The Centre undertakes collaborative research with Dept. of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The Canine Behaviour Centre is a research unit in the School of Psychology devoted to the study of dog behaviour. A wide variety of pioneering research projects have been undertaken at the Centre. Recent studies include work on the welfare of dogs housed in rescue shelters, the tracking abilities of service dogs, dog aggression, the behavioural development of the dog fetus and the prevention of dog fouling. This work has had the backing of numerous institutions, including the National Canine Defence League, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Belfast City Council, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Belfast Zoo, and the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Research is by no means restricted to the behaviour of domestic dogs.
Researchers at the Centre have been studying the behaviour and social dynamics of African Wild Dogs at the Belfast Zoo for the past year in an attempt to enhance the breeding success of this endangered species. Further afield, there are plans to conduct research on the behaviour of semi-captive dingoes in Castlemaine, Australia. In addition to research, the Canine Behaviour Centre offers a variety of services to members of the dog-owning community, including advice on animal welfare, cage design for sheltered dogs and ultrasound scanning for dog pregnancy confirmation. In particular demand, is the Centre's practice in the treatment of dog behaviour problems. Behaviour therapy for dogs is a relatively new science, but demand for such a practice is growing steadily.