Dingo licence conditions

The power for the Conservation Regulator to apply these conditions is provided in Section 22(3)(b)(ii) of the Wildlife Act 1975. Note that you may be required to comply with additional conditions set out in your dingo licence, so make sure you read your licence carefully.

Dingo housing and care

Dingo enclosures

Objective

To ensure that dingoes are protected from harm, prevented from escaping, and are safely contained.

Dingoes are intelligent, curious, and agile, which can mean that if a dingo is not appropriately contained it is likely to roam. Unrestrained, unsupervised roaming of any dingo presents risks to the health and safety of:

• The dingo, through potential misadventure.
• Humans that may approach and scare the dingo, resulting in defensive behaviour.
• Wildlife and domestic animals, including dogs.

Dingoes exhibit a high prey drive and are naturally territorial, so they may attack or injure other animals when not appropriately restrained.

How to comply

Your dingo enclosure must be constructed prior to applying for a dingo licence, and a licence will not be issued if an appropriate enclosure has not been constructed.

Enclosures are required to be secure and prevent escape. This means the materials used to build the enclosure must be appropriately robust and installed and maintained in a manner that prevents dingoes from damaging the enclosure and finding weak points for escape. The fences of any dingo enclosure must at minimum:

• Be at least 3 metres in height, or 2 metres with either:
  • A roof.
  • A 1 metre return on a 45° angle into the enclosure.
• Prevent escape of dingoes or external access from any animal by digging, meaning the fences must, for the entire fence perimeter, be one of:
  • Anchored into a cement slab at the base of the fence.
  • Have a 1 metre inward facing mesh return secured to the base of the fence at a right angle; this mesh return may be buried in the enclosure substrate (below ground surface) but must meet the fence base at a right angle and must provide an uninterrupted barrier preventing digging around the fence base.
  • Provide a combination of the above escape mitigations.

Enclosures must be childproof and prevent access from any person not authorised to access the dingoes by the licence holder.

This means, in practice:

• The enclosure should not be able to be climbed into, so must be roofed or constructed in such a way that the fence, vegetation and any other structures do not allow entry.
• The enclosure access points must be appropriately secured, meaning the gates must be locked. Even on private property, access cannot be secured without means of a lock.
• If the enclosure abuts a structure with windows or doors, these access points must also be kept locked.

You are limited in the number of dingoes you may keep under your licence by the mandatory enclosure standards. A minimum floor area of 30m² must be provided for up to two dingoes, with an additional 10m² for each additional dingo aged over nine months.

Overcrowding in dingo enclosures can lead to aggression between dingoes, which may result in dingo injury or death. Dingo overcrowding resulting in animal distress, injury or death may be considered a breach of your licence conditions, and potentially investigated as an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

You may apply to the Conservation Regulator for written permission to house dingoes in non-compliant enclosures. This permission cannot be issued retrospectively and must be sought prior to housing dingoes in no-compliant enclosures.

You can seek this permission by emailing us with details of your request, including circumstances preventing enclosure compliance, controls to mitigate potential detrimental welfare impacts, and plans to rectify non-compliant enclosures.

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Keeping dingoes in houses

Dingoes must be confined at the property in a way that meets the licence conditions. In practice, this means that dingoes should be kept in the constructed enclosure when at the licensed property.

However, many people obtain a dingo as a companion animal, and as a result want their dingo to have access to their house as a domestic dog would rather than containing the dingo in an enclosure.

While a dingo may be allowed reasonable access to indoor domestic spaces, the conditions of the dingo licence still require that:

• An appropriate enclosure meeting the specifications is available at the property listed on the licence.
• When in or confined to the domestic space, the dingo is at no point left unsupervised with any person under the age of 16, or anyone that does not have the licence holder’s consent to access the dingo (for example: room-mates, household guests, tradespersons).
• The dingo cannot escape (e.g., through house doors or windows).

If these conditions can’t be met, the dingo cannot be kept in or allowed access to domestic spaces.

Location dingoes must be kept

Objective

To ensure wildlife are kept in a consistent, safe and appropriate location.

How to comply

You must keep dingoes held under your licence at the address listed in the licence except where you are:

• Exercising the dingo or taking them to obedience training.
• Attending a registered vet for treatment, including preventative health checks or microchipping.
• Displaying the dingo at a show conducted by a canine association.
• Displaying the dingo for educational, but not commercial, purposes.
• Buying, selling, receiving or giving away the dingo to or from another dingo licence holder at their specified premises.

Dingoes must be kept in purpose-built enclosures while at the licensed property, or otherwise confined at the property in a way that meets the licence conditions. Anyone who possesses wildlife including dingoes must provide for the good health and welfare of that wildlife.

