Canine Science Society
CSC 2026 | june 4-6th
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
News on CSC 2026:
Abstract submission is closed
Emails have been sent to those who submitted abstracts. If you have not yet received an email (check your spam folder), please email caninesciencesociety@gmail.com
Registration is open!
The University of British Columbia - Robson Square
The Canine Science Conference provides an opportunity for scholars from many disciplines, such as animal welfare, physiology, genetics, behavior, human-dog interactions, and many others, to present their research to peers. All canine-related research is welcome!
Travel & Venue Info
UBC Robson Square
800 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 3B7
UBC Robson Square is situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver, providing learning and event spaces beyond UBC's Point Grey campus.
It is located near the Vancouver Art Gallery, and within walking distance of three SkyTrain stations.
More information, including details on accessibility, are provided in this PDF.
Los Paseos, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Special event
The Woolly Dog: An Evening of Story, Film, and Coast Salish Knowledge
This special evening event will explore the history, science, and cultural significance of the Coast Salish Woolly Dog through story-telling, film, and dialogue.
Co-authors Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa, Andrea Fritz, and Debra Sparrow will open the program with a short talk about their recent book The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog, which tells the story of “Mutton,” the only known preserved pelt of this extinct dog and uses it to illuminate the deep relationship between Coast Salish peoples and a breed once raised for its wool used in weaving blankets and regalia.
The evening will then feature a 30-minute screening of Threads that Bind: The Story of the Woolly Dog, a documentary by anthropologist and filmmaker Dr. Kirk French (Penn State University), which examines the history of the Woolly Dog and the renewed collaboration between scientists and Coast Salish knowledge keepers to better understand its role in cultural traditions.
The program will conclude with a panel discussion bringing together Hammond-Kaarremaa, Fritz, Sparrow, Dr. French, and researcher Dr. Audrey Lin (University of Vienna), whose work combines ancient genomics and Indigenous knowledge to reconstruct the history of this remarkable dog. Together, the panel will reflect on the Woolly Dog’s cultural legacy and the ongoing revitalization of Coast Salish weaving traditions and knowledge systems.
The ticketed event (free for conference registrants) will take place June 4, 2026 evening (time TBA) at UBC Robson Square. Tickets not yet available.
Panelists:
Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa
Smithsonian, Vancouver Island University
Andrea Fritz
Coast Salish artist and author
Debra Sparrow
Musqueam weaver, artist, and knowledge keeper
Dr. Kirk French
The Pennsylvania State University
Schedule & Presenter INFO
Conference Outline for travel planning purposes, further details TBA:
June 4:
Registration begins at 9 AM
Morning: Sessions throughout the day
Early evening: Dinner on your own
Evening: Special event focused on the Woolly Dog
June 5:
Morning: Sessions resume, continuing until the evening
Evening: Poster session followed by a group dinner
June 6:
Morning: Sessions until noon
Afternoon: Special interest event (UBC Vancouver campus): UBC-ASPCA workshop followed by dinner
*Light breakfast will be provided daily
Workshop
Post Conference ASPCA and UBC Sponsored Roundtable Discussion on Early Life Adversity and Trauma in Dogs
Location: The Animal Welfare Program, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver Point Grey Campus
Time: June 6 at 3:00 - 5:00 pm workshop | 5:30 - 8:00 pm dinner and social (campus location TBA)
Refreshments provided by the ASPCA
Are you currently working in, or interested in working in, the area of early life adversity, and would you like to participate in a focused roundtable discussion on phenotyping, terminology, and methods immediately after the end of the main conference?
This facilitated roundtable workshop brings together researchers working in the early life adversity space for a focused, collaborative discussion on how we define and assess early life adversity/trauma in animals.
The session will emphasize methodologic challenges and opportunities related to consistent approaches to phenotyping, inclusion criteria, and the development of common language across studies. To provide light framing while preserving ample time for organic discussion, the workshop will include several brief (5–10 minute) overviews on the role of early life experiences in adult dog behavior, current approaches to assessing and defining early life adversity/trauma, key insights from existing research, and emerging directions in the field. The workshop’s primary goal is to work toward consensus on terminology and methodological approaches, with the longer-term aim of presenting aligned perspectives to the broader scientific community. During conference registration, participants will be asked to indicate whether they are interested in attending this workshop. Please note, this session is intended for individuals who are currently working in this area or who have a strong interest in engaging in future research on early life adversity.
For those who are generally interested in learning more about the topic, contact bst.research@aspca.org to be added to a mailing list to receive updates from this workshop.
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