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Nah, that at least is a fair point. Stray dogs mostly scavenge. They aren't actively hunting for the most part. My cat meanwhile used to catch at least 30% of her diet, something I know because she liked to disembowel small woodland creatures in the bathtub, where they couldn't escape.



I guess raccoons and vultures also can't live in the wild, then.


"Dogs" is also a really big category. I think a German Shepard might be infinitely more suited for living the wild, than say a Chihuahua.


My chihuahua was rescued on the streets of San Francisco after an unknown period of time fending for himself. He was a little underweight but not dramatically so. No signs of previous ownership (no chip, no collar, not neutered) so he was possibly just dumped somewhere at a young age (they estimated he was 1-1.5 yrs when found).

He fiercely guards food and will snap at anyone that reaches for him. He hunts insects including flies and cockroaches (he caught at least a few of those on our walks).

I don’t think he’d be as effective as a rat terrier, but I suspect he could hunt and kill field mice and maybe small rats.


Chihuahuas are one of the most common breeds found in Bay Area animal shelters (along with pit bulls). Lots of unethical backyard breeders around here who dump surplus puppies.


German shepherds are interstingly often very inbred. From talking to my girlfriend (this is her field), it sounds like it's unlikely that any purebred dogs would be able to adapt well to an actual wilderness


I have a pack of dogs. And they all hunt opportunistically. There're plenty of (mostly eaten) prey corpses strewn over the acreage. Anecdotal I know but I'm sure you can read up on prey drive in numerous dog breeds.




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