Stray dogs in India often carry a reputation for unpredictability, yet canine behaviourists are proving otherwise. These dogs particularly resilient Indian Pariahs can learn to coexist peacefully when trained with patience and community cohesion.

When a pack of strays cornered her Doberman on Banaras Hindu University’s campus, lawyer Amrita Pratap sought help. Canine behaviourist Ajay Mukherjee advised her to loosen the leash, stay calm, and walk home straight an intervention that immediately defused tension and sparked a broader initiative. With community participation and a small budget, six stray dogs were trained to reduce aggression through careful reinforcement.

Trainers like Shirin Dhabhar (Mumbai), Shivani Sharma, and Aaron Dsilva (Delhi) emphasize that age isn’t a barrier though younger dogs grasp training faster. Regular, structured feeding and consistent interaction desensitize strays to human presence. One successful initiative in Delhi’s Safdarjung area had dogs walking daily and being fed reliably by locals, which significantly lowered their aggression.

This approach could complement legal mandates, such as the Supreme Court’s shelter-home directive for Delhi-NCR strays provided there is enough support from communities, policymakers, and trainers. Training won’t solve the entire stray menace, but it's a humane, scalable, and effective part of a broader solution.