While we’re in Africa I’m sure all of us will have our eyes out for dogs, whether owned or feral. Out of the cities, most of the dogs I’ve seen in Kenya and Tanzania have been “village dogs,” although many of them are ‘owned’ by someone in the area. “Owned” just means something different there: When you ask “Is that your dog?” it’s common for someone to say yes, but the dog will have no name, no identification and clearly is relatively independent of people. Usually what they mean is that the dog is allowed to sleep in their yard, but that there is not much of a relationship otherwise. Even in the cities, the people I’ve talked to have said that dog ownership is relatively common, but that, at least for most Africans, dogs are often not allowed in the house and are primarily kept as guard animals.
Thus, guarding and protecting seems to be the most common function of dogs in urban and rural areas, although this is not to say that there aren’t lots of Africans who have pet dogs that they love and cherish. But the dogs you see driving around and in villages when on safari look like classic ‘village dogs’ and live relatively independent of people.
On previous trips I’ve noticed that every Masai and Samburu village we’ve visited has dogs hanging around. When asked, everyone says the same thing: the dogs are there to warn them of lions. I’ve never seen or heard of anyone using the dogs to manage or control livestock in any way. (This is mostly done by young children, who yell and throw stones to move animals from place to place.) The Masai and Samburu villages are protected only by thorn-tree fences constructed on the perimeter of the village, and the cattle and sheep are brought in every night and the thorny ‘gate’ is pulled shut behind them. Even inside, the animals (and people) are still sometimes vulnerable though to lions and the dogs are important warning systems for the inhabitants. I would think leopards are also a problem, having adapted to human settlements very well. I know that they are a major predator of dogs in some settlements–I’ll ask this trip if leopards are as big a problem as lions.
Here is a Masai woman with a pup at one village. (You can see the thorn fence behind her that is used to keep out night predators.) Truth be told, the impression I got was that the pup had rarely been handled, but the woman, being no dummy, noticed that we tourists found the dog fascinating, and she accommodated us by staying beside it and trying to pet it. I’ll try to take lots of pictures on this trip of dogs, and no doubt have lots to talk about when I get back . . .
Liza Lundell says
As owner of two part-African basenjis, I find the village dogs fascinating. Just in this photo, you can see the four white paws, upright (relatively) ears, some curl to the tail…was there a white tail tip?
kate says
It’s interesting that with all the technology, travel and foreign aid,there seems to be no mention of a group that teaches villagers how to train dogs to be of use for herding rather than having them around as alarm systems and or food source for other predators 🙂
Then again, maybe that’s better left for a time when the world fully embraces Patricia’s training philosophy.
Thank you for sharing your adventures!
Kait B. Roe says
In Portland, ME we have a large population of African immigrants, from Sudan primarily. My experience with this culture is that they seem afraid of the dogs, even on leash and are seemingly baffled as to why we would want these creatures. The young children run away and often scream if a dog approaches them. I don’t have any contacts in this very insular community, but after reading Dogs by the Coppingers, I think I am beginning to understand the very different relationship Americans have with their dogs – at least compared to the Sudanese refugees who have come to Maine. Trish, while you were here did you get a chance to walk about (between rain storms!) and experience any of this first hand? And do you find the different relationship is as profound in Europe? or Eastern Europe? Just wondering, I do hope you are having a good time in Africa!
retrieverman says
I’ve read somewhere that the Masai prefer reddish colored dogs and that they select for this color in their cattle and village guarding dogs.
retrieverman says
Also, have you seen this study: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8182371.stm
Maybe dogs really don’t descend from East Asian wolves after all. They have are nearly as genetically diverse in Africa as they are in East Asia.
Shaya says
Your description of the village dogs feels just like a passage out of Ray Coppinger’s book, “Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution” when he talks about village dogs on the island Pemba. The dogs coexisted with the humans and both species get some benefits (waste food and warning), but the dogs don’t have a job and aren’t pets.
Steve B says
I see that it’s been mentioned a few times already. Although I don’t neccesarily agree with all of their conclusions, I did find the Coppinger and Coppinger book very informative. (Coppinger, R. and Coppinger, L. (2001). Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution, New York, NY: Simon & Schuster) A good reference for anyone else interested in village dogs and the possible history of domestication.
