About the Conference
What is the Canine Science Forum?
The Canine Science Forum is an interdisciplinary Conference that brings together scientists with different expertise on Canines.
It is held biannually since 2008 and it is the main international meeting devoted to the biology, ecology and behaviour of dogs, wolves and related canids.
Aims and scope
Through enhancing communication between various fields, the Canine Science Forum aims at substantiating canine biology
in order to develop it as a major model for biological investigations. The Canine Science Forum also intends to utilize science as a source of knowledge to promote:
- Consolidation of an interdisciplinary field of canine biology
- Better integration of dogs in our rapidly changing modern society
- Dog science that develops non-invasive research technologies (good scientific practice)
The Canine Science Forum is also aimed to spread information on the advantageous roles of dogs in our society and thus increase their well-being
Major topics (following Tinbergen’s 4 questions)
Mechanisms behind canine behaviour
- Dog behaviour genetics
- Genetics of perception
- Neuroethology of canines
- Emotions
- Perceptual abilities
- Learning and memory
- Physical cognition: Representing objects
- Ecological cognition: Orientation in space and time and finding food
- Social cognition and social learning
- Cognitive aspects of social organisation
- Cognitive aspects of communication
- Recognition through olfaction, taste, vision, and hearing
Development of Canids
- Ontogeny of canine behaviour
- Vocal development
- Development of communicative abilities
- Changes in social behaviour
- Aging in dogs
Functions of canine behaviour
- Canine ethology
- Communication
- Comparative behavioural study of canines
- Intra-specific social behaviour
- Integrative behavioural physiology
- Behaviour ecology of wild-living wolves, coyotes and jackals and dingoes
- Population dynamics of free-living and human associated canine populations
- Behavioural breed differences
- Temperament and personality
- Behavioural ecological approach in dogs
Evolution of Canines
- Phylogenetics and archeozoology of Canines and relatives
- Domestication and selection of breeds
- Multi-level effects of domestication
- Canine genomics
- The genetics of breeds and dog breeding genetics
- Breed-specific and individual differences in cognitive skills
Applied topics
The dog-human relationship
- Roles of dogs in the society
- Psychophysiological interaction between humans and dogs
- Adverse effects of dog-human social relations
- Human-directed aggression
- Free-ranging and feral dogs
- Shelter dogs – life and survival in captive dog populations
- Behavioural aspects of dog-human relationship
- Dogs as robotic models
- Reintroduction of Canis-species
Applied aspects of canine biology
- Training methods in working dogs
- Ethology of training for work in dogs
- Factors influencing the performance in working dog
- Captive canine management
- Environmental enrichment
- Dogs as therapeutic agents
- Veterinary aspects of behaviour
Important dates
