Wild dog dingo animal. dingo dog

For many centuries, man and dog are inseparable, they are the closest friends. People who keep dogs at home treat them like younger children. The dog, in turn, faithfully serves its owners throughout its life, gives its love and protection. If a person is sad, the dog is not fun either. If people are happy, then the dog wags its tail, its eyes begin to smile. But it was not always such an idyll. And today there are many predators - wild dogs.

ancient dogs

Wild dogs, whose origin remains a mystery to scientists, have existed since ancient times. And as archaeological finds prove, ancient dogs that lived on various continents have many features in common with modern wild and domestic dogs. Sometimes there is a feeling that evolution has affected them quite a bit, leaving them in their original form, only slightly reducing them in size.

How did people domesticate a dog?

The domestication of the dog took place about 15 thousand years ago, and the process itself took several centuries. Today it is difficult to imagine that once all the best friends of man were called simply - wild dogs. Domestication man did not even think about it. Everything happened quite by accident.

Wolves, jackals and coyotes in ancient times were not at all afraid of man. It was easier for them to exist next to each other, but in separate flocks. After their camps, people left scraps that wild dogs ate, and the dogs, in turn, were useful to humans because they perfectly felt the danger, they began to howl. And so they lived. People moved from place to place, and the wolves followed them, remaining unnoticed.

Closer to the fire

With the approach of cold weather, the life of wild dogs became more and more difficult, and they got closer and closer to human camps. Once, in the most severe frosts, a pack of wolves approached people so close that they could throw bones at them. The dogs were basking nearby, nibbling on delicious leftovers from food, and therefore they had no desire to eat people. Wild dogs and modern domestic dogs are the smartest creatures. If they understand that their life depends on a person, then they will never attack him.

Many years later. People and wolves used to live side by side, and no one dared to come closer to each other. But everything starts somewhere. Once an inquisitive wolf cub made his way to people, and the man did not chase him. He began to play with him. Century after century passed, and one day the wolves forgot all their habits of predators, began to hunt with people, protect their huts.

Can you tame a wolf?

A wolf is also a dog, only a wild one. It is almost impossible to tame him, even taking a little wolf cub to raise. He will grow up and become a big predator. Not the fact that it will rush and eat the owner, but it can cripple. In order to get a domestic wolf, it will take many years, or even centuries, so that predators, just like many thousands of years ago, live nearby, stop being afraid and get used to people.

Modern wolves are the descendants of ancient wild dogs that did not find their human "pack" and at the gene level they do not have love for people.

Dingo: wild dog or feral ancestor of domestic dogs?

Scientists believe that wild dingo dogs are the oldest of dogs. There has been much debate about how dingoes ended up in Australia. Someone argued that wild dingo dogs were brought there by people from eastern countries, since the fossilized skull belonging to the most ancient dog was found in Asia. As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that dingoes simply moved to Australia by land, when the continents had not yet separated.

Outwardly, wild dingo dogs resemble domestic ones. They are very difficult to distinguish. Scientists believe that the dingo is the ancestor of the already domesticated dog. This conclusion was made due to the structure of the jaws and teeth, which are not as massive as those of a wolf or a coyote.

How do dingoes live?

Wild dingo dogs prefer to settle in groups of 4 to 15 dogs. Each pack has a dominant pair that holds all the power in its paws. The life of a dingo is little different from that of a wolf. They hunt, the prey is divided equally. Sometimes in flocks there is a change of power. When the dominant pair becomes weak, it is overthrown from the "throne" by younger and stronger individuals.

You can tame a dingo, unlike a wolf. A dog should be trained from puppyhood, and then there will be complete mutual understanding. A tamed dingo is very loyal. This dog will never accept another owner.

new guinea singing dog

This name is given to wild dogs living in New Guinea because of their unique voice data. They practically do not know how to bark, they only howl, and this sound is far from the one that wolves make. It is more like the songs of strange birds.

A distinctive feature of the singing dog is its incredible agility, obtained due to the unique physique. The spine of this dog is flexible, like a cat, and the paws are long with sharp claws. She can even climb a tree! Outwardly, the singing dog is similar to the dingo, but has a smaller size and more developed fangs.

With a person, the New Guinean dog is especially friendly. It can be tamed, but the population of the species is so small that it is almost never seen. It is believed that the dogs are almost extinct, and it will not be possible to save them.