Your enclosure must provide adequate shelter for any dingo in your care, prevent escape or injury, protect the dingo from predators, and restrict access by anyone not authorised under the licence. More information about standards of care and dingo enclosure requirements is detailed in Dingo housing and care.

Dingoes are active animals, so it is recommended that dingoes are walked every day. The exercise will provide interest and activity for the dingo and an excellent opportunity for bonding. When a dingo is not in its enclosure at the specified premises , the dingo must be appropriately restrained. This means that when walking a dingo, you must use a chain, cord, leash or harness to make sure the dingo is under your control. Under your licence conditions, you cannot let a dingo off its restraint – even in an off-lead area, as the risk to dogs or other wildlife is too high. Dingoes are sensitive to stimuli and can become easily distressed in a busy or noisy environment.

Further information on dingo restraint is provided at Restricting access to dingoes for human safety.

See Dingo housing and care

See Restricting access to dingoes for human safety

Keeping wildlife at a location other than the premises specified in your licence is a breach of licence conditions and penalties may apply. If you need to keep wildlife at an alternate location, you must seek prior written approval from the Conservation Regulator. You can do this by emailing us details of your request, including:

• Why you need to house your wildlife at another location.
• The species and number of wildlife.
• Details of appropriate enclosures and facilities at the alternate location.

You may transport a dingo to and from opportunities for exercise, obedience training, lawful display, or the vet. You must comply with conditions regulating wildlife transportation. Further information is available in the Transportation(opens in a new window) section of this guide.

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

See Transportation(opens in a new window)

Safe display and dingo interactions

Restricting access to dingoes for human safety

Objective

To ensure that people and other animals are protected from potential harm caused by captive dingoes.

How to comply

You must not allow people under the age of 16 unsupervised access to a dingo. If a person under 16 interacts with a dingo in your care, you must be present and keep the dingo under effective control. This includes members of your household who may feel comfortable around the dingo.

When people other than you interact with a dingo in your care, you must make sure that the interaction doesn’t present any risk of injury to people or wildlife. This means you should be present during any such interaction to observe dingo behaviour and respond appropriately.

Dingoes should be kept in the constructed enclosure when at the licensed property, or otherwise confined at the property in a way that meets the licence conditions. When not confined, dingoes must be effectively under your control. Trained recall generally would not be considered sufficient in most circumstances, especially where a dingo is exposed to other animals. A dingo should instead be under physical restraint such as a lead or harness.

If a dingo escapes your possession, you must the Conservation Regulator within two business days of the escape; however, it is best to provide this notification as soon as reasonably practicable. You can do this by completing the Notify Theft, Loss, Damage or Escape form(opens in a new window) available on our website below and emailing us the completed form.

You must also make all reasonable effort to recapture the dingo. This may include searching the local area, contacting local animal shelters, notifying local council and other steps relevant to your circumstances.

Please refer to Theft or loss of wildlife(opens in a new window) for further information on reporting.

See Theft or loss of wildlife

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Visit Private licence obligations and record keeping(opens in a new window)

Display of dingoes

Objective

To make sure that any display of dingoes occurs in a way that ensures both dingo and human safety.

How to comply

Dingoes may only be displayed for non-commercial educational purposes, or at a show organised by a canine association, such as a kennel or obedience club. If you intend to run a business or derive an income from display of dingoes, you will need to apply for a wildlife displayer licence. You may also be able to commercially display dingoes under a wildlife demonstrator licence with additional written approval from the Conservation Regulator. Find out more about these licence types on our website.

Visit Commercial wildlife licences, Licence types(opens in a new window)

Dingoes must not be left unattended when being displayed, or while not at the premises specified in the licence (except for when a dingo is undergoing treatment by a registered vet). As the licence holder, it is your responsibility to ensure that you, or a person authorised by you, is always present with the dingo to ensure its welfare and the health and safety of other dogs and people.

Young or unsure dingoes, or dingoes that haven’t been appropriately habituated to potentially exciting stimuli such as crowds, children, or large numbers of dogs, must not be displayed.

While displaying a dingo, it is best practice to make sure that the dingo has:

• Access to clean, cool water in a suitable container.
• Appropriate protection from the elements (wind, rain and sun).
• Access to food, if display occurs during routine mealtimes.
• Safety and security from unauthorised access and ability to avoid unwanted interactions.
• Protection from loud noises, vibrations and extremes in temperatures.

Display of any dingo should occur for the minimum time possible, to prevent the dingo from becoming stressed or agitated. Do not display a dingo if they are sick, injured or highly stressed.

Dingo transactions

Who can participate in a dingo transaction?

Objective

To ensure the welfare and sustainability of dingoes being possessed or traded. All dingo transactions are required to be traceable to captive origin or to a source approved in writing by the Conservation Regulator. Traceability allows the Conservation Regulator to monitor compliance with regulations governing dingo possession and trade, and to prevent wildlife poaching.

