New Guinea Singing Dog

For dog lovers who are interested in the history of dogs as pets and domesticated animals, New Guinea Singing Dogs are fascinating.

New Guinea Singing Dogs lived without contact with other dogs for thousands of years. They naturally inhabited the tropical lowland of New Guinea, living with the natives of the island. They also lived wildly in the cooler climes in the mountainous north of the island.

Thought to be largely extinct, in the 1950s a pair were found in New Guinea. They were taken to Toroga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. Since then they have been bred and some domesticated.

The New Guinea Singing Dog is related to Asian Wolves who were domesticated between 10000 and 15000 years ago. They are similar in appearance to the Dingo.

If you are choosing a dog breed, you might wonder what New Guinea Singing Dogs are like as pets.

New Guinea Singing Dogs are a rare dog breed. Although domesticated, they have many wild tendencies and are not great pets for most families. They can be tamed enough to have regular handling by humans but not enough that they could live inside your home.

The New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society was set up to protect New Guinea Singing Dogs. They are still vulnerable to becoming extinct.

Do New Guinea Singing Dogs sing?

They have a distinctive voice, similar to a wolf’s howl with elements of whale song. They use yelps, whines and single notes as well as barking. It is a complex use of voice for a dog. It only adds to their intrigue!