How Traveling to Africa Completely Changed My Perspective on Dogs

I recently returned from an incredible month-long journey throughout southern Africa, where I spent most of my time camping and hiking through the bush. It was nothing short of AMAZING. But this post isn’t about the adventures I had—although that’s a story for another time. Instead, I want to share something that I couldn't keep my eyes off of: the domesticated dogs roaming around us.

Before we dive in, please note that these observations are not meant to represent everyone in the countries I visited, but rather a casual record of the answers to my many questions. This is not an opinion piece on the ethics of training methods, and I encourage you to read this post with an open mind, considering perspectives that might differ from your own.

Across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, one thing stood out: dogs played a vital role in daily life, with their reactivity often viewed as a strength. In Botswana, for example, free-roaming dogs were common, and they were some of the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever seen. Some were strays, and some had owners that would put them behind fences at night to protect their owners' livestock. The dogs I saw here weren't of any particular breed, but looked SO healthy and happy - it truly blew me away. 

When I asked locals what else they used dogs for, the answer was almost always hunting. What really blew my mind to learn, was that these dogs learned to hunt from other dogs, with no human intervention. And apparently, the dogs don’t even eat what they hunt—this skill has been passed down through generations!

In Namibia, I visited the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which is a powerhouse of conservation. One of their standout programs is their livestock guardian dog initiative. By breeding Kangal dogs, they’ve drastically reduced predator attacks on livestock. These dogs are raised with livestock from a young age, relying on their instincts to protect without formal training. Once mature, they’re placed on local farms to defend against predators.

CCF has also started introducing snake aversion training for these dogs, which comes with its own challenges. They’re focused on finding the most ethical way to teach these dogs to avoid snakes. Currently they have struggled with attempts at using positive reinforcement with treats as some of their dogs began deliberately approaching snakes to earn a reward. Or, they became too interested in only working for treats and lost their interest in protecting the livestock. For now, they are trying out a method recommended to them that is used in Australia - using water sprays with fake snakes to help the dogs learn to avoid them. The issue they are facing with this method, however, is that some dogs still cannot help themselves to investigate the snakes, and that some dogs become afraid of many other things after being sprayed with water. I too, struggled coming up with a way to solve this problem they are facing. 

What’s even more fascinating is that they’re also using other breeds and mutts in the program. These dogs, despite not being traditional livestock guardians, have successfully kept predators like leopards and hyenas at bay - similar to in Botswana. 

In South Africa, I stayed in a more suburban area where dogs were fiercely protective of their homes. Most owners were fine with their dogs barking and lunging at everything from joggers to monkeys. The only tricky part was when the dogs chased antelope into the bush, risking encounters with illegal snares.

When I asked about training methods, the most common responses were “yelling at or hitting the dog when they do something wrong” and “praising them when they do something right.” I didn’t see a single shock or prong collar during my stay in any of these countries. Additionally, I came to realize that in most rural communities people cannot afford the luxury of training their dogs with treats, and that’s when it hit me—using positive reinforcement with treats is a privilege. Many people viewed their relationship with their dogs as a utility and as a friend. Some people were shocked to learn what I do for work, and mentioned finding it odd that so many dogs were kept inside and that so many dogs were experiencing emotional challenges.

Despite the differences in training approaches, the dogs I observed seemed genuinely happy, free-roaming and able to meet their own needs. People’s expectations seemed aligned with viewing their dogs simply as dogs and some also as friends. They didn’t expect perfection or demand that their dogs suppress their natural instincts. Instead, they embraced these instincts, often using them to complement their own lifestyles.

This REALLY got me thinking: why does our Western culture assume we do it 'best'? We often believe we need to rescue every free-roaming dog in other countries so they can live pampered lives in U.S. apartments. While I agree that many street dogs need medical care and enjoy interactions with people, I also think that many are happiest when left with their freedom. I can't help but now see that our culture's disconnect from nature is directly affecting our relationship with dogs too. And I wonder how many things we view as "behavior issues" are just a result of our culture's unfair expectations of our dogs?