Why don't stray dogs band together in packs?

Question

Every time I'm in Mexico, I see tons of stray dogs. Most wild dogs, including grey wolves (where most domestic dogs come from), live and hunt in packs.

The obvious answer might be that either domestication takes that instinct out of them or that the amount of food available by begging or rummaging through garbage makes hunting not necessary, but I couldn't find any definitive answers online.

Given enough time, could stray dogs regain their instinct to hunt in packs? Would the absence of food in the form of human waste encourage a coming together in packs? Why are stray dogs so often alone? Any info would be helpful. I am just curious.

thomas · Accepted Answer

Dogs are rather smart & will adapt to their surroundings. In town where they can scavenge & beg for food a single dog would have more success than a pack. A pack might make people uncomfortable & cause them not to share what they would with a single dog. Out in the woods on the other hand is a different matter. The dogs who have to hunt will quickly group into a pack in order to better run down their prey. In my area there are a few stray packs living in the hills around the farms.

? · Answer

A lot of wild dogs do indeed hunt in packs.

But even wolves will hunt solo when rabbits, mice, and other small game is on the menu.  Canines typically only hunt in packs when their prey is too large to take down alone.

Weezy · Answer

some wild dogs do hunt in packs. there is packs of wild dogs where i live in alabama. they aslo sometimes breed with coyotes around here

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Why don't stray dogs band together in packs?

3 Answers