Dingo: Origin, Personality, Fitness & Health

Group: Southern, Hounds

About Dingo

History of the Breed Though the Dingo dog is now found in Australia (except Tasmania) it is not truly native to Australia. There are two theories suggested about its arrival to Australian shores. According to one theory, Aboriginal people brought in the Dingoes to Australian over 15,000 years ago. And according to the other theory the Dingo could have been related to the semi-wild dogs that are found throughout South East Asia- these had been brought to Australia by seafarers. Such people could have been using the dogs for trading purposes and/or for consumption. Some Australian native groups had also at a time kept these dogs as an emergency source of food.

The dogs are believed to be the direct descendants of the original pariahs from the Middle East and Southeastern Asia though they became savage and returned to the wild. The Dingoes preying on man’s livestock like sheep and rabbit had given rise to an untidy and quarrelsome relation between man and Dingoes. However, with a little bit of effort these dogs can be re-domesticated pretty easily- at least to a certain extent. Dingoes retain the pariah traits of flight and wariness though and in many areas of Australia legal provisions forbid the keeping of the dogs.

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Description of the Dog

The dog has a shorthaired soft coat. The color of this coat ranges from reddish ginger, rust, yellow to brown and, rarely, also to black with white points on the feet, snout and tail-tip. The length, density and texture of the coat vary according to climate. The dog’s head has got an alert expression with mobile, small, rounded erect ears. The dingo’s eyes are intense and vary in color from yellow to orange. The dog’s tail is pretty long and well furred and appears bushy. Dingoes, however, do not have dewclaws.

Height: The dog’s height varies between 17 inches and 25 inches.

Weight: Dingo dogs weigh 40-70 pounds. However dogs of much higher weights have also been documented.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

Dingo dogs have never been fully domesticated. They do not qualify as friends or companions like many other dogs. There can be some reasons cited for this though- remote isolation of the animal and lack of human intervention. Previously untrained, adult Dingoes just cannot be obedience trained.

A Dingo pup may, however, be obedience trained in the best manner with the display of kindness and patience and the extending of firm yet gentle efforts. Such pups to be trained should be the ones taken from the litter before six weeks of age. Once over ten weeks old, the pups are certainly not to be taken out of the wild.

Some unusual traits can be observed in the Dingoes too. They are great tree climbers. They stay interestingly aloof at times. The Dingoes have only one breeding cycle a year unlike other dogs. Female Dingoes, unlike ordinary bitches, choose a single mate for life. The bitches may even mourn themselves to death after the loss of their partners. The Dingo dam may place the litter of pups in the hollow of a tree thus securing their protection from all sides while placing herself in guarding position at the front.

The Dingo dogs exhibit strong co-operative instincts- vocalizing together before a hunt. They live and hunt in packs of various sizes. They do not bark like other dogs. Instead a distinctive yelping or howling can be heard from them at times. The dogs do not also prefer to swim. If needed by they will only wade through water.

Dingoes staying in the wild always tend to shy away from human beings. They also rarely show aggression. They tend to run away rather than attack and bite humans. During breeding season (around May/June) the male dingoes kept as pets become very restless.

Activity Level

Exercise Needs

Being an undomesticated animal the dog gets lot of exercises in the wild. So, individuals owning the animal need take these dogs on a long walk or jog everyday in order to provide them the exercise that they need.

Living Conditions

Being wild dogs Dingoes are not to be taken into the apartment. They are best kept in a securely fenced enclosure. The dogs can withstand hot climates. They only need sufficient space for activity. Owners must make sure not to take them off their leashes when in a park.

Grooming

The Dingo has got a natural weather-resistant coat. This takes care of itself and no specific grooming requirements are there. The dog also does not have any doggie odor.

Health

The breed does not suffer from any specific health problem.

Life Expectancy

The dogs can live up to 20 years. However, in captivity they usually have a lower lifespan.