I was also amazed to find out they let dogs drive in Africa. I hadn’t seen that mentioned anywhere else. “But the dogs you see driving around…” 😉
Kait B. Roe says
I had a bit of a brain wave yesterday. I live on in Portland, ME and I was wondering if anyone can tell me why, if wolves followed humans and decided to live near human settlements and the ones who were more able to handle the stress of this became- over time- dogs, then have we not found a way to domesticate Seagulls. They have the same scavenger behaviors, are quite good at sounding alarms when threatened, and are ubiquitous around human settlements… Are avians that much harder to domesticate? Any thoughts on this?
Alexandra says
Kait, that’s a really interesting comment you made about the seagulls, and I often wonder why some animals ended up domesticated and others did not. It’s interesting to me that with all the wild animals in Africa that you don’t see native flock guardian dogs, and you don’t see many domesticated draft or riding animals. Jared Diamond talks about this in his book “Guns, Germs, and Steel.”. It seems to me that in addition to seagulls, deer, rabbits, squirrels, Mallard ducks, and Canada geese fall into the semi-domesticated category.
Trisha says
Very interesting questions raised here. Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond has some very interesting things to say about domestication, why so few animals have been domesticated (the number is actually quite surprising) and the effect of domestication (as well as ecology and demographics) has on human societies.
And I did think back to the dogs we saw in the Maasai villages (we stayed inside of one for 5 days, at a tent camp). Most of the dogs had quite a bit of white on them, but otherwise were light fawn or reddish fawn colored.
I don’t remember if the dog in the photo above had a white tail tip, but I sure know why Liza was asking. If I had to bet, I’d bet it did. Want me to publish all the photos I’ve taken of dogs in Africa? They are many, because the dogs aren’t commonly seen out in public, in cities they are all kept in yards behind fences.
By the way, I’m not surprised to hear that people from Sudan were afraid of dogs. I had the honor of picking up the Director of the National Parks in Kenya a long time ago, and he ran like a mouse when my St. Bernard ran up to greet us. He never relaxed until I sent Cosby away (granted, he’d just come from a swamp and was covered in green goo. He looked like a monster out of a horror movie.). The man said something I’ll never forget: “You must be very rich” he said. “Oh no, I replied, we are a struggling young couple just out of school, and don’t have any money at all.” “Oh yes you do” he answered. “People in my country could never afford to feed an animal like your dog unless they were wealthy.”
Dogs in many parts of the world live in the exact same niche as rats: Living indirectly off of humans, using their intelligence to make a good living from our scraps, but considered pests by the very species that supports them…
Tom says
This is an interesting discussion for me, the fond owner of an African village dog. We’ve just moved back to the States after about 5 years in Kenya and Sudan and we brought a young Maasai village dog back with us. At least we presume that he is a dog from a Maasai village: Heleen found him as a puppy, approximately 6 weeks old, while mountain biking in the Ngong Hills area south and west of Nairobi, which is a Maasai area. The cyclists had stopped to look at two or three giraffes when the puppy emerged from the brush, limping from a thorn in its paw, obviously thirsty, purulent discharge in both eyes, and thoroughly infested with fleas and ticks. Although there a number of villages and groups of houses in the area, no houses or people were within sight so Heleen brought him along in her Camelbak. We’ve always imagined that he may have followed a dog or a human out of the village but then got lost, couldn’t keep up, perhaps because of the thorn in the paw.
At one year he is a medium-size brown dog with a dark tail tip, and prominent standing up ears like the puppy in the picture (the ears of wild canids or basenjis, which are also, I have read recently, of African village origin). He is, subjectively, smart, fast and agile, a passionate hunter of all small furry and feathered things. He has impressive endurance and concomitant exercise needs. He seems to consume less water and food than we expect, than typical American breed dogs, and we wonder about a heritage of “thrifty genes” that could have provided a survival advantage in African villages.
He has bonded well with us and is gentle with people in general, although he is not an animal that thrives on petting. He tolerates our handling unequivocally but is less consistent when other people handle him. He has always been somewhat aggressive with some other dogs, and that remains something of a challenge in suburbia. We started traveling with him in Kenya while he was still very young and he’s proven impressively calm and adaptable to new places, not to mention time in cars, trains, and planes over the last couple months.
Basically, he is a dog, and is turning out to be pretty good pet, although, as we’ve recently read, he may be closer genetically to wild canids than typical breed dogs.
I’m no expert on Maasai culture or their relationships with their dogs but we have had some discussions with a number of Maasai guys about dogs. Agree that the primary role is guarding the home and the livestock from predators (I think In many areas of East Africa these days leopards and hyenas would be more of a threat than lions because lion populations haven’t done as well). One of the guys we talked to had a nine-year old dog that he obviously thought highly of. It was a fearless guard dog and highly intelligent. It had tangled on three occasions with a leopard and survived with some injuries. He asserted that in fact their dogs do often learn to herd livestock. Herdsmen like him certainly do feed their dogs but the dogs also supplement their diet by hunting, typically dik-dik and hares.
