Differential foraging strategies: motivation, perception and implementation in urban free-ranging dogs, Canis familiaris

Abstract

Animals exhibit intraspecific variation in foraging behaviour when alternative strategies are likely to fetch greater returns for one individual over another. The mechanisms underlying such variation are often behavioural, physiological or ecological in nature. We studied intraspecific variation in foraging strategies and its possible causes in a population of urban free-ranging dogs by accounting for variables of performance in novel food extraction tasks and responses to perceived threats. When presented with specially made food packets, dogs extracted food using two distinct techniques: ‘gap widening’ and ‘rip opening’. The two techniques were distinguishable also in terms of their qualitative and quantitative attributes, that is, the sophistication of the process and latency in food extraction. Typically, males employed the sophisticated gap-widening technique, which was associated with faster food extraction and lower risk aversion; in contrast, females used the relatively underdeveloped rip-opening technique, which was relatively ineffective and mostly accompanied by active food guarding. Females during pregnancy/lactation behaved similarly to males. Upon exposure to an artificial threat, the performance of the dogs in foraging activities declined as a result of the more frequent usage of the less effective technique. Furthermore, foraging performance was positively related to both fearlessness and sensitivity to perceived threats. We explain these findings through both functional and mechanistic arguments. Highlights ► Alternative foraging strategies in urban free-ranging dogs were investigated. ► Typically, males extracted food by ‘gap widening’ and females by ‘rip opening’. ► Gap widening was associated with faster food extraction and lower risk aversion. ► Female behaviour during pregnancy/lactation was more similar to males. ► Foraging performance was inversely related to threat responses.