Lifestyle and origin

Singing dogs resemble dingoes, and scientists have long believed that they are related. Today the final verdict has been delivered. New Guinean dogs are descendants of the Asian wolf.

Unfortunately, the number of singing dogs is so small that it is not possible to monitor their lifestyle. Even the indigenous aborigines of New Guinea claim that they do not know how they live, hunt and eat, since dogs cannot be found.

African wild dogs

On this hot continent live hyena dogs. They are very interesting and remarkable, as they live in real dog cities. There can be more than a hundred individuals in one flock, and all obey one leader.

These animals are very fast and hardy, and during the hunt, the field on which they are located resembles a battlefield. From such a pack no one will leave!

The leader of the pack has a female - alpha, which other representatives of a huge family of wild dogs cannot argue with. During her pregnancy, all the dogs bring her food, and then food for the puppies. In addition to the alpha, no one in the pack has the right to have offspring. Such females are deprived of food, and puppies are killed.

A photo of wild dogs belonging to the hyenas is provided above. It shows that the name was not given in vain. The predator only remotely resembles a hyena. He looks more like a feral domestic dog.

Carolina dogs

These dogs live in the United States. It is believed that the animals were brought here when the continent began to be actively settled by the British, and then became wild. According to other sources, these wild dogs were faithful watchmen and helpers of the Indians, who were driven out of their habitats. As a result, the dogs were left without owners and began to live independently.

However, Carolina dogs are considered semi-wild, as they are often found on the streets of settlements. Dogs go out into the city to rummage through garbage cans. After all, you can find a lot of delicious things there!

The Carolina dog is not dangerous to humans. She's hard to tame. Domestication and training will take a lot of time and effort. If success is achieved, then the once wild dog will make an excellent friend, protector and watchman.

About wild dogs in conclusion

Numerous packs of dogs live on the streets of cities. Over time, they move away from people into the forests and begin to breed there, hunt, live a wild life. If such individuals go out to people, a real panic begins. Man is afraid of feral domestic dogs, but he himself is guilty of making animals dangerous.

Someone takes a puppy and, after playing with it a little, refuses it, sends it to the street instead of giving it to other people or to a kennel, until it becomes a wild and dangerous animal.

No wonder the film "Wild Dogs" in 1980 is not about the cruelty of dogs, but about the callousness of people. The story tells about the life of a wild dog hunter who one day realizes that people are much more dangerous than feral animals. Isn't that really the case?

According to research conducted in 2004, the dingo cannot be native to Australia. Apparently, dogs arrived on the continent with Asian settlers about 5,000 years ago. All modern dingoes are related to one degree or another, which means they descended from one small group of dogs that was abandoned or lost. Here, in Australia, they have no serious enemies and competitors, and the ability to hunt in a pack has given them an advantage over marsupials solitary predators.

As for the progenitors, the Australian dingo, the opinions of scientists differ greatly. Some are sure that they originated from the wild dogs of Indonesia. Others claim that their ancestors were Chinese domestic dogs, and still others that Indian wolves.

There are a lot of species of wolves and hyenas in the world, but there are only a few wild dogs: the Australian dingo, the New Guinea singing dog, the Batak dog from the island of Sumatra, the semi-wild red dogs of the Buyanshu in the Himalayas and the wild Caroline dog, most recently discovered in the southeast of the United States.

Video about Australian wild dogs dingo:

https://youtu.be/vhNdlRchSu8

Appearance of the Australian dingo dog

The Australian Dingo is a medium-sized, well-built dog with relatively long legs. Height at the withers - 45-65 cm, body length - 86-120 cm, tail - 25-40 cm. Weight usually ranges from 9-25 kg. Sexual dimorphism is very well expressed. Bitches are much smaller and lighter.

The head is elongated, but not strongly pointed, rather with a square outline. The nose is medium in size. The eyes are almond-shaped and set slightly obliquely. Erect ears, medium size. Inside the auricle is abundantly covered with wool. The jaws are strong, the teeth are complete, converge in the correct scissor bite.

Zoologists do not stop arguing who the dingoes are: are they real wild dogs, like the wolves of the northern hemisphere, or are they akin to African hyenas. The pedigree of Australian predators is full of mysteries, and morphologically they cannot be distinguished from an ordinary domestic dog, nevertheless, scientists nevertheless decided to separate it into a separate species - lat. canis lupus dingo

Body slightly stretched. The back is level with well-defined withers and a sloping croup. The tail is set low, carried down, and may be slightly curved. Legs of medium length, strong. The musculature is very well developed, but not prominent, besides it is hidden by thick hair.

