How to Tame a Pet Dingo

If you aspire to have a dingo as a pet, then you should know that this breed of dog is not like any other. In fact, Australia classifies its native pooch as undomesticated and a wanderer. Although one aboriginal name for the dingo is "tingo" (to mean tame), rest assured that it's much more challenging to actually tame one. However, if you have your heart set on keeping this beautiful animal as a companion, then learn the ups and downs of how to tame a pet dingo. Read on.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Learn How to Tame a Pet Dingo

1. Plan to purchase or adopt your pet dingo from a reputable breeder when it is around the age of 6 weeks. After 10 weeks, it becomes much more daunting to tame this wild dog to overcome its natural instincts to run back to the wild.

2. Lavish your pet dingo with affection from the moment you bring it home. This doesn't mean to smother the dog, but to stroke the animal gently and speak in soothing tones. Your pet dingo will quickly learn to trust you and socialize well with other humans, making it easier to tame him or her.

3. Muster up all the patience you can find while you tame your pet dingo. You will find that your pet dingo can learn to respect your belongings and even master tricks and obey commands over time, but only if you remain persistent but gentle during training.

4. Learn to think like a dingo to stay one step ahead of trouble. Dingoes have an uncanny way of getting into anything and everything and chewing it to bits when they're bored or simply curious. So, keep things that are precious to you well out of reach or, better yet, out of sight altogether.

5. Be consistent when you tame your pet dingo. The animal's behavior in the present and the future is very much dependent on your predictable behavior. A sudden move or shout of "No!" will alarm the animal and make it shy away from you.

6. Practice positive reinforcement by rewarding your pet dingo for good behavior with a bit of hand-fed kibble and unabashed praise.

7. Avoid harsh reprimand or punishment of any kind while you tame your pet dingo. Dingoes have very long memories and rarely get over being frightened or rejected by a human.

8. Make time to play with your pet dingo every day. Aside from getting much-needed exercise, this interaction makes for a happy (and trouble-free) dingo and a strong bond between the two of you.

Tips & Warnings

• It is illegal--and dangerous--to take a dingo puppy from the wild.
• Like any other dog, dingoes have "accidents" and chew things while teething. They can even climb shelves and bookcases.