Could a domestic dog survive in the wild?
Discussion
Just musing really.
Consider that it would be in the wild away from humans, so not a bin scavenger like a town fox. Also for sake of argument, let's agree that the dog would be right for the climate, so not talking about putting a husky in an arid Savannah.
I sometimes look at my dog and think that the raw instincts are still there. She will stalk, chase, find water, find shelter etc.
But other times I set her little problem solving tasks (which she often fails) and think that the only skills she really has is the ability to read humans for her own gain. An example is putting food in a ball with holes in. Does she roll it around so the food eventually falls out the holes? No. She can smell the food in there and just barks at it in order to alert her 'human man servants' that they must take some sort of action!
To be clear, I have no desire for any domestic dogs to be left in the wild, mine included. Just hypothetically wondering how quickly the old wolf survival instincts would kick in.
Are our dogs still wild animals with a veneer of civility? Or so domesticated that they'd know nothing else but to chase some squirrels for a while and then just lie down, patiently wait for master?
Consider that it would be in the wild away from humans, so not a bin scavenger like a town fox. Also for sake of argument, let's agree that the dog would be right for the climate, so not talking about putting a husky in an arid Savannah.
I sometimes look at my dog and think that the raw instincts are still there. She will stalk, chase, find water, find shelter etc.
But other times I set her little problem solving tasks (which she often fails) and think that the only skills she really has is the ability to read humans for her own gain. An example is putting food in a ball with holes in. Does she roll it around so the food eventually falls out the holes? No. She can smell the food in there and just barks at it in order to alert her 'human man servants' that they must take some sort of action!
To be clear, I have no desire for any domestic dogs to be left in the wild, mine included. Just hypothetically wondering how quickly the old wolf survival instincts would kick in.
Are our dogs still wild animals with a veneer of civility? Or so domesticated that they'd know nothing else but to chase some squirrels for a while and then just lie down, patiently wait for master?
Some interesting replies.
Maybe it's not breed dependant and it's just down to each individual dogs personality. In the same way that some humans would survive in the wild, others would merely last a few days.
I definitely think outdoor / working dogs would do better than the average daily walkies / sleep by the fire on a soft bed dogs.
Maybe it's not breed dependant and it's just down to each individual dogs personality. In the same way that some humans would survive in the wild, others would merely last a few days.
I definitely think outdoor / working dogs would do better than the average daily walkies / sleep by the fire on a soft bed dogs.
Our dog killed a sick rabbit once whilst out in the countryside. See saw it, it ran and she chased. The fact she caught it tells me it must have been sick / old.
The instinct was there. She shook it by the neck, in the way she'll do with some toys, and it died instantly. She then tossed it up the air, like a game, as she'll do with her toys.
As this was happening I was running towards her and commanded her to drop it. She did and ran back to me. To this day I'm not actually sure she even considered it food, it was just a cool toy.
The instinct was there. She shook it by the neck, in the way she'll do with some toys, and it died instantly. She then tossed it up the air, like a game, as she'll do with her toys.
As this was happening I was running towards her and commanded her to drop it. She did and ran back to me. To this day I'm not actually sure she even considered it food, it was just a cool toy.
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