A recent paper published in Current Directions in Psychological Science emphasizes the need for broader research in canine behavior that encompasses underrepresented regions. Julia Espinosa and her international team point out that much of the existing studies on dogs have focused primarily on populations in North America and Europe, raising concerns about how these findings may not apply to dogs in places like Kyoto or Buenos Aires.
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Espinosa, an animal behavior researcher at York University in Toronto, explains that the relationships dogs have with humans vary significantly around the world. She stresses that the current understanding of dog behavior is limited by a Western-centric perspective. "We're really not getting the whole picture until we start including many more populations from other places," Espinosa stated.
The issue echoes a long-standing bias in human psychological research toward Western views, labeled as focusing on participants from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) societies. Animal researchers have recognized a similar trend regarding the study of dogs, often influenced by what is described as STRANGE factors—social background, trappability, rearing history, acclimation, genetic makeup, and experience.
In the paper, Espinosa highlights that dogs in Western regions generally come from environments where they receive more training and come in diverse breeds. Consequently, dogs with different behaviors, particularly in the Global South, where they are often more autonomous and roam freely, remain understudied. Additionally, working dogs in roles such as medical service or rescue are harder to research because their work limits accessibility.
To address these gaps, the researchers advocate for a collaborative approach in canine science, emphasizing the formation of international teams like ManyDogs. This consortium aims to pool resources and knowledge to conduct more representative studies across various cultural contexts. Espinosa explains that these collaborations allow researchers to standardize data collection and explore broader questions about canine behavior.
Such initiatives have already yielded valuable insights. For instance, a recent study combining data from Toronto, Vienna, and Kyoto has illuminated both similarities and differences in canine behavior across these locations. Espinosa notes that understanding these dynamics not only benefits canine science but also sheds light on human evolution and psychology, given the long-standing co-evolution of dogs and humans.
This research signals a significant step forward in addressing the global disparities in canine studies, ultimately enhancing our comprehension of both dogs and human-animal interaction.
Publication details: Julia Espinosa et al, Beyond WEIRD Humans and STRANGE Dogs: Using Big-Team Science to Improve Generalizability and Reproducibility in Comparative Psychology, Current Directions in Psychological Science (2026). DOI: 10.1177/09637214261450055