Three Things to Know
Street dogs are often overlooked as adoptable pets due to negative stereotypes about their behavior and temperament. Researchers studied adopted free-roaming dogs in India to better understand their behavior and their relationship with their human owners.
Many dogs were adopted unintentionally, often as puppies or animals in need of medical care. However, intentional adoptions also occurred, with people seeking companionship.
Overall, the dogs displayed low levels of aggression towards people but moderate levels of aggression towards other dogs. They were generally less fearful and did not exhibit significant separation anxiety. Owners reported strong emotional bonds with their dogs and low perceived costs, suggesting that street dogs can make excellent pets.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners:
The adoption of free-roaming dogs is often a contentious issue, with concerns about their adaptability as pets. This research demonstrates that, on average, Indian street dogs can successfully transition into domestic environments.
While the study found that these dogs can exhibit moderate dog-to-dog aggression, it also revealed that introducing them to another dog in the home can help them adjust. This finding challenges the common concern about adopting a dog into a multi-dog household and suggests that careful introductions can mitigate potential issues.
Even though many organizations advocate for international adoption of stray dogs, this research highlights the success of local adoptions. By sharing these findings, we can encourage more local adoptions and improve the lives of stray dogs within their communities.
The Full Picture
Free-ranging dogs (FRDs), often referred to as strays or street dogs, make up a significant portion of the global dog population, especially in low- and middle-income countries like India. These dogs have long coexisted with humans, relying on human waste for survival. While India has officially ended the practice of culling FRDs, sterilization programs face logistical and financial challenges in urban areas.
Despite their adaptability and intelligence, FRDs are often overlooked as potential pets due to cultural preferences and misconceptions about their temperament. However, there’s a growing interest in adopting these dogs, which can offer numerous benefits for public health, animal welfare, and human-dog relationships.
To better understand the potential of FRDs as companion animals, this study, titled “The human-animal bond and at-home behaviours of adopted Indian free-ranging dogs”, aims to investigate their behavior and bond with their human owners. By using validated questionnaires like the C-BARQ and MDORS, the research will explore the influence of demographic and behavioral factors on human-dog relationships. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of human-animal interactions, promoting the adoption of FRDs and improving their welfare.
Study Methods
To gather data, the study employed a two-part online survey approach. Participants were recruited through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Both Indian and international households owning adopted Indian FRDs were invited to participate.
Survey I utilized the Canine Behavior and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) to assess the dog’s behavior. Additionally, demographic information about both the owner and the adopted FRD was collected.
Survey II was distributed to participants who completed Survey I. This survey focused on the dog’s lifestyle and the owner-dog relationship, using the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS). It also gathered data on specific aspects of the dog’s life, including:
- Living environment
- Feeding and sleeping habits
- Walking routine
- Veterinary care and behavioral consultations
- Reasons for adoption and decisions regarding neutering/spaying.
Study Results
Participant and Dog Demographics
A total of 1,628 responses were collected for the first survey (C-BARQ), and 580 responses were received for the second survey (MDORS).
The study included a diverse range of adopted FRDs, with ages ranging from 6 months to 22 years (average: 4.3 years). The dogs were adopted at various ages, from birth to 18 years (average: 5.6 months), and have been owned for an average of 45.5 months. Female FRDs (53%) were slightly more common than males.
The majority of dogs were adopted directly from the streets (64%), followed by adoptions through social media, animal shelters, and friends or family. Approximately 59% of the dogs were sterilized, with higher rates among females.
In terms of household composition, many FRDs were the sole pets (40.4%), while others lived with other dogs (38%) or a variety of other pets (22%).
Lifestyle and Routines
Most FRDs were primarily indoor dogs (72%), with a significant portion allowed some outdoor time (27%). Leash walking was the most common form of outdoor activity (74.7%), with most owners (81%) accompanying their dogs on walks. A small percentage of dogs were allowed to roam freely (6.6%) or were confined indoors (2%).
The dogs typically slept for 8-15 hours per day and were fed two or three meals daily.
Adoption Rationale, Sterilization and Behaviour Consultations
Analysis of open-ended responses provided insights into the motivations behind adopting FRDs and the challenges faced by owners.
Many participants adopted FRDs unintentionally, with about a third of respondents adopting FRDs as puppies found on the streets, often in situations where the mother was absent. Others cited the dog’s ill health or physical injury (14%). In many cases, the owners adopted intentionally, seeking a dog (19%) or for companionship (16%).
Common reasons for not sterilizing dogs included ethical concerns (24%), practical barriers like cost (10%) or access to veterinary care (9%), and religious beliefs. Approximately one-third of owners sought behavioral consultations for issues such as separation anxiety, aggression, and fear.
Dog Behaviours
The C-BARQ assessment revealed a complex behavioral profile of free-roaming dogs. While aggression towards humans was generally low, aggression towards other dogs was more common, particularly among male dogs and older individuals. Fear and non-social fear were less prevalent, with neutered dogs and solo pets showing higher tendencies. Separation-related issues and sensitivity to touch were minimal, while attachment levels were moderate to high.
Interestingly, the study identified novel behavioral issues like stereotypical behaviors and inappropriate elimination, potentially linked to stress and restricted living conditions. A significant portion of dogs exhibited stereotypical behaviors, suggesting that these behaviors might serve as coping mechanisms for past or present stressors.
The presence of other pets in the household seemed to have a positive impact on dog behavior, reducing various behavioral issues. Adoption source had a limited effect, but dogs adopted through social media showed fewer stereotypical behaviors, possibly due to early-life socialization. Older dogs, while displaying more dog-to-dog aggression, are less fearful and anxious, highlighting the potential benefits of adopting older dogs.
These findings offer valuable insights into the behavior and welfare of free-roaming dogs, emphasizing the importance of considering various factors, such as age, sex, living environment, and social interactions, when adopting and caring for these animals.
Dog-Human Relationship
The study delved into the complexities of the dog-human relationship using the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS). Dog Owner Interaction (DOI) scores were generally high, with factors such as veterinary consultations increasing the level of interaction. Perceived Cost (PC) was relatively low, with separation-related problems and behavioral consultations increasing the perceived burden.
Emotional Closeness (EC) was high. Older participants exhibited slightly stronger emotional attachments to their dogs, and excitable dogs were more likely to foster emotional closeness, whereas touch sensitivity reduced attachment without increasing perceived burdens.
These findings provide valuable insights into the factors shaping the dog-human bond, highlighting the importance of considering various aspects of the dog’s behavior, lifestyle, and the owner’s characteristics.
Conclusion
This study offers a comprehensive look into the behavior, lifestyle, and human-dog relationships of adopted free-ranging dogs (FRDs) in India. The research sheds light on the unique characteristics of these dogs, revealing them to be energetic, deeply bonded to their owners, and moderately reactive to unfamiliar individuals and dogs. While they may exhibit some fear in novel situations, they generally demonstrate fearlessness in social contexts.
The study highlights the strong emotional bond between Indian FRD owners and their dogs, coupled with low perceived burden, suggesting that these dogs can thrive as beloved household pets. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, animal welfare organizations, and individuals considering adopting FRDs, emphasizing the potential for these dogs to enrich human lives.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
–
Year of Publication:
2023
External Link:
Rubina Mondal, Alexandra Protopopova, Anindita Bhadra, The human-animal bond and at-home behaviours of adopted Indian free-ranging dogs, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 268, 2023, 106014, ISSN 0168-1591, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.106014