Painted dogs, also called African wild dogs, have cool ways of chatting with their pack. Instead of barking like pet dogs, they make funny twittering and whining sounds. They also use a special “hoo call” that can be heard really far away! They even use body movements and smells to share messages.
Painted dogs are the best at teamwork! They live in families called packs with 6 to 30 members. Before a hunt, they get super excited and greet each other. When chasing their food, they take turns running so no one gets too tired. This smart teamwork helps them catch food 8 out of 10 times! If a packmate is sick, they even bring food back to help them feel better.
Painted dogs need lots of room to run, hunt, and raise their pups. One pack can roam in an area as big as 5,000 square kilometres — that’s a lot of space! They leave smelly marks to let other packs know, “this is our home!” When they have puppies, they stay closer to keep them safe.
In every painted dog pack, there’s a leader, and it’s usually a girl! She’s called the alpha female, and she decides when the pack hunts or moves. She works with the alpha male to keep the pack happy and safe.
There are only about 6,500 painted dogs left in the wild. They’re endangered because they’re losing their homes to people building on their land. They can also get sick from pet dog diseases and get caught in traps or hit by cars. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) helps protect them by saving their homes, removing traps, and giving them special collars to stay safe. You can help too by donating here!
When painted dogs turn two years old, they leave their family to start their own pack. Brothers and sisters leave together and meet other dogs to form a new pack. It’s a big adventure and helps keep the painted dog families strong and healthy.
Painted dogs love hunting in the morning or evening when it’s not too hot. This helps them avoid bigger animals like lions. Hunting is a team effort, and together they can catch animals even 10 times their size!
Enjoying learning about painted dogs? We have more painted dog facts for you here.
Painted dogs are losing their homes to people and have less space to live and hunt. They face dangers like getting caught in traps, being hit by cars, catching diseases from pet dogs, and being shot by farmers protecting their animals.
Painted dogs avoid hunting in very hot weather, but climate change is making the world hotter and harder for them to survive. Changing weather and shrinking habitats also force them to compete with lions and hyenas for food.
DSWF helps painted dogs by teaching kids in Zimbabwe about why they are important, funding teams to remove traps, and giving dogs special collars to protect them. You can help by spreading the word and making choices to protect wildlife!
Want to help protect these magnificent animals? You can adopt a painted dog, from as little as £3, and contribute to their conservation! Your support will help organisations like DSWF continue their work to ensure a future for painted dogs. Visit our Adopt a Painted Dog page to learn how you can make a difference!
