Identifying wild dogs by their coat patterns

Identifying wild dogs by their coat patterns

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 17 2008 | By: admin

Identifying wild dogs by their coat patterns is an important research tool that we use. For example, by comparing photos of dogs from our study area in Zimbabwe with those from Northern South Africa and south east Botswana, we hope to work out the extent to which the populations in the three countries are connected, and whether they can be considered to constitute a single population. A colleague of mine working on wild dogs in South Africa was recently sent photos of a dog seen 250 km from where she worked. Using photographs confirmed that it was one of the dogs from the reserve where she lives that had moved all of that distance.

You will be able to see how easy it is to tell different individuals apart by looking at the dogs in this picture:

11 Responses to “Identifying wild dogs by their coat patterns”

Sherri S., on 17 Jan 2008

I can’t wait to learn more about these fascinating creatures!

F. J. PECHIR, on 17 Jan 2008

Peter, thank you for the information. Wild dogs have very variable colour and pattern marks in their bodies, just like you said. It certainly is the main factor to distinguish each other by an human observer. I used their colours to take them appart when I was observing them in captivity. They were 11 wild dogs there, and have a very light brown background colour, in contrast to much more obscure background in other wild dogs that I´d see in other parts. It could be interesting to study the background colour variation (not thinking in pattern) of different populations that live far appart. Thank you again, you are doing a terrific good work!

THERESA SISKIND, on 17 Jan 2008

Peter, I’m trying to understand the purpose of this study. Is to determmine their genetic diversity? What is the usual home range of these dogs, are they territorial? Do they have conflicts with other packs of dogs? Are they migratory?

F. J. PECHIR, on 18 Jan 2008

Dear Theresa.- Social wild dogs in all the world are so fascinating (hunting dogs in Africa, wolves in North America and Eurasia, dingos in Australia, bush wild dogs in South America, dohles in Asia, ethiopian wolf in the Bale mounts) that the information could be really amazing about them! The similarities between Hunting wild dogs and the Ethiopian “wolf” in their formation of the pack process are astonishing for two species so different in many other aspects of their lives! We can share information if you like!

THERESA SISKIND, on 18 Jan 2008

F.J., Please do! There is a wild dog native to India also, but I have forgotten it’’s name…I have seen pictures of the bush wild dogs in South America, very interesting. I know there are problems with dingos breeding with stray dogs.

Peter, on 19 Jan 2008

Hi Theresa,

The purposes of the study are: to assess the status and distribution of wild dogs in southern Zimbabwe, to assess the extent to which the Zimbabwean population is linked with those in neighbouring Botswana, South africa and Mozambique, and to assess the impact of key threats to the dogs (including snaring, habitat fragmentation and diseases, etc)

Peter, on 19 Jan 2008

Hi Theresa,

Wild dogs normally use home ranges of around 550 km2. In the three month denning season they use as much smaller area of perhaps 80 km2. They are territorial and sometimes fight with other packs if they meet. They arent migratory, but they are able to disperse long distances (upto several hundred kms). Dogs tend to disperse from their natal pack in single sex groups at around 18 months of age. Those dispersal groups sometimes move very far until they meet up with other dogs to form a pack.

Peter, on 19 Jan 2008

Hi Francisco,

There is quite a bit of geographic variation in the colour of the dogs. I used to work on wild dogs in Kenya, and up there the dogs are much blacker and less colourful (also a bit smaller). the dogs we have in Save Valley are beautiful with a lot of white.

THERESA SISKIND, on 19 Jan 2008

Hi Peter, thanks for answering all my questions. I find it simply amazing the stamina these dogs have! Also the variation in their coloring depending on their location. Reminds me of the King Cheetah but I realize that is due to genetics. I’m trying to remember, but I think these dogs are akin to wolf society where a dominant male and female lead the pack?

F. J. PECHIR, on 21 Jan 2008

Hi Peter, thank you for your comment and information!
Dear Theresa.- the wild dog native to India that you mentioned is the Dohle, but this species inhabits also other parts of Asia and can form groups of many individuals, very frequently much larger than that of african wild dogs, but its hunting tecniques are the same. Dingos face now a lot of troubles in a wide range of their distribution area in Australia, they are frequently treated as “pest” by ranchers and widely shoot and poisoned. They also hybridize with dogs from near farms and ranchs and black or bi & tri-colored “dingos” are a common sight in many areas. This inter-breeding is threatening their subsistance as a pure species in that areas. But the very same problem is present in the Ethiopian wolves in the Bale mounts, when they breed with dogs from local people living in the area, but this problem is really dangerous for the actual subsistance of the species, because there are only about 600 of this interesting animals in the wild! so, their very pure genetics being threatened. Fortunately, the native people do not seems to be interested in the killing or poisoning of this canids, but rabids and hybridization from their dogs are a real danger to them. There is now a program of selective vaccum for the ethiopian wolves that aparently is working well, and massive vaccum and esterilization programs for domestic dogs in the area.

Buy Phentermine Online, on 23 Feb 2008

Hi, nice post. I couldn’t understand some parts of the article but it sounds interesting..
Continue writing…

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