I think people from many parts of the world, not just Africans, may tend to be afraid of dogs. Given that the guard dog role is primary in human-dog relationships in many places dogs are probably more likely to bite, and that rabies is still more of a threat than it is in the wealthy countries, the apprehension seems understandable.
In Nairobi many working class people don’t keep dogs either because they don’t have space or don’t have the resources to feed them. They’ll also often tell you that their is substantial chance the dogs get stolen. Commonly people will tell you that they have or had dogs back home, in a rural area, but not in Nairobi. Agree that it does not tend to be a pet culture or relationship, and dogs do stay outside. Our housekeeper had never really been around a pet dog before and became very fond of our Maasai dog. She said, “He’s like a human.”
clara says
I am a primary school teacher in South Africa. I recently took my extremely well behaved Bull Terrier cross to school with me as an aid to a presentation about animals. Taking into consideration that this is 2011, in Cape Town, in a middle class school, the children behaved exactly the same as the ones in Kait B Roe’s story – screaming and running around like mad things. They asked why she was there, why she was not on a leash, would she eat them, can we pat her? etc. When I gave her a biscuit as a reward for her jumping show, they were amazed that my fingers emerged whole and unhurt from her mouth… All very puzzling.
FELIX Kamami says
I am an African from Kenya. And I love dogs. I have 6 dogs. 1 A greatdane and Doberman mix aged 3. 1 Japanese spitz mix almost 2 years old. 1 pure German Shepard 5 months old. 1 German mix 7 months old. And 2 local breeds ( one of the two looks like rat terrier mix.) 2 years old. They do not sleep or go into the house. It’s not in our culture to let dogs into the house simply because our outsides are not as clean as yours. We keep animals and birds that drop shit everywhere. Piped water is hard to find in the suburbs so our compounds are mostly dusty because we don’t get to plant grass. That means that if I let Jessie (the greatdane) into the house, she’ll bring dirt and maybe shit she stepped on from the outside in the house. They Sleep on the outside and are ok with that. My dogs die to see me every morning. They get everything else a dog needs except the chance to sleep next to me.
Sonu says
Our outsides are not as clean as you think! Especially in the cities where there is limited space for all the dogs to poop and pee. Although we pick it up, some people don’t, and there is always dog poop in the bushes and on the ground. I live in an area where it rains almost every day, but I don’t see this as too much of a problem. If my dog is dirty I wash his paws, and I give him a bath every two months. I brush him almost every day, so overall despite everything I think he is a pretty clean dog. I feel so bad for my cousins dogs in India that live outside and are constantly infested with fleas, are never washed or brushed, and seem to have much shorter life spans than dogs in the US.
steve says
I’m from Kenya and I live in a small town called Kajiado, which is predominantly occupied by the Maasai.
I rear chicken and rabbits and I kept losing my chicken and eggs to mongooses, wild cats and even snakes.
I tried building better and stronger pens but still the smart predators found their way in. I decided to sorround my compound with a brick wall, this kept most of the pests out but others like wild cats would still climb over.
Finally I decided to try dogs. I brought two village dogs. I have not lost even a single egg since then.
Even though I initially brought them strictly for guarding, they have developed into very friendly, playing, fun pets. They are frisky with visitors and only get aggressive at night or with other animals.
I do not allow them into the house though, instead I’ve built a dog house for them outside.
I’ve got a cat too, and she sleeps on my bed.
Innocent Allen says
I am from Tanzania and I live in a very populated city Dar es salaam. We are really lagging behind when we talk of dogs. Most people think of village/local/street dogs when it comes to dogs. It has been this way and still will because no initiatives to educate people about different dog breeds. There are very few people who dearly love dogs and have taken a step to bring different dog breeds that will satisfy the owners will if owned for a purpose. But most of dog breeds in African doesn’t reach the standard and this reduce even the number of people owning dogs
Emilly Nandawula says
I am from Uganda. People this side have started taking an interest in keeping dogs as pets especially in the cities. As a veterinarian, I notice this in the increasing demand for specialists in small animal medicine. People are willing to pay hefty sums of money to see their beloved pets get better. Small animal medicine is one of the fast rising veterinary medical practices in the country and definitely the most paying.
