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Canine Science Has a Geography Problem
A new paper argues that Western companion dogs dominate behavior research and limit claims about the species.
Summary
A new paper argues that Western companion dogs dominate behavior research and limit claims about the species.
An international team reviewing canine-behavior research found that study samples concentrate around North American and European universities, affluent owners, and trained companion breeds. Free-ranging dogs, working dogs, and populations in the Global South remain underrepresented. The authors propose large cross-country collaborations such as ManyDogs to standardize methods and broaden samples. This is a critique and research agenda, not proof that prior findings are invalid.
Why it matters
A new paper argues that Western companion dogs dominate behavior research and limit claims about the species.
Limits and context
- Free-ranging dogs, working dogs, and populations in the Global South remain underrepresented.
- This is a critique and research agenda, not proof that prior findings are invalid.
Key claims
A new paper argues that Western companion dogs dominate behavior research and limit claims about the species.
Qualification: Free-ranging dogs, working dogs, and populations in the Global South remain underrepresented.
Evidence: source-2026-07-22-016
Sources
- Association for Psychological Science via Newswise: Canine science sampling biasAssociation for Psychological Science via Newswise · secondary reporting
Corrections
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