Are Dogs the New Kids? Science Says… Sort Of.
Dogs aren’t replacing kids, but a 2025 study shows they occupy a strikingly similar emotional space. From oxytocin spikes to “gotcha day” parties, learn how culture reshaped the human–dog bond and what responsible “dog parenting” really means.
The Indispensable Human-Canine Bond
The remarkable bond between humans and dogs spans millennia, crossing cultural and geographical boundaries. Nearly every scientific discipline, including biology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and linguistics, has something to tell us about the value of the bond between our two species. At the National Canine Research Council we examine the myriad ways the human-canine bond enriches people’s lives.
What Do You Expect of Your Companions?
Is your partner less than perfect? Does your sibling sometimes annoy you? Do your kids? How about your parents, or your friends? If you’re like pretty much everybody, the answers are probably, yes, all the way around. A new study confirms that our relationships with our pet dogs are the same. Sometimes they do stuff […]
Judgment Free Pet Rehoming Reunited a Senior Dog and His Person
There’s scientific research to back up why this works.
Welcome to the Dog Park: No Dogs Allowed
Florida dog park opens, but dogs that act like dogs are prohibited
“What kind of dog is that?” Asking the wrong question and answering it badly
Our review has revealed no findings of breed based behavioral differences that successfully overcome all the difficulties presented by this question.
Genomes of Friendly Foxes
A 2018 study is beginning to unpack some of the genetic mysteries of the famous Russian farm fox experiment.
Welcome Back to SPARCS + 2018 Conference
The SPARCS Initiative is now maintained by National Canine Research Council.
There’s No Place Like Home
A stay in a foster home before adoption and even adoptions that end in the return of a dog to the shelter enhance the chances of rehoming for dogs who find themselves between owners.
Dog Bite Prevention Week Fact Sheet: Companionship is the best prevention
You are your dog’s first line of defense.