The fur is very thick, short. Typical color: rusty red or red-brown, light, almost white, hair on the muzzle, lower body and limbs. Occasionally there are individuals of white, piebald, black and other colors, and in the southeast of Australia also gray-white.

Dingo in the wild

In Australia, dingoes inhabit the edges of humid forests, arid deserts and eucalyptus thickets. In this they are very different from Asian wild dogs, which prefer to live near human settlements and try to scavenge. They live in small packs of 5-6 dogs. The lair is arranged in empty holes, caves or in the roots of trees, as a rule, not far from water bodies. They lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle.

The Australian dingo is the only predatory mammal in the wild fauna of the continent.

Dingo life in Australia is paradoxical. On the one hand, these are pests of agriculture, which can be exterminated beyond the time limits and restrictions. At the same time, as endemics of the continent, they are subject to protection. Export from the country is strictly controlled, and captivity in most states requires permission. The main threat is the erosion of the gene pool. More and more wild animals are mating with regular dogs, losing their uniqueness.

Fence across the continent

The first settlers who arrived in Australia treated wild dogs with interest and tolerance, but when sheep breeding became the main branch of the economy, predators became unwanted guests on farms. Dingoes were shot, poisoned and caught. In South Wales alone, farmers spent several tons of strychnine per year on pest control. But even these measures were not enough. In the 80s of the 19th century, the construction of a huge mesh fence began, which was called the “dog fence”. He fenced sheep pastures in South Queensland, South New Wales and South Australia from dogs and kept rabbits out of the area. Separate sections are interrupted only at intersections with highways. The length of the fence is 5614 km., and its maintenance in proper condition costs the three states 15 million dollars a year. By the way, in the state of Western Australia, a similar structure is called the “rabbit fence”, built for the same purpose, its length is 1833 km.

Reproduction and lifespan

In small flocks that form dingoes, only dominant pairs breed. If puppies are born to another bitch, they are killed. All who are below the leader and his companion take care of the babies, hunt and guard the borders of the territory, but do not have the right to bring offspring. The hierarchy is built on intimidation and rare fights.

Dingoes breed once a year. The mating season usually falls in early to mid-spring. The gestation period, like in conventional dogs, lasts approximately 63 days. 6-8 blind puppies are born in a litter. Both parents take care of the newborns.

Dingoes easily interbreed with domestic dogs, so most of the population is hybridized. Thoroughbreds are found mainly in national parks and other protected areas where mongrels do not go.

Sexual maturity is reached by 1-3 years. Dogs are monogamous. In nature, they live about 10 years, in captivity - up to 13.

Diet

Most of the diet consists of small animals: rabbits, martens, flying foxes, etc. Also, dogs can hunt kangaroos or wallabies. Less often they feed on birds, reptiles, insects and carrion. There is evidence that dingoes can catch and pull out of the water sharks that swam close to the shore. The fact that dogs easily catch small fish in shallow water is beyond doubt.

With the advent of European farmers in Australia and the increase in the number of livestock, dingoes began to eat even better. It is worth noting that they often attacked sheep, but did not eat them. Dingo and domestic dog mestizos are of great danger to livestock; they breed 2 times a year and are more aggressive, including towards people.

Character and behavior

Dingoes are very smart, agile, hardy dogs with excellent eyesight and hearing, a developed pack and strong hunting instinct. By nature, they are very cautious and accurate, which allows them to avoid meeting people, traps and recognize poisoned food. Purebred dingoes do not bark, only howl and growl.

It is believed that dingoes do not attack humans. Only a few such cases have been recorded throughout history. One of the most notorious was the death of Azaria Chamberlain, a 9-month-old girl who is believed to have been dragged away by a wild dog.

Tamed dingoes are mischievous, smart and funny. Strongly attached to one person and can not stand the change of ownership, run away or die. Other family members are usually friendly. Escape prone and unpredictable in behavior. They don't get along well with other animals. Conflicts often arise with dogs, other living creatures can awaken the hunting instinct. Alone or in the absence of attention, they quickly run wild.

