For many people, dogs are our best friends. But have you ever wondered what would happen to your dog if we suddenly disappeared? Can domestic dogs get along without people?
At least 80% of the billions of dogs on the planet lead independent and free lives, which gives us some clues.
What would our dogs be if we weren't there to influence and care for them?
What is a dog?
Dogs are considered the most successful domesticated animal species on earth. They have evolved over thousands of years under our watchful gaze. More recently, selective breeding has led to man-made diversity, producing unique breeds ranging from the imposing Great Dane to the tiny Chihuahua.
Man's search for the ideal canine companion has led to the creation of more than 400 breeds, each with a unique combination of physical and behavioral characteristics. Originally, dogs were bred primarily to perform useful functions such as herding, hunting and protection. This practice has only become established in the last 200 years.
According to some experts, the role of a pet is just another type of work that people have bred dogs for, with more emphasis on appearance. Breeders play a crucial role here, as they consciously select desirable characteristics and thus influence the future direction of the breeds.
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Are we good for dogs?
We know that some traits we like have serious implications for the animal's health and well-being. Therefore, flat-faced dogs have difficulty breathing due to their narrow nasal passages and short airways. This lack of air can cause asthma attacks. These dogs are also more prone to skin, eye and dental problems than long-snouted animals.
Many modern dogs require medical intervention to breed. Therefore, French bulldogs and Chihuahuas often require a cesarean section for birth because the puppies' heads are very large compared to the width of the mother's pelvis. This reliance on surgical procedures for reproduction highlights the profound impact of intensive selective breeding on dogs.
While domestic dogs benefit greatly from being part of a human family, some lead very isolated and controlled lives where they have little opportunity to make decisions – an important factor in their happiness.
Dogs without people
Now imagine a world where dogs are no longer subject to human selection and care. The immediate consequences would be striking. Races that largely depend on us for basic needs such as food, shelter and healthcare would struggle to adapt and many would succumb to the harsh realities of life without human support.
However, this would likely only affect less than 20% of dogs (which is roughly the number of dogs living in our home). Most dogs in the world roam free. This phenomenon is very common in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Although these dogs are not domesticated in the traditional sense, they live alongside humans. Therefore, their survival depends almost entirely on human-produced resources such as landfills and donated food. Without humans, natural selection would quickly set in. Dogs lacking vital survival traits such as adaptability, hunting ability, disease resistance, parental instinct and sociability would gradually decline.
Extremely large or small dogs would be at a disadvantage because their size affects calorie needs, environmental regulation of body temperature, and susceptibility to predators.
Restricted behavioral strategies, such as being too afraid to explore new places, would also be harmful. And while sterilized dogs may have traits essential for survival, they would not be able to pass on their genes to future generations.
No more hybrid breeds
Ultimately, a new type of dog would emerge, driven by health and behavioral success rather than human preferences.
Dogs not only mate with individuals of their breed, but can also choose completely different animals when the opportunity arises. Over time, the different breeds fade and spontaneous mating creates the appearance of a “village dog”, similar to the “camp dogs” of isolated indigenous communities in Australia and the dogs we see in Southeast Asia.
These dogs are generally medium in size, have a balanced build, short coats of various colors, and straight ears and tail. However, there may be regional variations such as a bushier coat due to factors such as climate.
Over time, the dogs returned to a wild canine lifestyle. These animals would likely adopt similar social and feeding behavior to their current wild relatives, such as the Australian dingo. They may live in small family groups on defined territories, return for an annual breeding season, engage in social hunting, and receive attentive parental care (particularly from fathers).
The transition would be easier for certain breeds, particularly herding dogs and those already living independently in villages or in the wild.
What is a good dog life?
In their book “The Forest Calls,” Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff explore the idea of preparing our dogs for a future without humans. They encourage us to give them more autonomy and therefore more happiness. This might mean simply letting them choose the direction of their walk or taking their time sniffing a tree.
When thinking about a possible future without humans, the question arises: Are our actions towards dogs sustainable, in their interest and in harmony with their nature? Or do they correspond more to our wishes?
By thinking about how dogs might live without us, we may be able to find ways to improve their lives with us.
Bradley Smith, Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia and Mia Cobb, Research Associate, Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.