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group: primitive / pariah |
height: 14-18" /
35.56-45.72 cm |
types: |
weight: 20-30
lbs /
9.07-13.61 kg |
colors: |
golden
red or black
and tan with white markings on
the underside of chin, feet and tail
tip. some may also have white on face, chest and neck. born chocolate brown and
lightens to red or sandy color |
physical traits: |
small to medium, prick
eared, curled tail, fox-like, agile, graceful. joints and
spine are extremely flexible. carnassial tooth (second lower
molar) 10% larger than domestic dogs. powerful climbers.
climbs and jumps like a cat. eyes more reflective than
domestic dogs and glow a bright green in low light. larynx
anatomically different from domestic dogs allowing for
complex melodious vocalizations akin to a yodeling wolf
howl with whale song colorings. acute sense of hearing, sight
and scent. like the Australian
Dingo go into heat once a
year, usually
in late summer or fall, unlike domestic dogs who have two
heats a year |
hair type: |
short, straight, medium
texture, crisp to the touch with very dense felt-like undercoat
in cold season. blow their coats twice a year |
personality/
temperament: |
active, lively, alert,
inquisitive, curious, gentle, affectionate with early socialization,
develops attachments with their human pack members and become
distressed if separated but do not have emotional dependence
of domestic dogs, very strong prey drive, can be aloof
with strangers |
maintenance/
special needs:
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not recommended as housepets
as the combination of prey drive, high intelligence and flexible
body makes it difficult to keep them from adventuring off.
escape artists that are very fast making it almost impossible
to recapture them. intense hunting drive makes very difficult
to train. not good with other dogs unless socialized early.
requires high level of mental stimulation or may become destructive
if bored. comb or brush daily. do not have doggy odor, rarely
need bathing |
nicknames: |
Canis Hallstromi, Singers |
origination: |
Island of Papua, New Guinea,
possibly since the Stone Age. discovered in 1957 where two
were captured and put into a zoo. considered a feral wild
sub-species of domestic dog along with Australian Dingo |
bred for: |
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identifying traits: |
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ideal for: |
hunting, (for their own
interest), in very steep, thickly vegetated terrain |
good with kids? |
not recommended as housepets |
life expectancy: |
16-20 yrs |
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of interest: |
when one begins to
'sing' others will sing along with their own unique
and different pitch.
have been kept as zoo animals. considered a 'living fossil'
due to its at least 6,000 year existence in isolation. |
health concerns: |
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world authority and rescue: |
New Guinea Singing Dog
Conservation Society
(including audio and video footage of this nearly
extinct dog) |
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