The English naturalist Wilbur Chesling, who lived for several years in the Australian Aboriginal society, wrote that the locals are very touching about the domestication of dogs, they accept the puppy as a full member of the family. Often it grows with children, women train the dog to find small animals or even dig up roots, men take the dog hunting. The deceased friend was mourned and buried like a person. However, dingoes never really became domesticated. Even modern dogs, born in kennels, and fed literally from the first days of life, will faithfully follow the owner, guard the house, protect children, but will not get rid of the instincts of a wild beast. They will dig holes, run away and prey on everything that moves, in this business they are frisky, daring and reckless. Requires persistent, consistent training. A person without experience in keeping such independent and self-sufficient dogs is unlikely to be able to cope with a wild predator.

Even tamed dingoes remain wild dogs and live on their own. They are not the best choice for those who need a four-legged friend. Getting a dingo is like having a wolf, and, as you know, he still looks into the forest. Not one Australian will not dare to leave him for the night in a paddock with sheep.

Dingoes are characterized by life in a pack, similar relationships are formed in the family. It is important for the owner to become a leader and be able to maintain this position. Even if the dog has accepted the fact that a person is an alpha male, he will continue to regularly challenge this in the future. In general, dingoes are sure that they know everything and can do it better. They will not bring a wand or play various games, especially obedience. Relations with a dog are built solely on mutual respect and compatibility of interests, one of which can be a joint daily walk. By the way, dingoes need very good physical activity, mental work is no less important for a dog. The minimum that the owner must provide the dog is 10-12 km of more or less free running per day. The ability to mark the territory, hunt, sniff, everything you need, etc.

Where to Buy a Wild Australian Dingo Dog

In the 80s of the last century, Australians had to reconsider their views on dingoes, which became interested in zoos in Europe and America. From the category of predators and parasites, they moved into the category of exclusive wild animals, became an indicator of prestige, and those who wanted to buy a puppy lined up in a huge queue.

Dingo
scientific classification
International scientific name
canis lupus dingo Meyer, 1793
Synonyms
canis dingo
Systematics on Wikispecies Images at Wikimedia Commons ITIS NCBI EOL

History

Judging by the fossil remains, dingoes were brought to Australia not by early settlers (about 40,000-50,000 years ago), as previously thought, but by immigrants from Southeast Asia (possibly from the Malay Archipelago). The oldest dingo skull found in Vietnam is approximately 5,500 years old; remains of this dog, ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 years old, are also found in other parts of Southeast Asia, and the oldest dingo fossils in Australia are about 3,450 years old. Studies of dingo mitochondrial DNA published in 2004 date their introduction to Australia to 4000 BC. e.; presumably, all Australian dingoes are descended from one small group. Combining the data of genetics and archeology, scientists came to the conclusion that dingo dogs came to Australia from 5,000 to 12,000 years ago thanks to hunter-gatherers of the Toalea tribe ( Toalean) from the south of the island of Sulawesi, who probably received them themselves from their neighbors from Kalimantan. Dingoes lack several copies of the starch-digesting gene that domestic dogs developed from living with agricultural peoples. Dingoes carry a unique Y-chromosomal haplogroup H60, which is descended from the Y-chromosome haplogroup H5, common in Taiwan. H5 and H60 form one cluster indicating a common male ancestor who lived 4-5 thousand years BC. BC, coinciding with the expansion of the Tai-Kadai languages ​​from South China. According to archeology, dingoes came to Australia about 3,500 years ago. Dingo bones from the Madura Cave in the Nullarbor Plain have been dated to 3348-3081 years ago.

In Australia, dingoes that escaped or abandoned by their owners found excellent living conditions: a lot of game, the absence of enemies and serious competitors, multiplied and settled throughout the continent and the nearest islands, not only reaching Tasmania. The ability to hunt in packs gave them an important advantage over solitary marsupial predators. Presumably, dingoes caused the extinction of a number of representatives of marsupials.

Usually dingo is considered as a subspecies of the gray wolf, however, some experts consider it to be a completely independent species. It is believed that the dingo is an almost purebred descendant of the domesticated Indian wolf, which in the wild and is now found in the Hindustan peninsula and in Balochistan. In 1958, the New Guinea singing dog, similar to but smaller than the dingo, was discovered in the forests of New Guinea. The wild carolinian dog, recently discovered in the southeastern United States, is also similar to the dingo.

