Evidence-Based Canine Genome & Behavior Research Library
Discover evidence-based information that affects dogs and the people that care for them.
Canine Behavior Research & Policy Newsletter
Accurate & Reliable Source For Understanding Canine-Related Behavior
National Canine Research Council is a non-profit canine behavior science and policy think tank. Our mission is to underwrite, conduct and disseminate academically rigorous research that studies dogs in the context of human society. We advocate innovative and practical canine policy.
- Empirically-verified data
- Research that embodies the principle that dogs must be considered in relation to humans
- Removing barriers to safe and humane pet ownership
- Leading experts in the field
Summary & Analysis: Attacks by packs of dogs involving predation on human beings
This paper covers a small series of unique case studies.
Dog Bite-Related Fatalities: A Literature Review
DBRFs are extremely rare, and because research indicates that they are largely preventable and may disproportionately affect children, there has been a push to better understand the circumstances and variables that contribute to such incidents.
Topics Worth Checking Out
Here are our picks for a few things to think about when you find yourself in the mood to reflect on the amazing connections between people and animals and on policies and attitudes that can get in the way.
Companion Animal Welfare
Julie Falconer’s piece in Humane Pro, the Humane Society of the US’s publication, “Leap of Faith: what does it truly take to welcome adopters?” is an inspiring must-read. Falconer explores what it takes to learn to trust potential adopters, instead of confronting them with the suspicion and barriers that have long been a staple of the industry. It is particularly resonant during this pandemic when more people than ever are seeking the comfort of an animal companion.
Misinformation
A recent Forbes article defended insurance rules that restrict access to homeowner’s insurance according to the reported breed of the clients’ family dogs. These rules discriminate against people of color and the less affluent among these companies’ customers. We expose the author’s use of cherry-picked data and blatant misinformation.
Dog Aggression
When Major Biden, the President’s dog, bit someone, it became viral news. Dog trainers and self-proclaimed behavior consultants jumped at the chance to share their fact-free, out of context opinions on the dog’s state of mind and what could have triggered the incident. These kinds of context-free opinion pieces from professionals is one of the most egregious forms of malpractice
A quick assessment tool for human-directed aggression in pet dogs
This study is included because the assessment developed has been adopted by other researchers due to its brevity and reported validity.
Nonfatal dog bite-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments – United States, 2001
To estimate the number of injurious and severely injurious dog bites in the U.S., the CDC analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP).
Trainability and boldness traits differ between dog breed clusters based on conventional breed categories and genetic relatedness
This 2011 exploratory study used a large owner survey in an attempt to quantify behavioral commonalities among breeds and breed groups.
