Dunja Kovač is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and veterinary behaviourist specializing in behavioural disorders in dogs and cats, as well as behavioural modification and animal behaviour therapy. She is the founder of Pet Institute, a centre dedicated to educating dog and cat owners with the aim of improving mutual understanding and building harmonious relationships between people and their pets.
During her stay in the United States, at the ASPCA, she obtained the Certified Canine Assessor certification for implementing the SAFER and MYM programs, which include working with dogs in shelters, conducting behavioural evaluations, applying behavioural protocols, and assessing the causes and levels of aggression as well as adoptability. Under the mentorship of renowned behaviour expert Dr. Sophia Yin, she also became certified in Low Stress Handling and Behaviour Modification Protocols for dogs and cats.
At the Messerli Research Institute in Vienna, within the Clever Dog Lab and the Wolf Science Center, she worked on research related to the comparative cognition of dogs and wolves. She is also certified to administer the C-BARQ (Canine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire) test for assessing the temperament of owned dogs. At the Kynological Academy in Belgrade, she serves as a moderator and lecturer in courses for professional dog walkers, as well as a lecturer in programs for professional handlers and kynological judges.
She is one of the authors of the “Handbook for Responsible Dog Owners” and the author of numerous professional articles, lectures, and papers presented at national and international conferences. She is currently a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Belgrade, specializing in animal welfare and behaviour.