Time-activity budget of urban-adapted free-ranging dogs

TL;DR

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the activity patterns and behavior of urban free-ranging dogs in West Bengal, revealing their generalist habits and their activity alignment with human activity cycles.

Contribution

It is the first detailed population-level study of free-ranging dogs' activity patterns and ethogram in an urban Indian setting, linking behavior with human activity.

Findings

Dogs are active when humans are active.

Activity levels vary with age and time of day.

Behavioral clusters are identified based on activity and energy expenditure.

Abstract

The domestic dog is known to have evolved from gray wolves, about 15,000 years ago. They majorly exist as free-ranging populations across the world. They are typically scavengers and well adapted to living among humans. Most canids living in and around urban habitats tend to avoid humans and show crepuscular activity peaks. In this study, we carried out a detailed population-level survey on free-ranging dogs in West Bengal, India, to understand the activity patterns of free-ranging dogs in relation to human activity. Using 5669 sightings of dogs, over a period of 1 year, covering the 24 hours of the day, we carried out an analysis of the time-activity budget of free-ranging dogs to conclude that they are generalists in their habit. They remain active when humans are active. Their activity levels are affected significantly by age class and time of the day. Multivariate analysis revealed the presence of certain behavioural clusters on the basis of time of the day and energy expenditure in the behaviours. In addition, we provide a detailed ethogram of free-ranging dogs. This, to our knowledge, is the first study of this kind, which might be used to further study the eco-ethology of these dogs.