Abstract Book of the 11th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences
Year: 2025
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Canine city. An Analysis of Forms of Presence and Interspecies Relations in the Urban Environment
Agata Krawczyk
ABSTRACT:
With over 8 million dogs residing in Polish households, the human-canine relationship has become a significant aspect of urban life. This presentation explores the presence of dogs in the city of Poznań and examines how their integration into urban spaces shapes the everyday experiences of its residents. Focusing on the concept of a “canine Poznań,” I analyze how shared walks between humans and dogs serve as a primary mode of engaging with the city, challenging traditional boundaries between nature and culture. The study adopts a multi-method approach, combining analysis of existing data, surveys, focus group interviews, ethnographic observation, walk-along interviews, and photographic documentation of urban environments. By foregrounding the human-dog dyad, I highlight the agency of non-human actors and discuss methodological challenges and opportunities in incorporating animals into sociological research. The findings reveal that daily dog walking not only reconfigures urban routines and social interactions but also prompts a reconsideration of public space and community belonging. This research invites further reflection on the role of animals in urban sociology and the potential for more inclusive approaches to studying city life.
Keywords: dogs, human-animal relations, urban sociology, walk-along interviews, walking