Published: 21 Feb 2025 | Last Updated: 21 Feb 2025 09:30:02

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has identified a set of key recommendations to further improve canine health and welfare research in the UK. This includes the need for more efficient grant applications, stronger collaboration between funders and research institutions and the prioritisation of research that has direct welfare benefits for dogs. These findings provide funders and researchers with a framework to enhance the impact of future research and ensure funding is directed where it can most effectively improve canine welfare.

The RVC’s UK Canine Research Funding Analysis Project was structured in three phases to assess the state of canine health and welfare research funding in the UK. Phase one identified that animal-directed funders provided nearly 90% of all canine-specific research funding, with wide-scope funders contributing larger grants but primarily focused on One Health research (a collaborative approach to improving the health of people, animals, and the environment). Phase two then revealed research gaps, such as the underfunding of studies on responsible breeding, canine behavioural issues and the impact of human lifestyle on canine welfare.

Now, the third and final phase which explored the challenges in research design, processes and sector infrastructure, has been conducted concluding the project. This was undertaken using insights from phases one and two and was led by the RVC’s Dr Alison Skipper, Postdoctoral Researcher into Canine Research Funding; Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science; and Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology.

The findings revealed a number of common challenges researchers face in securing funding and delivering effective research. The research team then provided a set of key recommendations to help improve canine research in the UK.

These challenges and proposed solutions include:

1. Grant applications for canine health and welfare research are often burdensome and inconsistent, requiring researchers to rewrite and reformat proposals for different funders. The report recommends introducing a standardised, two-stage application process to reduce administrative barriers.
2. Lack of feedback on rejected grant applications prevents researchers from improving proposals, limiting their chances of securing future funding. The report suggests offering brief, structured feedback to unsuccessful applicants to enhance transparency and proposal quality.
3. Greater collaboration between funders and research institutions is needed to support large-scale, high-impact projects, particularly for complex canine health issues such as obesity, arthritis and breed-related diseases.
4. Early career researchers said they struggle to secure funding, as few grants provide postdoctoral salaries or structured career development opportunities. The report calls for dedicated funding and mentorship initiatives to support new researchers in the sector.
5. There is no centralised database tracking past canine health research funding, making it difficult for researchers and funders to identify gaps and opportunities. The report highlights the need for a publicly accessible platform to improve visibility and coordination across funders.
6. Stakeholders, including funders, researchers and practitioners, need a structured way to set research priorities to ensure funding addresses the most urgent canine welfare concerns. The report suggests adopting a model similar to the James Lind Alliance, which successfully prioritises human medical research.
7. Future research should prioritise projects that directly benefit canine welfare, with funders assessing proposals based on clear impact metrics such as ‘Benefit for the Dog’ and ‘Pathway to Impact’.

The findings provide a roadmap for the sector and funders to enhance the future of canine health and welfare research. By streamlining funding processes, increasing collaboration and focusing research efforts on projects with tangible welfare benefits, researchers can ensure better outcomes for canine health and welfare across the UK.

Dr Alison Skipper, Researcher in Canine Health Research at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said:

“This extensive project highlights the need for significant improvements in how we fund and conduct research on canine health and welfare. While UK funders have made valuable contributions, our findings show that inefficiencies in funding processes, a lack of collaboration and limited support for early-career researchers are preventing research from having its full impact. By streamlining applications, increasing transparency and fostering strategic partnerships, we can ensure that future research is both effective and directly beneficial to dogs.”

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Epidemiology at the RVC and co-author of the paper, said:

“Canine health and welfare research plays a vital role in improving the lives of millions of dogs across the UK. However, this study has identified key barriers that researchers face, from complex grant applications to limited funding with direct welfare benefits. Addressing these challenges through greater collaboration and targeted funding will allow us to better tackle pressing issues such as breed-related diseases, behavioural problems and the impact of human lifestyles on canine wellbeing.”

The study was funded by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, Battersea, Dogs Trust and the Waltham Foundation.

Jennifer Millard, Chair of The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, said:

“As one of the largest funders of dog health and welfare research, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust welcomes these insights into how we can work together to ensure funding is directed where it can most effectively improve canine welfare.

“We remain dedicated to supporting research which makes a real difference for dogs and committed to collaborating with others in the sector to enhance its impact.”

Simona Zito, Battersea’s Grants and Programmes Manager, said:

“As part of our commitment to driving positive change in the sector, Battersea is proud to fund this research. This study highlights key barriers but also outlines clear, actionable steps to improve funding processes and collaboration. We are dedicated to breaking down these obstacles and working with partners to ensure research is accessible, effective, and delivers real benefits for dogs.”

Notes to editors

The full report can be accessed at: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/research-projects-and-opportunities/projects/projects/canine-research-funding-by-charitable-organisations-in-the-uk-current-status-and-future-opportunities#tab-project-outputs.

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Jasmin De Vivo at jasmin.devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk 
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.  
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada. 
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2024.  
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.  
• The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. 
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.