Demystifying Dogs Requires Studying Their Diverse Lifestyles

A healthy free-ranging dog in Bali.

Source: Marco Adda

Dogs are extremely popular companion animals. However, few people realize that of Earth’s billion or so dogs, only about 25 percent are homed companions, and around 75 percent are free-ranging or feral.¹ What this means is that to demystify and become fluent in “dog” (dog literate) and learn more about who dogs truly are and dog-human relationships and what they need from us so they can express their “dogness,” it’s essential to study and acknowledge what we know from research on free-ranging dogs, because there is no “universal dog,” and there are marked individual differences even within different cohorts. The excellent research that’s been conducted on dogs in controlled experiments in laboratories around the world only tells part of the story about domestication—how they became who they are—and the wide-ranging spectrum of the behavioral repertoires of dogs, who still possess wolfish genes and brains. Dogs aren’t dumbed-down wolves, and they all share a common wolf ancestry.

This interview with free-ranging dog researcher and trainer Marco Adda stems from a previous wide-ranging discussion and contains valuable information for researchers, trainers, and current and potential dog guardians. The general idea of imploring people to study free-ranging dogs reminded me of a seminal essay by renowned philosopher Daniel Dennett called “Out of the Armchair and into the Field,” which stresses the importance of studying free-ranging animals to learn about who they are, what they do, and where they live. This applies to domestic and wild animals.²

Marc Bekoff: Who are free-ranging dogs?

Marco Adda: Free-ranging dogs, also called free-roaming dogs, village dogs, stray dogs, or streeties, are dogs roaming free and without restriction by humans. That doesn’t mean they don’t associate with people—sometimes they do. Free-ranging dogs aren’t abandoned dogs, but some might be. They can be found in various settings, from urban to rural landscapes.

MB: How do they live?

MA: The lives of free-ranging dogs are shaped by their environment and available resources. They are ingenious and adaptable and rely on various means to meet their dietary needs, including scavenging, hunting small prey, foraging on human waste, or receiving direct support from humans.

Shelter can range from natural habitats to places such as abandoned buildings, a restaurant’s terrace, or a shop’s patio. I’ve observed dogs sleeping on motorbike saddles in Bali, Indonesia, and Guanajuato, Mexico. They sleep there because it’s a soft chaise lounge that’s easily accessible and available.

Free-ranging dogs form dynamic social groups which can vary in size and organization and provide them with companionship and cooperation. There also may be an ordered social structure that helps maintain balance and minimize conflicts.

Another common myth is that they’re inherently dangerous or aggressive. In fact, most dog-dog conflicts are solved peacefully rather than with the drama we sometimes witness among companion dogs. Could those crucial differences be rooted in the human influence on companion dogs and their inability to make choices?

Another myth is that free-ranging dogs have no “owners.” Conversely, they often develop relationships with different people within a community. Here the concept of ownership blurs and becomes fluid, with dogs themselves deciding whom to visit and when, the bonds formed, and the availability of resources and care. “Shared ownership” emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the relationship, where dogs are free to choose their social connections while also requiring the community’s collective attention and affection to enjoy and compassionately support them.

Community dogs Arnold, Snowy, and Baobab in Bali, Indonesia.

Source: Marco Adda

MB: Why study free-ranging dogs?

MA: Learning about free-ranging dogs is essential as they provide precious insights into the behavior, cognition, social dynamics, emotions, and adaptations of other members of their species. They help us better understand dogs’ personalities, psychology, and interactions with people in different contexts and cultures. By studying them, we can exponentially expand our “dogness” and “dog literacy,” in line with what you echoed throughout your recent book Dogs Demystified.

Studying free-ranging dogs in Bali, I learned a lot, including that former free-ranging dogs living as “pet” companions are more reactive towards unfamiliar people and show higher prey drive than free-ranging dogs. What determines those differences? A restricted lifestyle? Is that a side-effect of now having food continuously guaranteed and often overabundant?

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Can human influence decrease dogs’ dogness? We need to be aware of that possibility and embrace it. The love most people feel for dogs is clear. What may need to be adjusted is how we affect our dogs’ life and their ability to choose for themselves when that is possible, and that is possible way more often than one may think. Those are essential questions that every dog parent could ponder, around which more research is needed, and which certainly motivates us to learn about free-ranging dogs.

MB: Why do we tend to control free-ranging dogs?

MA: This complex issue is influenced by various factors, including concerns for public safety, animal welfare, and ecological balance. Controlling free-ranging dogs also reflects anthropocentrism, with humans believing they have the right or responsibility to manipulate the lives of other species. For example, during the 20^th century, we wiped out dogs from many places in the name of civilization. That is also referred to as “domesecration.”

On other occasions, we may claim to act in dogs’ interest, while our actions are based on misleading assumptions. This is something we need to demystify. For example, are we really reflecting a dog’s interest by assuming that every dog should have a human family by removing a fully healthy dog from their free-ranging lifestyle? This can result in tremendous stress for a dog who has to be captured, vet checked, shipped to another country through a long trip by plane or by car, and hosted momentarily in somebody’s home or in a shelter while waiting for adoption.

While that may be based on our best intentions, it may not reflect the dog’s interest and risk ruining a dog’s life. Challenging this mindset is vital. We must be self-critical; dogs’ individuality, agency, and health must lead our actions, not assumptions.

A free-ranging city dog.

Source: Marco Adda

MB: What is the future for free-ranging dogs?

MA: There’s growing interest in studying free-ranging dogs. Hopefully, this will emphasize collaboration among experts, researchers, and organizations worldwide.

The absence of free-ranging dogs in our cities reflects a society where humans control nature and separate from her. I advocate for the progressive reintroduction of free-ranging dogs in those places where they have been wiped out in the name of civilization. There is no civilized society without some free-ranging dogs around.