Mating behaviour
Do dogs mate round the year, or is mating a seasonal activity? What is the mating season for dogs? What factors trigger mating related activities in dogs? Do they mate at particular times of the day? Do dogs mate with their kin? Is there mate choice in dogs? What is the role of aggression in the mating of dogs? We have begun to address some of these questions, and some of the answers are tantalizingly close, while the others would need some more chasing. Sreejani is presently involved in probing the sexual lives of dogs on streets in Kolkata, a task which is extremely difficult to perform, given the natural inquisitiveness of people, and a general apathy to dogs mating in the open.
Coming up!
When love is in the air - Our latest paper on mating in dogs will be published soon in PLOS ONE. Watch out for updates!
We probe into the private lives of dogs using mostly our eyes, some times aided by cameras and binoculars. In the field, we never forget to carry a notebook, a pen and our brains! Our research involves behavioural observations, population level sampling and manipulative experiments. We study dogs in their natural habitat, i.e., on streets, and do not maintain individuals in captivity. Currently we are also not involved in studying dogs in shelters are kennels or pets, but we look forward to doing so in the near future.
PHOTOS/VIDEOS
FRIENDS
Funded projects:
- Behavioural Ecology of the Indian Stray Dog Canis familiaris. Funded by CSIR, India, April 2010 - September 2013, Rs.22,02,000/-
- Understanding aggression and its correlates in the Indian feral dog Canis familiaris. Funded by INSA, June 2010 - June 2013, Rs.1,50,000/-
- Parental care and social dynamics in free-ranging dogs in India. Funded by DST under the FASTTRACK scheme, August 2013 - August 2016, Rs.14,00,000/-.
- Mating dynamics, territoriality and social organization in the Indian free-ranging dog, Canis lupus familiaris. Funded by SERB, DST, under the Women Excellence award scheme, September 2013 - September 2016, Rs.18,00,000/-.
