Keeping dingoes

Dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) are an iconic Australian species. They are a keystone predator across the Australian mainland and have an extended social and cultural history with both Traditional Owners and European settlers. Dingoes are listed as a protected species under the Wildlife Act and a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

Taking care of a dingo can be rewarding – and challenging

Dingoes are different from domestic dogs genetically, behaviourally and under Victorian law. Dingoes are wildlife, meaning that keeping a dingo has additional requirements compared to keeping a domestic dog. The health and wellbeing of any dingo held under licence must be prioritised in accordance with the licence conditions outlined in this guide, while also ensuring the safety of the rest of the community, including other animals.

Is a dingo right for you?

Owning a dingo – while rewarding – can be challenging and is not suited to everyone. A captive dingo is likely to bond quickly with one person to the exclusion of others, and a healthy relationship between a human and a dingo is likely to require substantial time and effort.

• Before acquiring a dingo, you should carefully consider whether you have the appropriate space, lifestyle and resources to provide appropriate care for this wildlife. Additionally, consider the following: Licence holders must be 18 years of age or over. Children under 16 are not able to access dingoes unsupervised at any time, so a dingo licence is likely not appropriate for any household that includes children under 16.
• Dingoes have intact predatory instincts and a strong prey-drive, meaning keeping dingoes alongside companion animals that may be perceived as prey (e.g., rabbits, cats, birds, small dogs), or alongside livestock, may not be appropriate unless all species can be safely and securely separated.
• Dingoes can be timid and are generally sensitive to strong or novel stimuli, especially noises, and may be display anxiety when exposed to busy or unfamiliar settings. Dingo wellbeing may suffer if repeatedly exposed to overwhelming or overstimulating situations, so loud or high activity households are likely not appropriate places for dingoes to be kept.
• Dingoes are intelligent, curious and require significant mental stimulation for good health and welfare. Bored dingoes may damage property, hunt inappropriate prey, or escape and roam. A dingo licence may not be appropriate where the dingo will be left alone for regular extended periods (e.g., full time work away from the premises) or where appropriate time and resources for play and engagement cannot be provided for a dingo.
• Dingoes may, in limited situations, perceive unfamiliar dogs as a threat and in response display territorial aggression. However, dingoes are highly social animals, and dingo wellbeing may be improved with companionship from either a familiar or responsibly introduced dog or another dingo – as long as the animals are of suitable temperament and similar size, and interactions are reasonably monitored.
• Dingo housing standards require a large area with secure fencing (see Dingo enclosures(opens in a new window)). If your property cannot accommodate such enclosures, keeping a dingo is not appropriate for your circumstances.

Dingoes held under a wildlife licence do not need to be registered with your local council under the Domestic Animals Act 1994. However, local governments may have restrictions on how many animals, including wildlife, a person can keep at their property. You should check with your local council regarding any restrictions before applying for a dingo licence.

See Dingo enclosures(opens in a new window)

What a dingo licence allows you to do

A dingo licence holder can keep dingoes for non-commercial purposes, either as a companion or non-commercial exhibition animal. Dingo licences are a type of Private Wildlife Licence, created under the Wildlife Act. It is an offence to own a dingo without holding a relevant licence.

Specifically, a dingo licence holder can:

• Possess and keep dingoes at the premises specified in the licence.
• Display a dingo at shows conducted by a canine association, or for educational, but not commercial, purposes.
• Breed, buy, sell, trade or transfer ownership of any dingo held under the licence. A transaction must only occur with another licensed person.
• Walk a dingo or participate in any obedience training under appropriate restraint.

Dingoes held under a private dingo licence can only be kept at the address specified on the licence, generally being the residential address where the licence holder resides. Dingoes kept in captivity must be kept in an appropriate enclosure.

By following the licence conditions, Dingo Licence holders can help dingoes in their possession to thrive while also safeguarding the community.

Please note that the Conservation Regulator may apply additional conditions to your licence that restrict the above entitlements, in accordance with section 22(3)(b)(ii) of the Wildlife Act.

What you cannot do under a dingo licence

A dingo licence holder cannot:

• Possess wildlife other than dingoes under a dingo licence.
• Display wildlife for commercial purposes.
• Take, keep or possess wildlife at a location other than the premises specified in the licence for any reason other than:
  • Exercise or obedience training while restrained (for example, on a lead or harness).
  • Taking it to a registered vet for treatment.
  • Displaying a dingo at shows conducted by a canine association, or for educational, but not commercial, purposes.
  • When buying, selling, trading or transferring ownership of a dingo with another licence holder at the specified premises of either of the licence holders entering into the transaction.
• Undertake activities or keep a dingo that in a way that would pose a risk to the health and safety of the community or the dingo.
• Take wildlife from the wild or keep wildlife that has been taken from the wild .

If you find injured or orphaned wildlife, please contact an authorised wildlife rehabilitator. If you are not sure who is authorised in your area, visit Help for injured wildlife or call us.

Commercial possession of dingoes is facilitated under a wildlife demonstrator licence (for travelling display or exhibition) or wildlife displayer licence (for static display/exhibition).

Visit Help for injured wildlife(opens in a new window)

Call DEECA Customer Contact Centre 136 186

Images in this guide are for illustrative purposes only. These images represent both Victorian and interstate wildlife possession.