 Barked: Thu Nov 8, '12 9:54pm PST |
 | |  | | Perhaps it's not my place to say, but I've been looking around on Dogster (and elsewhere) and I have to say it's a bit distressing the number of people who are deluding themselves into thinking they've adopted a dingo from a rescue.
The Dingo is a rare pariah breed native to Asia, which is feral in Australia. It's illegal to export from Australia, and the dingo does NOT live "in the wild" in any of the Americas (the "American dingo" is not a true dingo). So, unless you live in Australia or SE Asia, you *certainly* aren't going to find a dingo at your local rescue, as the dingoes which have been brought to America are identified as such and kept accordingly. Period. No, it's not technically impossible... but neither is finding a baboon in your kitchen tomorrow. However, the chances are so infinitesimally small it may as well be impossible.
Flipping through pictures on Dogster of "dingoes", I saw maybe one, maybe two dogs that even could have possibly been a dingo/dingo mix, and the rest were unquestionably crosses of non-dingoes that didn't even remotely resemble a dingo. However, a bit of wishful thinking on a new owner's part... some pointy ears on the pup... a brownish or yellowish color coat... and suddenly some American thinks they've walked into a rescue and adopted one of the world's rarest dogs in a country where for all intents and purposes they don't exist.
No, it doesn't matter that your dog doesn't bark, chases squirrels, is afraid or strangers, or is flexible or smart. Those are within the range of normal for many breeds, and several of those "dingo" traits" can easily result from being poorly socialized/inadequately trained (which is common in rescues, unfortunately).
So, you don't have a dingo. Be honest with yourself, and really look at those photos of real dingoes-- not just their ears, but their actual bone structure, facial lay out, coat pattern, and build. It doesn't matter if your dog isn't part dingo! It takes not one iota away from how great your dog is or how much you love it (one would hope)... but stop deluding yourself. It's just plain not a dingo.
And this fantasy is no excuse for allowing your dog to act "wild". Dingo or no (and seriously... no.) it's up to you to make sure your dog is well trained and socialized. I think what's most distressing is that so often people say "my rescue is part dingo, and can't be controlled!" as if it were a done deal and any naughty behavior is excused because the dog is "part wild!". It's not, and any true misbehavior or lack of socialization, be it in a traditional dog or a true dingo, must be dealt with and not just "excused" because your yellow/brown dog has pointy ears and you have a big imagination or dreams of communing with the "wild spirit".
(This is not aimed at anyone in particular, but all non-Autralian/SE Asians who think they walked into a pound and found a dingo.)
Maybe someone can answer for me why it is that so many people would have this ridiculous idea that they found a dingo at the pound... is it just ignorance, or something more?Edited by author Mon Nov 12, '12 3:29pm PST
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but it would help the Dingoes to sign the petition below