Appearance

Dingo looks like a well-built dog of medium size: height at the withers 47-67 cm, body length with head 86-122 cm, tail length 26-38 cm. Weight 9.60-19 kg, rarely up to 24 kg and above. Males are much larger than females, and Asian dingoes are smaller than Australian relatives, apparently due to a diet poor in proteins. The physique of a dingo resembles a hound. The muzzle is square; ears are small, erect. The tail is fluffy, saber-shaped.

The fur of the dingo is short and thick, the typical color is rusty-red or red-brown, lighter on the muzzle and belly. Occasionally there are individuals of almost black color, white and piebald. The gray-white dingo breed lives in the southeast of Australia. Black and tan dingoes (similar to the color of the Rottweiler) are considered hybrids of dingoes with domestic dogs, probably German shepherds.

Purebred dingoes do not bark, but are able to growl and howl like a wolf.

Spreading

Lifestyle and diet

Young dingoes tend to be solitary outside the breeding season, although they may form groups when hunting big game. Up to a hundred dogs were sometimes observed on the accumulations of carrion. Stable family packs in dingoes consist of 3-12 individuals, like in wolves, grouped around a dominant pair. Family groups follow a strict hierarchy. Each flock has its own hunting area, which it protects from neighbors.

Before the advent of Europeans, dingoes were Australia's top predators. According to one theory, once on the mainland, they gradually crowded out and exterminated most of the native predators, including the marsupial wolf and marsupial devil. However, it is now generally believed that the main reason for the extinction of marsupial predators was anthropogenic pressure, and not competition. Dingoes are smart and agile. Their characteristic feature is extreme caution, which helps them to successfully avoid traps and poisoned baits. It is believed that purebred dingoes do not attack people (however, there is an exception to this rule - for example, the death of Azaria Chamberlain). The main competitors of dingoes are jackals and dogs introduced by Europeans. The adults may be eaten by crocodiles, while the juveniles are preyed upon by large birds of prey, pythons and monitor lizards.

reproduction

Dingoes live in small flocks in which only the dominant pair breeds. If another female gives birth to cubs, the dominant female kills them. Low-ranking females and males take care of the cubs of the main female. The dingo hierarchy is built around intimidation and occasional fights.

Unlike the common dog, dingoes breed once a year. The mating season for Australian dingoes falls on March-April, for Asian dingoes - in August-September. The gestation period, like in dogs, is 63 days. There are usually 6-8 pups in a litter, which the female gives birth in the den. Puppies are born blind, but covered with hair. Both parents take care of the offspring.

At the age of 3 weeks, dingo puppies leave their native den for the first time, and the female stops feeding them milk. By 8 weeks, they finally leave the den and live with other members of the pack. From 9 to 12 weeks, the mother and other members of the pack bring them food and water, which burp and feed the pups. At 3-4 months old, puppies are already independent and accompany adults on the hunt.

Sexual maturity in dingoes occurs at the age of 1-3 years. Dingoes are monogamous. They live 10 years in nature and up to 13 years in captivity.

Dingoes and domestic dogs interbreed readily, and wild dingo populations are highly hybridised. The exception is populations living in Australian national parks and other protected areas. The offspring of dingoes and dogs pose a great threat to sheep breeding, since non-purebred dingoes tend to breed 2 times a year (rather than once, like purebreds) and are more aggressive.

Photo: Dingo dog - a breed from Australia

Wild dog dingo: an unusual breed from Australia

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Known for its unusual disposition, or rather familiar from the story of the same name, the dingo dog is often of interest to inquisitive people. There is a lot of both romantic and instinctive animal in this wild "breed", but there is a little less usual fidelity and devotion characteristic of tamed dogs. And the point is not at all that the dingo dog is an evil breed, because it is not tamed by man, and therefore is even more intriguing. Especially the mysteries of its origin: when did it first appear, by whom was it discovered, and where does it live in general?

The wild dog is usually light red or brick brown in color. It has a good, muscular physique and a fairly wide head with ears like a sheepdog. The tail of a dingo is usually fluffy and long, and the fangs are much larger than those of pets.

Photo: Dingo dog

Wild and can reach a maximum of 70 cm at the withers with an athletic build and a weight of 25 kg for a male. But the body length can vary from 90 to 120 cm, while the tail reaches 40 cm.

