After5Houston - More Than A Best Friend: What Dogs Reveal About Ourselves

We share our homes, our couches, and our whole lives with dogs, but how much do we really know about what they feel?
About this Event

A Conversation on Dogs, Humans, and Connection

Join a Certified Canine Behaviorist and owner of Raise The Woof here in Houston for, "More Than A Best Friend: What Dogs Reveal About Ourselves", a science-based look at the emotional world of dogs. Does your dog actually feel guilt when you walk in on a chewed shoe, or is that just a very good performance? Can dogs feel jealousy, grief, or love, or are we projecting our own emotions onto them? And after thousands of years living side by side, how much do we truly understand about what is going on behind those eyes?

We will separate what the research genuinely tells us from the myths we have all absorbed, and explain why understanding how dogs feel changes how we train them, live with them, and care for them.

This is not a dry academic lecture. It is a warm, myth-busting conversation for anyone who has ever looked at a dog and wondered what they are really thinking. Whether you are a devoted dog parent, a future adopter, or just someone who melts at a wagging tail, you will leave seeing your four-legged companion in a new light.

Come for the science. Stay for the wine, the conversation, and the company. Sip, think, and connect with fellow curious adults at After5Society.

What we'll explore:

• Which emotions dogs actually experience, and which ones we tend to imagine?
• What current research reveals about the canine emotional world?
• How dogs communicate their feelings, to us and to each other?
• Why reading emotions like fear and anxiety correctly makes us kinder, better owners?

About the Speaker:

Paige Storz is a Certified Canine Behaviorist, former veterinary technician, and owner of Raise The Woof: Your Local Dog Therapist in Houston, Texas. Her passion for understanding behavior led her from veterinary medicine to earning a Master's degree focused on Applied Animal Behavior. Today, Paige specializes in helping dogs and their families navigate fear, aggression, anxiety, and communication challenges through a science-based approach to behavior. She combines academic knowledge with hands-on experience working with hundreds of dogs, helping bridge the gap between what dogs do and why they do it.

Agenda

🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Doors Open & Drinks Flow

Info: Arrive early to grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy the atmosphere. Early birds get the best seats and a head start on mingling!

🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
Guided Experience / Talk

Info: Dive into an engaging, interactive session with our speaker. Participate, observe, or simply soak it all in - it's your experience to enjoy.

🕑: 07:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Social Time & Connection

Info: Stick around to chat with fellow attendees, swap ideas, or just relax with a drink. Great conversations often happen after the main event!