5 Reasons not to get a dingo

In this video I talk about 5 reasons why you shouldn't get a dingo as a pet.

I made this video to help people who might be thinking about adopting or buying a dingo with their decision making process. I strongly believe it's important to help out animal rescue centres by adopting dingoes but it's important that people know what to expect once they have these wonderful animals back home. This will hopefully help reduce the number of dingoes bouncing around from shelter to shelter and home to home and help with the transition to a new home.

Please follow me on Instagram to see regular updates on the progress of my dingoes. Also see a few other short clips that don't make it to YouTube.

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[uralbob]

Wonderful video! Great to see and learn about your happy pups. How old are they now?
One question: I see that you folks have a feral cat and wild rabbit population problem on the continent. Can’t you guys use dingos to mitigate this issue?
Lots of love from USA to our Aussie brothers and sisters!

[generaldissatisfaction]

I had a dingo called Possum that I hand raised. He was the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever owned. Very intelligent and knew his own mind. He lived to 11and is sorely missed.

[ronimartin]

I absolutely loved my Dingo...he was very protective of me...and he was around every one of my grandchildren (4) from birth till he died...never had a problem

[stevenlowe]

My childhood dog and best friend was a dingo Aussie Shepherd cross and was the best dog I could have asked for. Her quirks? Viciously protective of me, loved to dig holes in the yard and had weird false pregnancy episodes where she would viciously defend a toy she thought was a pup. After spaying her that ended. Sweet girl overall.

[eric]

You are their pet - you get to be part of their lifestyle.

[scottbrown]

As an owner of a blue heeler, it is really interesting to see the dingo traits and behaviors of our own pup. Particularly during play, but also the digging habits. It helps me understand Wylie a bit more.

[humanze]

#1 reason to get a dingo: way cheaper than a mini-excavator🤣

[howardcroft]

These are beautiful animals. They belong in the wild. This is a fantastic explanation

[groussac]

For those wanting an independent dog, recommend a Jack Russell Terrier. They're wild enough to try your patience, but dog enough to eventually do what you want--in their own good time. All credit to you and your family for taking on this project. Hopefully, with people like you, Australia will find a way to preserve its dingo heritage. They are a cool animal indeed, and worth saving.

[katyparker]

I love the den in your yard!! This is the best thing I've seen in ages 🤣😂

[kevincochran]

I have a north American dingo, Carolina dog. Smartest dog ive had. Understands all basic commands. Taught him to crawl relatively easily, but outside without a leash, he doesn't listen to a word. Very good with my son.

[reddog]

Canis Dingo Destructo. Well put. I'm currently caring for my second wild born orphan and thankfully I knew full well what I was in for. The first few months was limited contact as I allowed him to come to me when he felt confident enough and complete destruction of anything with in reach. The most important thing was to respect what he is, where he came from and where he is now. And equally important is to know a dingo is a life long commitment, I had my last boy for 17 years and to accept that my life now revolves around him and his caring. So many people comment when they meet him that they want a dingo for a pet too. My immediate response is always no you don't, trust me. A dingo will never allow itself to be a cute and cuddly pet like a dog will and will test your patience to it's limits and beyond if you are not prepared.
Long story short, you can take the dingo out of the wild, but you will never take the wild out of a dingo.

[TheRealZenman]

My dog Dot is part Dingo and she is far and away the smartest dog I have ever had, and I have had a fair few.

[glenbaker]

Great video. I’ve been absolutely smashed by ignorant people for my comments about dingoes on many sites. These are a phenomenal animal but, as you say, not a pet for people wanting a pet dog. Want a pet, buy a domestic dog. I love these guys, I would happily take on another one but I’d probably be too old to be a good partner for it. I disagree about them being as untrainable as a cat but I do agree that they are very different from a domesticated dog. I personally love hunting with these guys; they’re very loyal and loving.

[mommachupacabra]

You're absolutely right. They're beautiful and I don't have the space or life to partner up with a dingo. I've got a heeler, and nobody who isn't ready for a true partnership with a dog should have anything to do with a heeler.

