National Canine Research Council is a non-profit canine behavior science & 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 & practical canine policy that: 1. Is based on empirically-verified data. 2. Is based on research that embodies the principle that dogs must be considered in relation to humans. 3. Removes barriers to safe and humane pet ownership. Our vision is to progress in our understanding of our relationship with dogs so that limited resources of time & money are spent on studies that consider the full context in which dogs live, rather than on research that fails to consider dogs in their human controlled environment. We aspire to develop a collective expectation that any canine behavior studies may impact public policy & thus the welfare of dogs & their owners. Canine behavior research should be held to a high standard of sound methodology.