How to comply

Prior to entering any transaction to buy, acquire, receive, sell, or dispose of a dingo, check that the other party to the transaction has an appropriate licence which is current and valid.

In Victoria, appropriate licences include:

• Dingo licence.
• Wildlife demonstrator licence.
• Wildlife displayer licence.

You can ask to see a person’s licence prior to agreeing to the transaction. The holder of a private dingo licence must be at minimum 18 years of age.

In some cases, a person may have a valid exemption from holding an appropriate licence, either through the Wildlife Regulations or as issued in writing by the Conservation Regulator for a specific transaction. If so, you can ask to see proof of this exemption.

Regarding dingo transactions, the only relevant persons exempt from holding a licence as defined in the Wildlife Regulations is Zoos Victoria (such as an employee operating on behalf of the Zoos Victoria organisation). It is your responsibility to ensure the person you are conducting a transaction with has an appropriate and valid licence or exemption for the dingo subject to the transaction.

Any trade outside of Victoria may require an import/export permit(opens in a new window).

If you are unsure whether a licence or exemption is applicable to your situation or valid, or to seek information about obtaining written approval from the Conservation Regulator, call or email us. The Conservation Regulator can advise you on what to look for to determine whether a licence is valid, and generally what licence types are eligible to participate in a transaction. They cannot advise you as to whether a specific person holds a wildlife licence.

All transactions must be recorded in your record book by the close of the same business day. Further information about record keeping is available in Record keeping requirements(opens in a new window).

See Import/export permits(opens in a new window)

See Record keeping requirements(opens in a new window)

Call DEECA Customer Contact Centre 136 186

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Restrictions on dingo transactions: trade of juveniles

Objective

To ensure dingoes are weaned and independent prior to trade.

How to comply

You can only trade dingoes once they are older than seven weeks and both weaned (see Restrictions on dingo transactions: dependent wildlife(opens in a new window)) and microchipped (see Marking of dingoes for identification purposes(opens in a new window)).

Dingoes must be independent of their mother prior to trade, and microchipped so that legitimate captive origin can be determined through record keeping.

If you need to trade dingoes before they are seven weeks of age, you must apply for written approval for alternative arrangements by emailing us with details of your request, including:

• Why the juvenile dingoes need to be traded prior to seven weeks of age.
• The number of juvenile dingoes affected.
• Whether the juvenile dingoes are weaned.

See Restrictions on dingo transactions: dependent wildlife(opens in a new window)

See Marking of dingoes for identification purposes

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Marking of dingoes for identification purposes

Objective

To ensure dingoes can be identified. Appropriate identification allows dingoes and owners to be reunited if any escape occurs, as well as limiting illegal trade of dingoes by ensuring animal traceability.

How to comply

All dingoes older than seven weeks must be microchipped. Dingoes acquired without a microchip must be microchipped as soon as practicable after they come into your possession, and the microchip number recorded in your licence record book. Dingoes bred in captivity must be microchipped before they reach seven weeks of age as supported by the advice of a registered vet.

In addition to a microchip, a dingo must, when not confined at the premises listed on the licence, wear a collar that allows you to be contacted if the dingo escapes your control and is found at large. This means that if a dingo does escape, the likelihood of you being reunited with the dingo is much higher. Listing your licence number also assists in interactions with local councils regarding dog registration – identifying a dingo as such clarifies that the animal does not need to be registered with the local council.

Management of escaped dingoes

Objective

To manage the health and safety of dingoes, people and other animals when a captive dingo escapes or is at large.

How to comply

If a dingo escapes your control, you must do everything reasonably within your power to regain control over the dingo. This may include searching for the dingo, notifying local vets and shelters of the dingo escape, and ensuring community awareness that the dingo is at large and providing a point of contact if the dingo is sighted. Any communication with third parties should include the number, colouration, and location last seen of the dingo or dingoes.

You should ensure your details associated with the dingo’s microchip are up to date with Victorian Central Animal Records and mark the dingo as missing. You can also notify local council and vet clinics the microchip number of your missing wildlife so you can be reunited with the dingo if it is received by either of these groups.

You also have obligations to notify the Conservation Regulator that the dingo is missing. Please refer to Theft or loss of wildlife(opens in a new window) for further information on reporting.

See Theft or loss of wildlife(opens in a new window)

Additional dingo licence conditions

Appropriate enclosures must be available to house all dingoes under the licence

Objective

To ensure that dingoes kept under a dingo licence are always able to be housed in suitable enclosures. This includes preventing acquisition until appropriate enclosures are available and preventing dingoes from moving to a new location under licence unless housing is safe for both dingoes and the community.

