He examines canine expressions. She investigates their minds.

Within a sound- and scent-proof chamber at Harvard’s Canine Brains Lab, photographer Elias Weiss Friedman struck a hammer against the floor beside his hand while Sasha, the campus police department’s community engagement dog, observed with intent. When Friedman mimicked injury, acting as if he had struck his thumb and cried out in agony, the black Labrador briefly glanced at Officer Steve Fumicello, her handler, before sprinting to Friedman and licking his face. This scenario was part of a routine experiment to evaluate dogs’ empathy in the lab.

“Some [canines] respond this way; some are indifferent,” clarified Erin Hecht, assistant professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, overseeing the Canine Brains Project. “In the actual assessment, the individual repeats this action thrice, and we’ve had several dogs attempt to take the hammer away.”

Friedman, founder of the popular social media platform “The Dogist,” visited Hecht’s laboratory last week. He has captured images of over 50,000 dogs, while Hecht employs a different form of imaging—MRIs—to investigate the science linked to this beloved companion.

“I’m fine, I was merely joking,” Friedman comforted Sasha after the test, while stroking her ears. “Thank you for being so compassionate and loving, because if this were to occur in real life, I would require your affection.”

Hecht and Friedman later engaged in a dialogue about their distinct visual approaches to canine subjects during a fireside discussion at Kirkland House, moderated by Faculty Dean David Deming, Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Education and Economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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“Completely forthright,” remarked Friedman, whose upcoming book, “This Dog Will Transform Your Existence,” is on the horizon. “You can observe a dog and interpret the expression on its face, recognizing their total sincerity, and there’s something immensely wonderful about that.”

Hecht mentioned that MRI imaging enables her to investigate the question many dog enthusiasts have pondered at some juncture: What thoughts are circulating in their minds?

“You can identify numerous signs, indications of fear, aggression, or trainability, which could relate to cognitive ability or the capacity to learn. There are distinctions between breeds that may connect to their historical roles,” conveyed Hecht. “I still experience goosebumps when a dog enters the scanner and we see their brain image for the first time. It’s like, ‘Wow, that is a brain in there. That’s the dog—its emotions, thoughts, plans, and wishes are all right there.’”

She pointed out that in research, it’s always feasible to dedicate time to a study only to realize there are no notable findings. However, this has not been the case with her canine research, likely due to the incredible diversity in dog brains and their close link to behavior. Hecht’s lab is currently seeking dogs for research studies, particularly looking for those exhibiting behavioral issues stemming from early life stress or trauma. They are also recruiting children aged 7 to 12 along with their dogs for a study delving into the connections between kids and their pets.

Friedman expressed that dogs are akin to “furry conversation starters” that have enabled him to connect with thousands of fascinating individuals through his work.

“Prior to acquiring a dog, you know your neighbor, but after you welcome a dog into your life, you become acquainted with your entire neighborhood,” Friedman remarked. “There’s a palpable sense of community and social interaction; when your dog needs to go out, you inevitably encounter around 10 people. That’s genuinely impactful.”

Hecht noted that dogs have been selectively bred to excel at forming connections with humans.

“The capacity to forge relationships with people is the most fundamental trait they have evolved. We serve as their social companions. Their innate position in the world is within human communities. They have adapted for our environment,” Hecht explained. “Subsequently, humans have cultivated various breeds of dogs. Some breeds are required to be protective and territorial to safeguard a family or a flock. Others engage in more interactive tasks within their environment. This encompasses a vast array of cognitive styles.”

During the Q&A, students posed various inquiries to Friedman and Hecht: “Do dogs have favorites in the household?” (Hecht: They do have preferences for different activities); “Are dogs critical of us?” (Hecht: They can sense unfriendly intentions); and “Do people genuinely resemble their dogs?” (Friedman: Absolutely).

When asked if any particular dogs stood out among the thousands he has captured, Friedman reminisced about Pudding, a pit bull mix marked by past abuse, whom he photographed back in 2013 when his Instagram account was just establishing itself.

“Up to that point, I had approached it as a light-hearted venture, like, ‘Wouldn’t it be amusing to capture images of dogs?’” Friedman recollected. “This was a transformative dog as it made me realize this endeavor was far more significant. Dogs evoke laughter and tears; there’s beauty intertwined with sadness, and it’s essential for me to convey all of it.”