Will a pet dog be able to live if it got lost in the wilderness (forest, desert, etc.) far from any human settlement? Will it be able to identify prey, hunt, defend itself, and so on?
Some dogs can live in the wild on their own, and in some cases, succeed and are actually better off. This, however, will not always be the case. Size, condition, sociability, and prey drive will all play a role in a dog’s ability to survive in the wild.
Signs Your Dog Could Live in the Wild
If you’re curious if your dog still has any natural instincts to survive in the wild, there are a few key behavior signals you should look for.
Pay attention to see if your dog can detect tiny bugs, mice, or other teeny species in the ground. They usually do this by tracking them with their strong sense of smell. Aside from their sense of smell, dogs also have an incredible sense of hearing, which can be another indication that they could survive in the wild.
If your dog is territorial, or if he or she has a habit of marking trees, rocks, fence posts, and other landmarks, this is yet another strong indication that they’d do well in the wild. In the wild, the territory is big, and if your dog knows how to mark his or her territory, he or she might be on the right track for wildlife survival.
Furthermore, if your dog has a habit of burying bones, toys, or other prizes for later use, it’s a positive sign that they’re ready for the wild (like their ancestors).
How long could my dog survive in the wild?
Your dog would not survive very long if they are used to relying on humans for food. They will also be more at risk to dangers such as cars. Most domesticated dogs would not survive longer than 2 years in the wild.
Surviving in the absence of humans will necessitate some survival skills, such as establishing relationships and partnerships with other animals (including cats! ), having an independent personality, being street-savvy, being able to quickly adjust to changing environments, and being willing to take some risks.
Do dogs live longer in the wild?
On average, most wild dogs don’t reach the age of 8. On the contrary, domesticated dogs live for an average of 10-12 years. When you consider the dangers of disease in the absence of a veterinarian, food sources, water, traffic, battles, and other possible predators, a wild dog’s life expectancy is greatly reduced.
What is ‘wild dog’?
Any free-roaming dog without an owner is referred to as a “wild dog.” Homeless domestic dogs, dingoes, and hybrids of the two are all included. Under state law, these dogs are classified as restricted matter. When domestic dogs are not supervised or restrained, they can act like wild dogs.
What do wild dogs eat?
Rabbits, possums, mice, birds, wallabies, and bandicoots are the most common small prey for wild dogs. When hunting in groups, however, they will take larger animals including kangaroos (in Australia) and goats. Larger animals, such as cattle and horses, have young that are vulnerable to packs of dogs. Their primary prey species is determined by what is plentiful and easy to capture.
They usually hunt in the early morning and early evening, when they use sight to identify individual prey animals, approach them quietly, and then chase them. A fleeing animal is more likely to be attacked.
Wild dogs sleep throughout the day, usually near water, and their routes to and from resting or den sites are also well established. Their tracks vary in size and shape depending on the animal’s size and weight, but they are typically bigger and more rounded than those of a fox.
Conclusion
Feral dogs have surpassed rats and cats as the world’s third-largest human-introduced wildlife threat. They are considered to be a threat to another 200 animals, some of which are on the endangered list, and are responsible for the extinction of nearly a dozen species of birds and mammals.
It is both irresponsible and unlawful to release a dog into the wild.
It’s also unethical because most domestic dogs won’t be able to adapt and survive in the wild.
