Impact of Free-Living Dogs on Indian Society

What can free-living dogs teach us about behavior, welfare, and coexistence with humans? This course offers an overview of free-living dogs in India, including the realities on the ground and the complex social systems surrounding them. The presentation explores the measures used to reduce human-dog conflict, as well as the equally important work of reducing human-human conflict around the presence of dogs in shared communities.

Participants will gain a broader perspective on dogs who are not living within the standard Western pet model, and why context matters so much when interpreting behavior. This course invites professionals to consider how environment, culture, resources, public perception, and community systems influence dog welfare. It also highlights the importance of thoughtful, humane, and realistic approaches to coexistence.