Wild Dog of Australia

Dogs are lovable pets, don't you think so? We all desire to have one when we are young. Whether our parents allowed it or not is another matter. Nonetheless, dogs are domestic bread and live amongst humans. They have been living in human settlements since the millenniums. However, there is one breed of wild dog in Australia which doesn't exhibit this social behaviour, unlike dogs everywhere. These dogs are feral and are considered a menace. If you are curious about why it is, read on to know more.

Dingo Dog

Wild Dogs of Australia – Dingo

The name of the wild Dog of Australia is Dingo. Dingos are pure breeding, feral or escaped domestic dogs, and hybrids of these two types of dogs. These all are collectively referred to as wild dogs of Australia. Canis familiaris is the scientific name for the species that includes both dingoes and wild domestic dogs. 

Dingo Dogs considered Feral

These wild dogs have a negative impact on the grazing industry. They are feral in nature and kill small livestock. Hence they are a menace and treated as one. 

Interesting Facts About Wild Dogs of Australia

Let’s learn some interesting facts about wild dogs in Australia 

1. Dingos are Neither Dogs Nor Wolves

Dingos are not technically considered to be a breed of dogs. They have only been partially tamed. Therefore, their wolf and dog traits are equally pronounced. These Dingos are somewhere in between.

It is not known for certain whether or not the Canis lupus dingo was ever completely tamed. There is evidence to imply that they were originally kept as pets but were later abandoned and allowed to return to their natural state as wild animals.

2. Dingos are Considered a Pest

Dingos are the largest Pest in Australia. They kill cats, rabbits, kangaroos, and many other animals. They exhibit the behaviour of both dogs and wolves, so they fend for themselves, hunt in packs sometimes, and are hence labelled as a pest in Australia. 

3. Some People Keep Them as Pets

Even though these wild dogs of Australia are dangerous because of their similarity to wolves, some people still keep them as pets. But these dogs are very emotional in nature. So, keeping them as pets is a costly affair. You have to invest a lot of time in them. They don't like to be left alone if they are domesticated. They have to be patted and shown care.

4. It's Illegal to Keep Dingos as Pets in Some Areas

It is not necessary to have permission in order to own a dingo in certain parts of Australia, such as New South Wales and Western Australia. Owning a wild dog in Victoria and the Northern Territory requires a specialised permit. However, in Tasmania, Queensland, and South Australia, it is against the law to do so altogether.

5. They Can Rotate Their Heads 180 Degrees

Just like Owls, these dogs can swivel their heads 180 degrees just like owls because of a highly flexible bone structure. In contrast, humans can swivel their heads to a max of 70 degrees!

6. They Can Open Doors With Their Hands

Just like us, the Dingo has spinning wrists. This enables them to catch prey by using their paws in the same manner as their hands. Additionally, it improves their ability to climb trees and even unlock doors. Due to the fact that their wrists are more flexible than those of other dogs, they are able to climb and penetrate places that other dogs are unable to. This makes them an extremely difficult pest for farmers attempting to keep them away from their cattle.

Summary

Today we learned about the wild dog of Australia named Dingo. These dogs are very different from ordinary dogs. They have a wolfish nature. They have a very flexible bone structure. They can easily kill various small animals and are considered pests in Australia, just like we consider rats pests. These dogs can easily open doors with their wrists and have good night vision. What do you think about this type of Dog, do let us know in the comments. We hope you enjoyed reading this article.