[christinewade]

Love this! I adopted my girl when she was four months old in northern Montana. She was found without a mom. We just recently lost her ( died in backyard)1 month before she turned eight years old. Completely unexplained. 😭
You touched on a lot of her behaviors. But I would love to tell you about our Journey with our loving girl!

[skyislands]

"Where you don't know where they (dingos) come form" very wise words. Wild born traits strong remain even after several captive breeding seasons. Other traits remain inate forever. My pure alpine dingo (father) x (red heeler x pure desert dingo (mother) came from a breeder who knew or owned 4 or more generations. Genetic test suggest 70 to 80% dingo.
My dingo is well read 📚, voraciously decimating books, and any thing / everything else, including bike tyres and a dynema rope. A lot Patience, substitution, alternite thinking and positive reinforcements curbed this and the chewing now confines to banksia cones, sticks, Bunya nuts and other natural items plus his toys and the occasional lead or rope. Lot of positive reinforcement and time.
Basically he's Houdini when it comes to any enclosed yards, but when in an unfenced area will surprisingly tend to keep to the surrounds, unless on a beach.

On meeting another dingo / high content dingo, 'play' is elevated, brutal and quite disconcerting for non dingo owners, but never harmful or aggressive to the other dingo. Similarly, even as a very young pup, deferance and submission to older dingos was inate.
His interaction is quite adaptable to other dogs, big small and high has a developed reguard and perceptions for interacting or not.

Recall is quite poor, especially on an open beach or similar, in saying that, if I walk off, he is instantly beside me. Lots of positive reinforcement has helped.

Pray drive as in stalking is very high, but healthy diet, treats and positive reinforcement curbs this, but still need to watch the chooks. He tracks wallabies and goanna, but maintains a respectful distance, and has never posed a problem to cattle and horses

Keeping him in harnesses or collars is hard, nearly impossible. If he can't slip them, he simply chews them, being very flexible. Lots patience prevails and lots of training and positive reinforcement and this last harness has lasted a record 7 weeks untouched.
People are either avoidant and wary or very inquisitive, negitive connotations and ignorance seem to persist, and my dingo seems to know who's who, but he and I do cop some nevitive reactions.

Being my second dingo cross, (the first 50 dingo / 50 australian sheep dog), i know trainability threshold is very high, loyality is high and intelligence is amazing. Through observation he's opened some bedroom doors, the frig, oven, opportunistic but selective stealing, but time and teaching him, defining what is theirs and yours.

So would I recommend a dingo or high content dingo for a pet, probably not, unless you are prepared to an extreemly high amount very hard work very, definitely on the dingos terms than yours. You will only find shredded slippers and newspapers if your lucky, but they are very affectionate and love a rough a d tumble play.

Now, in saying no pet dingos, my now 10 month old dingo x healer dingo flew through his intake and 2 month assesment as well as proved that he could also sufficiently pass many of the 6 month and a portion of the 9 month requirements become a fully registered assistance animal. The asseesors and trainers have been amazed and from being sceptical to very supportive. Most dogs are over 18 months to 2 years or more. He now comes into Woolworths and many other shops, and is very popular (off duty) around town with the locals. The caviet is that this was a lot of extreemly hard work, beginning at 6 weeks old and very testing of my patience and ability to believe in myself and him to the limit. My choice because I really love dingos.

[ellobo]

They are very similar to wolves in behavior. I raised wolves over 30 years ago. If I had left one in the house alone, the furniture would have been completely shredded. They are like cats as far as training. They don’t have a desire to please you, like a domesticated dog does.

[TheSamleigh]

My first dog from a pound when I was 3 LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE A DINGO. She was brilliant - best dog ever.

[d.d.ucheabba]

Got an American Dingo, she came from the streets as far as we know, she was rescued by our neighbor before a car hit her, we took her because he had alot going on, this dog is smarter than us, communicates super effectively if you pay attention, guards, not very affectionate but wants to be touching. She is the leader in our house, I trust her. She also self grooms! Love this dog!