The breed is divided into 2 types: Australian and Asian, and the first is usually much larger than its friend. As for the texture of the fur itself, it is very dense and thick, short, but still looks voluminous. Of the features of the color, a lighter muzzle and belly can be emphasized. Sometimes in nature there are black, white and even spotted dogs.

Fact! In the wild lands of Australia, many half-breeds roam, which are also called hybrids. Wild individuals easily interbreed with domestic pets. You can distinguish them not only by violations of color and size, but also by the fact that hybrids can bark. Wild dogs only growl and howl.

animal habitat

The wild dog is quite common throughout Australia, and is also found in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Guinea, Borneo, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines. The animal prefers to look for food and be active at night.

As for nature, this beast loves thickets of eucalyptus trees, as well as semi-deserts. For his home, the dog chooses small caves, large tree roots or holes left by other creatures. The most preferable place for an adult is a place located next to water suitable for drinking.

In Asia, dingoes are less free to choose and often live in close proximity to humans, feeding on their waste and devastating various accumulations of garbage.

Fact! In the wild, the dog preys on small mammals and reptiles, and may prey on kangaroos and wallabies.

Because of the breeding of livestock, dogs began to attack him, which is why the mass destruction of dingoes began in the last century.

Pack feeling

The wild dog dingo prefers a hermit life alone, only in the mating season does it become interested in other individuals. Sometimes there are cases that dogs gather to hunt in packs, and then attack fairly large animals. The hierarchy in the pack is built like a wolf's - clearly and rigidly. Each flock forms its own area, which it instinctively has to protect from someone else's encroachment.

The history of the dog

Legends and mystical versions have long surrounded the story of the appearance of the wild dog dingo:

• there is an opinion that it was brought from Asia more than 5000 years ago - this is considered the main theory;
• others adhere to the theory that the dingo was bred from domestic Chinese dogs;
• still others prefer to think that the Australian dingo became a descendant of the Indian wolf.

This beast may be known to Russian people from the story about the dingo dog, written by Fraerman in 1939, which is called "Wild Dog Dingo, or The Tale of First Love."

Behavior in captivity

A wild dog takes root very poorly in captivity and is practically untamed, although some Australians have found loyal comrades and desperate watchmen in the face of the dingo. If you raise a puppy from a very early age, then the chance of getting a great friend is much higher. Adults are not amenable to any training, are considered predators and can behave aggressively towards people.

Photo: Dingo dog

"A Tale of First Love"

The story was first published in Krasnaya Nov, and in 1962 Soviet filmmakers made a film of the same name. The author says that the idea of ​​the book was born in the Far East, and in fact it has no direct relation to wild dogs. The author was inspired by the friendship of Tungus boys with Russian girls.

In the book, the action takes place in a small village, covering the life of Tanya Sabaneeva and the teenager Filka, who belongs to the Nanai settlers. The story tells about the devotion of friends, about their joint experiences and difficult incidents that radically change the worldview of children and make them a little more mature.

If you dare to have a dingo...

A wild dog belongs to the type of pets that are commonly called exotic. In this case, the future owner, if he nevertheless decided to have such a pet, needs to remember:

• dingoes are very active, require a long walk and cannot remain stationary for a long time;
• they do not take root well where there are other pets, whether it be an adult Rottweiler or a hand mouse;
• dingoes are cold enough with people, but 1 person can be treated kindly;
• it should be noted that the animal takes root better in the yard and serves as a security guard than grows up as a companion like a Labrador;
• on the other hand, the dingo's coat does not need any care at all, only 1-2 bathings per year - the maximum necessary for such procedures;
• the diet should include meat products, as well as cereals and dairy treats, like any other dog.

A wild dingo dog will not become a devoted friend and calm companion. Rather, it is a pet that will tickle your nerves day after day. So it's better to let these beautiful dogs with fluffy red hair stay in their favorite expanses of Australia or Asia and live a full, happy life there, full of hunting and other everyday worries.

For centuries, scientists and cynologists have not been able to solve the riddle of how the first dingo dogs appeared on earth. Despite the fact that for many years the dingo dog was considered Australian, while in general it is not an aboriginal Australian contingent. So many researchers and historians began to prove that over four thousand years ago it was these wild dogs that were brought to the Australian contingent by nomadic settlers from Asia. Today, purebred descendants of dingoes are found in the Indonesian highlands. Other researchers argue that their ancestors can be called Chinese dogs, tamed and domesticated from the South Chinese contingent over six thousand years ago. Third researchers went even further, calling the ancestors of the dingo Pariah (Indian wolf dogs), which were brought to the Australians by Indian sailors.

