Canine neurodegenerative disorders like cognitive dysfunction are a significant veterinary health concern and powerful naturally-occurring models for human diseases like Alzheimer's. Progress in understanding and treating these conditions in both species is hampered by the poor accessibility of relevant neuronal cells. Direct reprogramming of canine mesenchymal stem cells (cMSCs) into induced neurons (iNs) offers a transformative solution, yet the molecular principles governing this conversion in canines remain undefined.