The researchers believe that, to some extent, dogs would even be better off without humans.
Dog owners believe that without people, these pets would be absolutely helpless on the planet. Imagine for a moment that all the people on Earth disappeared, and the dogs had to solve all their problems on their own. If this happens as a result of some kind of apocalypse, will dogs be able to survive in a world without people? Scientists answer this question in an article for the publication Live Science.
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According to Jessica Pierce from Colorado State University, USA, there is no doubt that dogs can survive without the presence of a human, that is, in a world where people have disappeared.
“All dogs are relatives of wolves, that is, they originate from these animals, and they have retained some of the skills and characteristic behavior of these predators. This means that dogs know how to hunt and how to get their own food. I think they will not be lost without people “, Pierce says.
According to scientists, if it happens that, as a result of some kind of catastrophe, that all people on Earth disappear, then former pets will go back to the moment when they were first tamed. That is, they will live like ordinary wild animals.
At the same time, scientists believe that not all breeds of dogs will be able to survive such a return to basics as a result of the disappearance of people on the planet. Many breeds are bred in such a way that they simply cannot survive in the wild.
According to Jessica Pierce from the University of Colorado, USA, there is no doubt that dogs can survive without the presence of a person, that is, in a world where people have disappeared.
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Photo: Illustrative photo
This is especially true for flat-faced dogs, such as pugs and bulldogs, and other similar pet breeds, Pierce said. These dogs have big health problems, and this will prevent them from becoming good hunters. Also, many dogs are bred with short tails, which can make them unable to interact with wild dogs.
“With the help of the tail, dogs can give clear signals about their emotional state. Dogs with a short tail will not be able to do this normally. This means that proper communication with wild species will be disrupted. This will lead to the fact that such breeds of dogs will become a victim of attacks and may die” , Pierce says.
On the other hand, scientists believe that some former domestic dogs will, over time, begin to interbreed with wolves and wild dogs, resulting in the emergence of “mutts” more adapted to life in the wild.
According to Friederike Range of the Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine, Austria, dogs and wolves actually have a lot more in common than we think. And the only thing that separates these animals is a person.
At the same time, scientists believe that not all breeds of dogs will be able to survive such a return to basics as a result of the disappearance of people on the planet. Many breeds are bred in such a way that they simply cannot survive in the wild.
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Photo: wikipedia
Although wolves are primarily hunters and stray dogs are more likely to scavenge for food in landfills, these animals can sometimes switch roles, Range says. That is, wolves can look for food in landfills, and stray dogs go hunting.
Some dog owners may wonder if their pets will be miserable if there are no people around? But scientists believe that no psychological problems in dogs because of this will not arise.
According to Pierce, dog owners often suppress certain dog behaviors that annoy people. For example, dogs are told where and how to walk, where to go to the toilet, what to eat. Stray dogs have no such restrictions and can do whatever they want.
“Maybe some dogs would even be better off without people to some extent. Dogs lack the main thing – freedom of action,” Pierce says.
According to Range, observations of stray dogs have shown that they are able to form their social groups and the availability of food for them is more important than “communication” with people.
“If all people on Earth disappear, then the main problem for former domestic dogs will be finding food. The loss of a social partner, that is, a person, will not be a tragedy for them. If dogs have food, they will be very happy animals even without us,” Range says.
As Focus already wrote, scientists have found out how much dogs love their owners. If doubts about pet love still haunt you, new research will dispel them.
