stray dog; ownerless dog
Refers to a dog without an owner, often living wild or roaming freely. Common in discussions of animal control, public safety, or wildlife.
There was a sign in the park warning people to be careful of stray dogs.
Stray dogs are being captured.
Stray dogs sometimes appear on this mountain path.
I nearly got attacked by stray dogs while out for a walk.
The city stepped up measures to capture stray dogs.
飼い犬 is a dog kept by an owner as a pet, the opposite of a masterless 野犬.
counter for small animals · counter for rolls of cloth · archaic counter for horses · roll of cloth
Compound of 野 (field, wild) and 犬 (dog). The reading やけん is the on'yomi for both characters.