What free living dogs can teach us about agency & freedom

What free living dogs can teach us about agency & freedom

For the most part, the free living dogs exhibit calm and relaxed behaviours despite being in seemingly chaotic environments. Unlike pet dogs, they are not bound by human routines or forced to adhere to human expectations.
They navigate day-to-day life with each other's support, form their own relationship, and navigate conflicts without escalation. 

In this session, Kapil will take you through a journey across India, exploring the lives of free living dogs in different contexts, and the lessons that they have taught him in his professional life as a pet dog behaviour consultant.

Themes such as the role of agency in dog welfare, the influence of humans interventions, and the complexity of human-dog relationships are a key feature in this presentation.

Jens Frank:

Kapil Patwardhan is a dog behavior specialist and researcher from Pune, India, dedicated to learning from the free-living dogs of India and helping others see them through a more empathetic lens. A Family Dog Mediator and graduate of the Nordic Education Centre for Dog Trainers, Kapil works across dog welfare, research, education, and community outreach. Through his volunteer work, Kapil supports local organizations with feeding, medical care, sterilization, and adoption efforts for free living dogs in India (Indies) in need. He has helped more than a thousand families successfully welcome dogs into their homes. As a researcher, he is enrolled as a PhD candidate at University of Technology, Sydney, studying the social lives of Indies, and conducts dog study tours in India and Sri Lanka, he faciliates professionals from around the world learn directly from free-living dogs. A published author and educator, Kapil also creates stories and workshops that foster empathy, kindness, and better understanding between humans and dogs. For him, protecting the Indies is not only a professional focus — it is a lifelong commitment to helping humans and dogs coexist with greater respect.

Practical information:

• Date: December 2

• Time: 7:00 PM CET - please check the time in your own time zone HERE

• Duration: Approximately 1,5 - 2 hours, including Q&A

• The webinar will be recorded and sent to everyone who registers. If the time doesn’t suit you, you can watch the recording whenever it is convenient for you.

Welcome!