feral dog

Feral dogs are domesticated dogs that have returned to a wild state. They may have escaped or been abandoned and, in their natural environment, exhibit traits inherent to all canids. These dogs hunt or scavenge, often forming packs, and can be challenging to manage or train. Unlike most wild canids, they may lose their innate fear of humans and can become predators. Feral dogs can be found in both urban and rural areas and pose risks as disease carriers and threats to domestic animals and people.1

While related to wolves and exhibiting territorial marking behaviors similar to them, dogs are fundamentally social pack animals adapted to living with humans through selective breeding.2