Alexandra Horowitz

Alexandra Horowitz is a leading authority on dog cognition and serves as a senior research fellow and adjunct associate professor in the English and Psychology departments at Barnard College, Columbia University. Horowitz holds a doctorate in cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego, where she also trained as an ethologist, specializing in animal behavior. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a lexicographer for Merriam-Webster and as a fact-checker at The New Yorker, where her collaboration with neuroscientist and author Oliver Sacks influenced her decision to pursue cognitive science. At Barnard, Horowitz teaches courses in dog cognition, nonfiction writing, and oral storytelling.

Horowitz is the founder and director of the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard, one of the first research centers in the United States dedicated to the study of dog behavior and psychology. Her research focuses on the sense of self in dogs, their spatial awareness, and the complexity of their olfactory systems. Notable findings include her work on the so-called guilty look in dogs, which demonstrated that this expression is a submissive response to human cues rather than an indication of guilt. Horowitz continues to investigate the olfactory experiences of domestic dogs through studies conducted in natural environments.

As an author, Horowitz has written several books on animal cognition and dog behavior. Her debut, "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know," became a New York Times bestseller and introduced readers to the concept of the canine umwelt, or the subjective sensory world of dogs. Subsequent works include "On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes," which received a William James Book Award, as well as "Being a Dog: Following the Dog into a World of Smell," "Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond," and "The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves." Her children's adaptations have also received recognition, including the NSTA award for Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12.

Horowitz's expertise in animal cognition has led to appearances on NPR's Fresh Air and CBS Sunday Morning, contributions to The New York Times, and speaking engagements at venues such as the Aspen Ideas Festival and New York University. She created the podcast "Off-Leash," where she and guests discuss dog behavior and cognition. Horowitz's research and writing are recognized for their scientific rigor and accessible approach, making her a prominent figure in the field of animal behavior and dog cognition.