Street dogs in India handle busy streets alone, a new study says
Many of 45 Western-trained dog specialists in India described street dogs as socially skilled and capable.
India has an estimated 60 million street dogs, and nobody owns them. In a new study, 45 dog behaviour specialists trained in the West visited India to watch these dogs.
The street dogs could move through busy city streets and crowds on their own. The dogs solved conflicts with subtle signals, such as barks and postures, instead of long fights.
Many pet dogs spend much of their lives indoors, behind fences, or on leads. The specialists began to wonder whether some behaviour problems come from the conditions owners create.
The study does not say street life is better, since street dogs face disease, injury and hunger.
- An estimated 60 million, with no owners
- Street dogs in India
- Rose tenfold between 2010 and 2020
- US behavioural diagnoses
Why it mattersOwners may need to balance safety with freedom, since too much control might leave pets anxious or frustrated.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but it may shape how Australian owners and trainers think about pet dog freedom.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 9 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
