How would dogs fare if humans disappeared? A new book shows how they might not only survive, but also thrive
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
Evolutionary biologists not only study how animals developed, they also think about what they might become. A recent article on Vox.com speculated on how animals might adapt in response to changing environments, imagining flightless carnivorous pigeons, aquatic rats and bats with 6-foot wingspans capable of gliding long distances in search of food.
In their new book “A Dog’s World” (Princeton University Press), bioethicist and philosopher Jessica Pierce and biologist and ethologist Marc Bekoff ask a different question: What would become of dogs in the absence of humans?
Subtitled “Imagining the lives of dogs in a world without humans,” it explores how and whether dogs would survive if humans suddenly disappeared. (Spoiler: Many dogs would do very well, they believe.)
Through this lens, they consider how dogs live today, their relationships with humans and the factors that would shape this potential evolutionary future: size, intelligence, skull shape, food availability, daily caloric needs, reproduction, social organization, problem-solving ability and more. Their speculative journey takes the reader from canines’ past to a posthuman future where dogs suddenly left on their own must navigate a new world to find their own food and shelter, develop relationships with other dogs and protect themselves from predators.
What skills would dogs need to survive, and do they have them now? Behavioral flexibility is one and could play a role in the ability of individual dogs to solve problems and navigate social interactions with other dogs and other animals.
Learning ability is another. While cues such as come, sit or spin won’t be of much use to dogs on their own, the impulse control some of them may have developed through training could come in handy, Pierce and Bekoff suggest. And trained dogs, they write, may have learned that if they try something and don’t get rewarded, they should change their behavior and try something else, a behavioral pattern that might translate into greater adaptability.
Dogs are pack animals, and it’s interesting to ponder how that might translate into their ability to work together to survive. Would dogs of differing sizes, personalities and abilities band together to survive? Nature offers plenty of examples of cooperative hunting, in which different types of animals work together to increase success, such as coyotes and badgers teaming up to trap ground squirrels, and groupers and eels helping each other to find and flush prey. Your Chihuahua might find a role burrowing to reach food or prey inaccessible to bigger dogs.
Personality and heritage would play a role as well. I asked people how they thought their dogs would do. People with spitz breeds such as Alaskan malamutes and Samoyeds had no doubts about their dogs’ ability to survive. The same was true of people with Jack Russell terriers, some herding breeds or mixed breeds. Even dogs with disabilities might have a chance. “My paraplegic dachshund probably has the best odds,” one wrote. “She’s sneaky and remarkably fast -- and a proven ratter, even after her injury.”
Can we prepare dogs for life without us? The authors say “doomsday prepping” for pets could have valuable benefits for them, even if we don’t disappear any time soon. Practical skills include foraging (a great way to enrich any animal’s life) and focus and impulse control through training; physical fitness to build endurance and prevent obesity; and development of independence, self-reliance and self-confidence by allowing dogs to make choices, teaching them to be comfortable when left alone, and participating in dog sports that build skills, such as scenting, agility and mental acuity.
The authors write: “Our take-home message centers not solely on an imaginary future, but also on the present. In thinking about who dogs might become without us, we may gain fresh insight into who they are now and how our relationships with them can best benefit us both.”
Q&A
Teach cat to
touch target
Q: I’ve heard about target training for cats. How can it be useful, and how do I get started?
A: Targeting -- teaching a cat to touch an object with her nose or paw -- has lots of uses, from encouraging a cat to move to or away from a certain area to teaching tricks such as jumping through a hoop or giving a high-five.
Start by teaching your cat to touch the target, usually a wooden spoon. With a clicker in hand, hold the target at the side of your cat’s face, just out of sight. Slowly move it to where she can see it, but don’t startle her. Reward any interest -- from looking at it to actually touching it -- with a click and treat, and move the target away. Repeat several times.
If your cat seems afraid of the target, present it at a distance and reward for glancing at it or not running away. If she doesn’t look at or move toward the target, try holding it slightly higher or lower. Smearing the target with squeeze cheese or peanut butter can also catch your cat’s interest. Let her have a lick or two if she sniffs or reaches out toward it.
Once your cat readily noses or paws the target, add a verbal cue: “Touch!” Say it just as she starts to move toward the target. With practice, you can start to give the cue before your cat moves toward it.
Now you can use her targeting skill to teach her to move toward or away from objects or on or off surfaces such as counters. It’s also the foundation for teaching tricks such as spin or sit. To hold her interest, alternate between simple behaviors such as sit and complex ones such as high-five. Have fun! -- Mikkel Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
New bill to
protect pets
-- The federal Paws Off Act (HR 5261) would require products containing the sugar substitute xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, to include a warning label. The artificial sweetener is commonly used in everyday products such as sugar-free gum and breath mints, peanut butter, sugar-free desserts and baked goods, and toothpaste. The Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received 6,760 xylitol-related calls in 2018, compared to just over 200 in 2005. The bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on Sept. 14 by David Schweikert and Greg Stanton, both representing Arizona. Call your representative and ask them to vote in favor of the bill.
-- Smaller breeds of dogs such as papillons and toy poodles are more predisposed to periodontal disease than large breeds such as Great Danes and Saint Bernards, according to a new study conducted by Mars Petcare and published in The Veterinary Journal. The retrospective study reviewed more than 3 million medical records across 60 breeds of dogs in the U.S. and found that periodontal disease occurred in 18.2% of dogs overall. Extra-small dogs weighing 14.3 pounds or less were up to 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with periodontal disease.
-- Cats with lower urinary tract disease may strain or cry out in pain when they urinate. The disease can affect any cat, but it’s most often seen in middle-aged, overweight pets. Stress can also be a contributing factor, which is why the problem sometimes occurs when cats are moved to a new home or when new people or pets join the family. Preventing obesity, offering play to relieve stress, and encouraging cats to drink more water -- a fountain may entice them -- can help to reduce incidence of the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.