Dingo vs. Dog

Dingo and dog are dog-like mammals that belong to the family Canidae. Dingo is a type of wild dog and descendant of semi-domesticated dogs that arrived to Australia from Asia 4.000 years ago. Domestic dog is created via selective breeding 15.000 to 40.000 years ago. There are around 340 species of dogs that can be found all over the world today. Dingo and dog are close relatives that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. These two canids share many common features, but they also differ in many aspects:

Origin

Ancestor of modern dogs is now extinct Eurasian wolf-like canid, while most probable ancestor of dingo is Arabian wolf or Indian wolf (one of two subspecies of grey wolf).

Geographic Distribution and Diet

Dingo can be found only in Australia and parts of Asia. It lives in deserts, grasslands and on the edges of the forests. Dingo hunts and eats various types of rabbits, kangaroos, wallabies and rats. Unlike dingoes, dogs can be found around the world. Their diet is based on meat, starch-rich food, vegetables and grains.

Morphology

Dingo has broad, flattened skull, long, pointed snout, erect ears and bushy tail. Its body is covered with short, sandy or reddish-brown fur with white markings on the chest, legs and snout. Dingo can reach 46 to 61 inches in length, 20 to 24 inches in height and 29 to 44 pounds of weight. Dogs can reach 3.7 to 98 inches in length, 2.5 to 42 inches in height and 4 ounces to 343 pounds of weight, depending on the species. Color and density of the coat is also species-specific, as well as the shape, size and position of ears and tail.

Vocalization

Dingo rarely barks but it frequently howls and whimpers. Dogs rarely howl, but often bark.

Lifestyle

Dingo is social creature that lives and hunts in packs which consist of mating couple and their offspring. Dingo is active during the night (nocturnal) in warmer areas, and during the day (diurnal) in colder areas. Dogs are active during the day. They form strong bonds with people that nurture them. Dogs can be kept as pets, or they can be trained for guarding, herding, hunting or aiding disabled people.

Reproduction

Dingo mates once per year. Females give birth to 1 to 10 (5 on average) pups in abandoned rabbit holes which serve as dens. Males participate in rearing of the offspring. Dogs mate two times per year and give birth to 6 puppies on average (smaller breeds produces up to 4 puppies, larger breeds up to 12 puppies). Unlike male dingoes, male dogs do not show parental care.

Lifespan

Dogs can survive 10 to 13 years, while dingo can survive up to 24 years in the captivity.