How Much Do Our Dogs Need Us?

It may not be what dog owners want to hear, but according to experts interviewed by Live Science, most dogs would do just fine in a world without humans.

Hypothetically, if humans suddenly disappeared, our canine companions would revert to many of the behaviors of their wolf ancestors – behaviors that stray and wild dogs still display. Despite thousands of years of domestication, dogs haven’t lost the ability to hunt and scavenge, so they would likely be able to feed themselves just fine.

In one important way, dogs would fare better without human intervention. Without our attempts to maintain distinct breeds, dogs would mate across breeds, resulting in far more mixed-breed offspring. Over time, natural selection would favor the strongest, healthiest dogs, nearly all of whom would be “mutts.”

While Canis familiaris as a species would survive or even thrive, it’s likely that certain breeds wouldn’t do so well – especially those known for health problems that require human intervention. Dogs with flat faces and short tails (such as pugs) would be at a significant disadvantage when it comes to hunting, as they often have breathing problems, and would lack the ability to communicate social signals without a long tail.

Man's best friend, without man: