The New Guinea Singing Dog (NGSD) is a small to medium size dog featuring a plush coat, bushy tail and other fox-like traits. Native to New Guinea, these dogs first appeared as pets to explorers in the 1800s. During the 1900s, hybridization occurred and the true New Guinea breed became nearly extinct. In the 1950s, purebreds were captured and then bred, and they are now seen mostly in zoos. They get their name form their howl that features a certain musical quality to it.
Featuring prick ears, average coat and agile build, the New Guinea Singing Dog usually features colors of red punctuated by white, black and tan markings. It’s got a broad head and muscular body with lean hindquarters and a soft tail like a fox. Agile and graceful, this breed is on high alert often and has a lot of energy to expend.
Personality
Not recommended as a house pet, the New Guinea Singing Dog has similar traits to a dingo or wild dog. Because of its ability to vary its howl, it makes many yelps and whines as part of its active and alert temperament. It can be tamed by humans but this isn’t always the case. This dog is always exploring its surroundings, so unending curiosity is definitely a main trait. With an intense hunting drive, the NGSD can locate prey through an acute sense of hearing.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 15 – 20 years |
| Nicknames: | New Guinea Dingo (NGD), New Guinea Singer, New Guinea Highland Dog, New Guinea Wild Dog, Hallstrom Dog, Papua New Guinea Singing Dog, New Guinea Singing Dingo (NGSD), Hallstroms dog, bush dingo. |
New Guinea Singing Dog Build Information
Featuring prick ears, average coat and agile build, the New Guinea Singing Dog usually features colors of red punctuated by white, black and tan markings. It’s got a broad head and muscular body with lean hindquarters and a soft tail like a fox. Agile and graceful, this breed is on high alert often and has a lot of energy to expend.
| Size: | Small to Medium |
Behaviour and Personality
Not recommended as a house pet, the New Guinea Singing Dog has similar traits to a dingo or wild dog. Because of its ability to vary its howl, it makes many yelps and whines as part of its active and alert temperament. It can be tamed by humans but this isn’t always the case. This dog is always exploring its surroundings, so unending curiosity is definitely a main trait. With an intense hunting drive, the NGSD can locate prey through an acute sense of hearing.
| Activity Level: | Very active |
| Affection Level: | Affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Kid friendly |
Appearance
Virtually no grooming or maintenance is necessary for this type of dog, whose coat is naturally resistant to all kinds of weather. The coat is resilient and will keep things under control. There is no need for regular trimming, especially in the area of the whiskers.
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low – no maintenance |
New Guinea Singing Dog Common Health Conditions
Because this breed is a hardy one, there are no known common health issues. Not much information is known about the New Guinea Singing Dog, as it hasn’t been studied extensively in the wild. The New Guinea Dog Conservation Society says it’s working hard to collect health information from zoos to investigate a few recent claims by owners of their dogs dying suddenly. Although rare, some reports of heart defects and digestive problems have been recorded.
New Guinea Singing Dog Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
NGSDs should need to be able to run freely; however, they should never be allowed to go off-leash. The NGDCS advises a pen measuring more than 100 square feet if the dog will be confined more than 50 percent of the time. This breed requires a lot of physical exercise, so a daily walk, jog or run is advised. Other names for the NGSD include the New Guinea dingo, Hallstroms dog, bush dingo, New Guinea wild dog and New Guinea singer. The New Guinea Singing Dog has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.
| Training: | Hard to train |
