If you live in Australia you should know that it is possible to have a dingo as a pet If you live in another place it will be very difficult, since this Australia's own canid is currently banned from export. Precisely on the continent, adopting dingo puppies and educating them as if they were dogs has become enormously popular. But is that a good thing?
On the other hand, you should also know that there are other varieties of dingo in Southeast Asia, but whose characteristics differ from the Australian dingoes. And to all this we add the incredible varieties that have descended from the dingo as the case of the Australian cattle dog (blue heeler or red heeler). If you continue reading our site, you will learn about all this and you will discover if it is possible to have a dingo as a pet
Australian Dingo
The Australian dingo wild dog - Canis lupus dingo - is a canid that experts regard as the intermediate link between the first dogs and the domestic dog.
The dingo is not native to Australia, although the truth is that it has settled there and most of the specimens come from the area north of that continent. Dingoes are estimated to have existed in Australia for about 4,000 years.
Many dingoes have been mated with domestic dogs and for this reason there are hybrids that do not have all the original characteristics. The stamp of the dingo is precious and formidable, full of a power that goes beyond its size and weight. The dingo usually measures between 50 and 58 cm, and its weight ranges from 23 to 32 kg, although specimens that exceed 50 kg have been seen.
Dingo Morphology
The dingo is the size of an average dog, but he is more massive and his nape is thicker. Its muzzle is longer than that of an average dog and the incisors are larger. The color of its coat is circumscribed in the range of orange, tawny, yellowish sand and reddish.
Its tail is very furry and closely resembles a fox's tail. The length of its coat is short (similar to that of the German shepherd), and the less mixed specimens show white areas on the chest and between the nails. Their eyes may be amber or yellowish.
The Asian Dingo
Dingo colonies live in Southeast Asia and on some Indian islands. They are smaller than Australian dingoes. Most of the dingoes in these areas overpopulated by humans feed on garbage. In these countries it is feasible to adopt dingo puppies.
Habits and peculiarities of dingoes
Australian dingoes live in packs of about 10 to 12 individuals and, as with other canids, such as dogs, They have a hierarchical structure. However, sometimes dingoes can be a bit lonely.
The population of wild dingoes is regulated mainly by the extension of the territory, so currently and due to the deforestation of the habitat, There are fewer and fewer copies. Yet Australia's population is still larger than that of Asian dingoes.
The communication of dingoes is similar to that of other canids. Although they do not usually vocalize as much as dogs, their body communication is very similar.
Dingo adoption in Australia
In Australia it is allowed to keep a dingo as a pet, however it should be noted that you should never capture a worthy wild one Feral adult specimens They are not domesticated and some of them have not been socialized with people, so it could be very dangerous to try to own one. Retaining a wild animal can seriously compromise its welfare and the safety of those who attempt it.
On the other hand, there are farms that are dedicated exclusively to the breeding of these canids, although it is not advisable to promote the sale, mainly due to the conditions to which many of them are subjected, it is best always bet on responsible adoption.
If you live outside this continent and want to adopt a dingo as a pet, we must remember that currently the export of dingoes is prohibited.
Dingo eating habits
Scientific studies carried out in Australia conclude that up to 170 different animal species can be seen in the dingo's diet. Everything from insects to water buffalo are potential prey for herds of dingoes. Depending on the area in which they are found, their diet will be based on one or another species:
- In northern Australia the most common prey for the dingo are: the wallabie, the dust rat and the magpie goose.
- In the arid central zone, the most common prey items are: mice, rabbits, the red kangaroo and the long-eared rat.
- In South Australia dingoes commonly feed on: possums, wallabies and wombats.
- In northwestern Australia, the most common prey for dingoes are: red kangaroos and the eastern wallaroo.
