06/06/2022
The difference between street dogs overseas and other rescue dogs. Fascinating article and helps you understand some of the difficulties that can arise. The comments in the original post also ads so many real life experiences
https://www.facebook.com/233521123345505/posts/5522479721116259/
Domestic Social Dog vs Street/Stray Social Dogs
There is a difference...
Our home bred domesticated dogs have mostly gone through the benefits of human manipulation through handling, exposure, and social structure that helps them thrive in our mostly domesticated world. We all know the importance of early rearing and the steps to take to achieve this.
As a dog trainer I've found that recent years have seen a popular increase in foreign street/stray dogs. I used to work with one every so often, now it is on a weekly basis. Many of the cases highlight social issues with other dogs or people, powerful prey drive, and fear and extreme trepidation adapting and adjusting to a new environment.
I wouldn't even say it is a new environment...as these dogs have literally landed on a different planet. That can produce immense challenges for owners.
Some dogs make a great transition and there are success stories. But many of them go through difficult times...
Some of the problems with the dogs include:
Living in a house for the first time...
Being restrained on a lead, or any other piece of equipment for the first time...
Coming through the process of capture and transportation...
Lack of freedom they are formerly used to...
Many are independent thinkers and resolve or do things their own way...it is difficult for them to rely on human guidance and direction...
That independence can influence just how receptive they may be to any training the human attempts to provide...
Living close to human habitat they will have mixed associations with humans who have both encouraged and discouraged them...
They have strong avoidance behaviours of flight response to any perceived threat or potential danger. If they cannot escape and are restrained by the human and equipment this can cause strong reactions...
Some have previously been in fights and will have strong associations in close proximity to other dogs...
Some will be very social and will show social frustration in not being able to interact with other dogs due to equipment and human restraint....(this can be common and also perceived as reactivity).
The task then is not re-socializing these dogs as they are already habituated to a world they've previously known, but in understanding them now that they have been removed from that former environment, appreciating what you may have to live with (not all behaviour can be trained away...) and how you are able to use any of your relationship building and training structure to help them adjust better.
Remember, many of them can be very strong independent thinkers and in dogs well beyond puppyhood that may well prove to be your biggest challenge.
The most important state of mind for any dog is...'Am I safe?' That feeling can override the need for food or water. Avoidance is a strong canine behaviour in any dog, but a prevalent one in street, stray, or feral canines.
Some behaviours you have to live with, others are a work in progress, others will need specific management depending on the environment. That is not to say that some of these behaviours cannot be changed or influenced, but to understand that you are experiencing the resistance of independent strong wiring that is specifically designed to keep a dog safe and make choices towards that end...
Convincing a dog to take your guidance and direction under stress when its instincts tell it otherwise and move it to a behaviour they choose instinctively by default is where most new owners can experience the struggle. It all depends on the individual dog.
There's a huge difference between the domestically social home grown dog and the street, stray social behaviour of dogs.
What are your experiences, what are or have been your challenges, and have you experienced big differences in owning both selectively bred domestic dogs and foreign street dogs?