Unfortunately the same can not be said of village areas. There is little knowledge out there about the value of dogs and cats as companion animals. Most of dogs and cats that side fend for themselves ie are strays. People don’t mind them. They live with them in the communities and refer to them as “village dogs”; not owned by particular people but the village as a whole.
David john says
I’m Nigerian & I once owned a dog
West African village dog a little different from d east African own I used to allow it in,wash it,& brush it
& Also we have various color mutation mostly white & brown,brown& black etc many Nigerians own a dog & they are very smart
Trisha says
Thanks for joining in the conversation David john!
Malcolm says
Hi, I live in Ghana and have owned 2 local West African village dogs and now have a 3 and half month old puppy, also a village dog (sometimes referred to as the Avuvi). My father is from Ghana, but my mom is European and I grew up in Belgium, so I’ve also seen both sides of the isle, so to speak.
There are stark differences in mentality towards dogs, between Africans and Westerners, generally speaking, but there is also significant overlap, you just won’t always notice it. One thing I noticed once I started keeping dogs, is that quite a few other dog owners here do tend to care very much about their dogs, and get quite attached to them, but because of taboos on public affection, won’t often openly show it. That said, most dogs stay outside because they’re considered unhygienic. It’s not just about tracking in dirt, but free roaming dogs eat human faeces, will roll around in the most ungodly things including animal carcasses and tend to be infested with fleas. People don’t have the same cultural sensitivities towards keeping dogs as in the West, and don’t really invest in them. Short lifespans, behavioral problems and dogs disappearing, etc, are just considered part of life. People very rarely walk village dogs, leaving them to roam free, but they will proudly walk expensive foreign breeds as a sort of status symbol. Village dogs are rarely given proper nutrition, which means they often don’t develop properly, or to their maximum potential, and they are considered untrainable, so people don’t even try. But all three of my dogs listened to commands and I’m training and raising my current puppy in a much more Western style than the previous two. With proper nutrition, they actually develop into really beautiful dogs. And they are perfectly trainable, you just need to put in the time and understand what you’re working with. They’re like sight hounds with a strong prey drive, independent character and highly intelligent. Their behavior is very similar to the more famous Basenji. They tend to use that intelligence to stay alive though, so once you have a controlled environment where the dog feels safe and doesn’t develop all sorts of trauma and aggression problems because of dog fights and wicked people, then you can channel that intelligence towards obedience training. But an underfed animal in survival mode doesn’t make for a good student… My puppy is both food motivated, and play motivated, so that helps. Unlike my previous dogs, I keep him inside for now. He’s a total sweetheart! Anti flea shampoo is keeping him clean and free of bugs.
Most people over here aren’t taught how to interact properly with dogs, and most dogs also aren’t taught how to interact properly with people and their environment. So there is a lot of fear and distrust in both directions. But there is also a more serious interest in dogs that just isn’t visible on the surface, and especially middle class people have started keeping dogs as companion animals more often, including taking them into the house. But when they thought no one was looking, I’ve even spotted some of the regular towns folk playing with their dogs and washing them. And heard people express their grief over a lost dog, even crying. So things aren’t always what they seem. By and large, Africans just haven’t had the luxury to really care about their dogs the way they should, because of both economic, environmental and cultural constraints, but these things are slowly changing all over the continent.
I look forward to the day that we, as a society, start valuing our respective “village dogs”, and provide them with the proper nutrition, care, attention and training that they deserve, so that they can all reach the respected status of dogs like the Basenji. There is no reason that the West African Avuvi can’t become as popular as a Shiba Inu for example. They can be just as pretty. Avuvi’s, just like Baasenji’s, barely have an odor, which is a huge plus point. They’re relatively hypoallergenic. They don’t bark unless there are intruders. As long as they don’t roll around in sh*t, they’re actually very clean and naturally potty trained. And if you show them a little love, they shower you with it. Regardless of their independent nature, they are actually very affectionate and loyal. And because of their independent nature, their loyalty and affection is much more of a conscious decision on their part, than some purely instinct driven clinginess to humans, which has been deliberately bred into some other breeds. It makes them feel more “authentic”. And they’re super goofy. They can be taught to be great around kids and even other animals too. They just need some attention, that’s all.
Mazza says
I grew up in Kenya in the 50s and 60s. I remember seeing many many “village” dogs in our travels around the country. They were nearly always a lightish brown, often with curly tails and slightly floppy ears; they were larger than a fox terrier but with a similar body-build. They were known as “shenzy” dogs. Shenzy also meant “shoddy” but there was nothing shoddy about these self-reliant dogs!