Wild Dog
Wild dogs can be a problem in many areas. In large cities where many dogs are abandoned or permitted to wander freely while unaltered, populations can get pretty high, and competition for resources intensifies. Diseases run rampant as dogs exposed to something in one place join a pack that hasn't been exposed to the same thing. Packs being comprised of unrelated strangers incites abnormal dominance fighting, which results in injuries, leaving them susceptible to disease or just making them aggressively defensive. Smaller animals and even small children, especially of small-statured races like many fey, become targets of packs of wild dogs either as prey, or because the child tried to pet or grab a strange dog. Particularly aggressive individuals will sometimes attack adults as well. An entire pack of wild dogs aggressive enough to attack people tend to not really be an issue, as the cities prioritize removal of dangerous animals.
Even robust dog-catching in a city often can't keep up with the population of stray and feral dogs. Larger or wealthier cities like Namlodahr, Wyvernhurst, Ollmelian, Kama Alora, Rosebeach, Dragonmount, Ishena Belanore and Merrowgate typically have wild dog populations under decent control, but occasional attacks do still happen.
Basic Information
Dietary Needs and Habits
Wild dogs, like most dogs, are omnivores with carnivorous preferences. They are opportunistic and will eat just about anything, even garbage. They frequently knock over garbage cans to get into leftover food. They hunt when there's prey available. Wild dogs in rural environments are more likely to rely on hunting than their urban cousins, but that doesn't mean small pets and small children easily mistaken for animals won't be attacked if the dogs are hungry enough.
Behaviour
Wild dogs are typically pretty skittish, being generally afraid of people. Their fear causes them to act aggressively when they feel cornered, but will generally flee rather than fight. Some diseases, such as rabies, will cause them to behave abnormally aggressively and the risk of them attacking people or pets increases considerably.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Wild dogs form packs where the most dominant animal leads the pack. The structure is very close to that of wolves, except that members of a pack of wild dogs are often unrelated to one another. Family units are somewhat rare compared to packs of strangers, simply due to the number of abandoned or feral dogs there are that group up to form wild dog packs.
Domestication
There is no difference between wild dogs and pet dogs. They're considered the same species unless they hybridize with other canines. Wild or feral dogs can be rehabilitated into suitable pets with patience and care, but that is no easy thing to do, especially for the inexperienced.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Some cities sell the corpses of destroyed wild dogs to undead. Ocudus steadily imports them. Humans and fey pretty universally object to the idea of canines of almost any kind being consumed (excepting a few fey known for eating dogs) so the practice is frowned-upon. However, those who do it say it's a waste of resources to bury or cremate thousands of dog corpses every year when they could be going to undead (or a few fey) who can make use of them so the odds of the undead attacking people is lower.
Average Intelligence
Wild dogs, like pet dogs, generally have an average intelligence equivalent to that of a human toddler. Wild dogs tend to be savvier at survival apart from humans than their stray or pet cousins.
Civilization and Culture
Courtship Ideals
Females in heat will typically accept whatever male is available, and in the case of multiple males, it will be the more dominant one, who overcomes the less dominant one, who has the privelege.
Scientific Name
canis familiarus
Lifespan
4-8 years
Conservation Status
Wild dogs are generally considered nuisance animals since it can be difficult to rehabilitate them from their feral ways, especially if they interbreed with wolves, coyotes, cu sidhe or other canines they can hybridize with. They are not protected anywhere, and many that are removed from the streets are destroyed.
Average Physique
The average wild dog is underfed and underweight, and generally not in the best shape.
Geographic Distribution
