Automation in canine science: enhancing human capabilities and overcoming adoption barriers

The emerging field of canine science has been slow in adopting automated approaches for data analysis. However, with the dramatic increase in the volume and complexity of the collected behavioral data, this is now beginning to change. This paper aims to systematize the field of automation in canine science. We provide an examination of current automation processes and pipelines by providing a literature review of state-of-the-art studies applying automation in this field. In addition, via an empirical study with researchers in animal behavior, we explore their perceptions and attitudes toward automated approaches for better understanding barriers for a wider adoption of automation. The insights derived from this research could facilitate more effective and widespread utilization of automation within canine science, addressing current challenges and enhancing the analysis of increasingly complex and voluminous behavioral data. This could potentially revolutionize the field, allowing for more objective and quantifiable assessments of dog behavior, which would ultimately contribute to our understanding of dog-human interactions and canine welfare.