More recently, photographs of the ancient skull of a dingo dog were published on one of the Vietnamese sites. The skull is over five thousand years old. And during the excavations, archaeologists also found several remains of wild dingoes that inhabited the southeast of the Asian coast over two and a half thousand years ago. The oldest petrified remains of a dog were found on an Australian contingent over three thousand years ago.

Features of the Dingo breed

Dingo - Australians compare it with a wolf. And, true, outwardly these dogs resemble wild gray wolves, just as embittered and harsh. Like their predatory canine relatives, wild dingoes are famous for their strong and strong body, sharp muzzle, strong teeth, and strong paws. Like a wolf, the Australian's ears and tail are pointed and point upwards, as is the tail. An adult dingo weighs 25-30 kilograms, can reach a height of up to sixty centimeters. All Australians are very strong and strong. They have a beautiful color, bright, red color. Rarely are dingoes that have gray or brown skin, only their paws and the tip of their tail are white. Characterized by a completely soft, fluffy and delicate coat.

Dingo is a very complex dog in nature and disposition.. Dingo is a rebel, hard to train. We can say, rarely, who succeeds. Even if the domesticated dingo will follow the commands of the owner, it is better not to keep this dog on a leash. Outwardly calm and playful, he can attack a person even if his owners are standing next to him. But in general, domesticated Australians are very devoted and caring, until death they will obey only one owner, they will even follow him to the ends of the world.

Eating wild dingo

All dingo animals are wild, like wolves, hunting their prey mainly at night. They live on the Australian contingent at the edge of the forest. They prefer to live in places where the climate is humid or near eucalyptus thickets. They breed in arid semi-desert places in Australia, and they build burrows strictly near a reservoir, but at the root of a tree, and if it fails, then in a deep cave. Asian dingoes live mainly near people, equipping their homes in such a way as to feed on garbage.

Australians are similar to wolves in that they also love night hunting. They feed on small artiodactyls, adore hares, and occasionally even attack adult kangaroos. They eat any carrion, insects, toads are also present in their diet. Shepherds disliked dingoes, because these animals are used to attacking livestock even during the day. Farmers endured for a long time how these dogs - wolves attack the herd and kill animals, without even trying to eat them, they only bite them ... and that's it. Therefore, we decided to unite and shoot dingoes. In this regard, wild dingoes began to disappear rapidly. Asian dogs are more fortunate, where these dingoes eat everything in a row - various types of fish, fruits and cereals.

In Asian countries, it is much easier for breeders of this breed of dogs, since dingo puppies have been tamed for hunting since six months. In one year, dingoes are already real, strong and intelligent predators, adoring the results of their victories - prey caught by their own efforts. Dingoes rarely hunt in groups at night, most of all they prefer to get their own food on their own. And if they do live in populations, then only five or six individuals.

Interesting! Wild dingoes do not bark from birth, like ordinary dogs, they can only make sounds inherent in it - howl, roar. Dingoes rarely whine, and when they hunt together, they sometimes make interesting sounds that resemble a "dog" song.

Reproduction of the wild dingo breed

Australian dogs are crossed only once in 12 months, and then only in the first spring months. But the Asian dingo breeds prefer to hold mating games in the warm season, the end of August, the beginning of September. Dingo Australians are very loyal dogs, they choose a mate for life, like predatory wolves. The female gives birth to puppies, as well as simple dogs, after more than 2 months. About six or eight babies may be born, covered with hair and blind. Unlike some breeds of dogs, both the male and the female take care of their offspring.

Puppies are breastfed by their mother for only 8 weeks. After, the female takes the little dingoes out of the den to the common flock, and the adult dogs bring them food so that the kids get used to it, and then, after 3 months, they themselves, together with the adults, ran hunting.

In the wild, dingoes live up to ten years. Interestingly, domesticated dingoes live much longer than their wild relatives - about thirteen years. Fans of the wild dingo breed really want to continue the life of these animals, which is why they came up with the idea of ​​crossing such dogs with domestic ones. As a result, most wild dingoes today are hybrid animals, with the exception of the vast area inhabited by wild Australian dingoes in national parks. These parks in Australia are protected by law, so there is no threat of extinction of the population of these dogs.