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This breed was first brought to the attention of the scientific community in the early 1950's, the New Guinea Singing Dog (NGSD) was initially described as a distinct species. Since then they were reclassified a few times before finally classified as a subspecies of Dingos. This breed is nicknamed "Singer" for a reason. They howl instead of bark most of the time. The New Guinea singing dog has a distinctive shriek-like howl, which is characterized by a sharp increase in pitch at the start and very high frequencies at the end.

physical appearance

New Guinea singing dogs have upright, pointed ears. Like most other wild dogs, the ears face forward which is an important trait to have as a survival feature for this species. The ears can be rotated like a directional receiver in order to pick up the faintest of sounds. Singers' ears are also used to express numerous moods and intentions. They are are medium sized with short red or light brown coat. Their tail form a loose curl with a faint white tip at the end. The NGSD look pretty similar to a fox, but they have a slightly bigger, more boxy body. They are known to be very flexible and capable of climbing up trees.

An observation at the Kiel Domestic Animal Institute in Germany reports that when this breed are kept with more vocal breeds of dogs, they will quickly pick up the behavior. They have a very distinct shriek-like howl, which is marked by a sudden increase in pitch at the beginnging and very high frequencies towards the end. Ths breed also like to sing together in a chorus. During chorus howling, one dog starts and others join in shortly afterward. Interestingly, most of the time chorus howling is well synchronized, and the howls of the pack end nearly simultaneously. This occurence is most common during the morning and evening hours.

behavior

The New Guinea Singing Dog is not like your average domesticated dog and is not recommended as a house pet for most people as they are closely related to wild dogs. Although, if properly socialized, it can be tame enough to accept the humans handling thm around, getting attached to their owners. They do not bark repetitively but have a complex vocal behavior including yelps, whines, and single-note howls. NGSDs are active, energetic, and observant. If you are an Opera singer and is interested in having a canine with the same vocal talent as you do, you need to remember that this breed needs a lot of excercise as it is naturally a wild dog.