. Cobb, P. McGreevy (2010). Australian Working Dog Survey Report 2009. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.


Invited addresses:

Cobb, M. (2012) The Australian Working Dog Industry Action Plan. Australian Animal Welfare Strategy National Workshop. September 11-13, Canberra, Australia.

Cobb, M. (2010) Work, rest & play: Understanding our influence on canine welfare to optimise Guide Dog performance. International Guide Dog Federation Seminar: plenary address. June 25-27, Ottawa, Canada.

Cobb, M. L. and Bennett, P. C. (2009) Companion animals and human health: the view from four paws. RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar: Animals & Human Health. February 24, Canberra, Australia.


Conference & seminar presentations:

Cobb, M.; Branson, N.; McGreevy, P. (2012) Advancing the welfare of Australia's iconic working dogs. Poster. Canine Science Forum. July 25-27, Barcelona, Spain.

Cobb, M.; Lill, A.; Bennett, P.C. (2010) The effect of enrichment on the welfare and performance of kennelled working dogs. Poster. Canine Science Forum. July 25-28, Vienna, Austria.

Cobb, M.; Lill, A.; Bennett, P.C. (2010) The experience of young dogs entering a kennel facility from a home environment. Building Better Dogs. Hosted by the Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University. February 11, Clayton, Australia.

Cobb, M.; Lill, A.; Bennett, P.C. (2009) Enrichment programs and animal welfare: catalyst or catastrophe? 43rd Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology. July 6-10, Cairns, Australia.

Cobb, M.; Lill, A.; Bennett, P.C. (2008) Kennel enrichment: catalyst or conundrum? Animal Companions for Life. Hosted by the Animal Welfare Science Centre. August 21, Atwood, Australia.


Contact: mia.cobb@monash.edu

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