How to comply

Before you buy, trade, or otherwise receive a dingo, you must ensure that you have enclosures that meet the minimum standards set at Condition 1 of your licence, as described in Dingo enclosures.

This also applies when you move house. Moving your dingoes to a new address without first building appropriate enclosures is a breach of your licence conditions, so ensure enclosures meeting the minimum standards set at Condition 1 of your licence, as per Dingo enclosures, are built and ready to house dingoes prior to moving.

For additional notification obligations when moving wildlife to a new address, see Change of details.

See Dingo enclosures

See Change of details(opens in a new window)

Provision of food and water

Objective

To ensure that the fundamental survival needs of dingoes are met, being access to appropriate food and clean water.

How to comply

All animals need access to clean water and food that meets the species’ nutrient requirements to survive. Providing food and water is fundamental to animal welfare and failing to provide sufficient or appropriate food and water is considered animal cruelty in Victoria.

Water

Dingoes drink regularly throughout the day regardless of weather conditions, though they need up to a litre per day per dingo in sunny conditions. Clean water must always be freely available to access in any dingo enclosure, and if the dingo is kept in the house water must also be available there.

Outside of the specified premises, use a common-sense approach regarding the reasonable provision of water:

• While water is not necessarily required for short periods of transport, water should be offered during extended journeys (multiple hours), during hot conditions, or on arrival to your destination, if appropriate (for example, if the dingo may vomit the water due to illness or nerves at the vet, provision of water is not necessarily required). Water provided during transport should be in a sturdy, spill proof container.
• Water is not necessarily needed during regular exercise, unless the exercise is strenuous, for extended duration (for example, multiple hours) or in hot conditions.
• If a dingo is displayed for non-commercial educational purposes or at a show organised by a canine association, water must be provided if it is hot, or if display extends for multiple hours.

Food

The information provided here is intended to be used as guidance, and you should develop an appropriate diet for your dingo in consultation with your registered veterinarian or a person with experience keeping dingoes.

Dingoes benefit from a varied diet low in processed products, including a raw meats and bones. Dingoes have an inability to digest starches common in many human foods, so provision of human food should be avoided. For this same reason, many dingoes will reject or suffer poor nutrition on commercially available dog foods, depending on the composition including presence of additives.

Appropriate foods include bones, wet or dry grain-free dog food (preferably raw whole-food in origin), raw meat (including part or whole chickens, fish or rabbits), eggs and organ meat are suitable components of a dingo diet.

Care should be taken that no cooked bones are provided, as they present a choking or injury hazard; and that any raw rabbit, kangaroo, or sheep are frozen for four weeks (to kill known pathogens including tapeworm) prior to provision to dingoes as food.

Dingo feeding presents a key opportunity for enrichment. Varying the diet, providing regular small meals (generally two times a day) and presenting meals in a way that challenges and engages captive dingoes, can reduce boredom and improve welfare. Food based enrichment activities include:

• Freezing commercially-available dead chicks, rats or mice in ice blocks.
• Scatter feeding, where food is spread around the feeding area, including in natural features such as grass, dirt or rock crevices (only use in the absence of food aggression or where dingoes are able to forage individually without interference).
• Providing raw bones to chew. Additionally helps with dental hygiene.
• Dragging food items throughout the enclosure then hiding them to create a scent trail for the dingo to pursue.
• Providing insects, such as crickets, in the enclosure can engage predatory instincts or provide a novel stimulus for investigation. Dingoes will consume insects as part of a wild diet.
• Varying feed times, so that dingoes are not in routine and waiting for food per an expected routine.
• Introducing small amounts of canid-safe herbs or spices to foods or to the enclosure around feeding times as novel scents for investigation.
• Wrapping food in leather or hide to promote chewing, gnawing or pulling behaviours.

Dingoes should be fed individual meals separately (preferably with a physical barrier in place) to reduce risk of aggression based on hierarchical dominance, where some dingoes may exclude others from accessing resources.

Where dingoes are known to exhibit food related aggression, they must be fed separately to ensure that each dingo receives sufficient appropriate food as required by the licence conditions.

Provision of medical care

Objective

To ensure that dingoes receive appropriate veterinary care to address illness or injury, and that dingoes do not unnecessarily suffer from lack of medical treatment when required.

How to comply

It is important to monitor your dingo daily to detect any emerging health and wellbeing issues such as illness or injury. Daily observational health checks should note, at minimum:

• Food and water intake.
• Faeces production, including frequency and consistency.
• Any notable behaviour changes, such as increased lethargy, avoidance of other animals.
• Injury, as indicated by bleeding, limping, or avoidance of touch.
• Coat condition, including shedding or changes to skin condition.
• Any presence of ticks or external parasites.
• Any unusual discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth or any other orifice.

Any changes to the above health indicators away from the expected baseline for the individual dingo can indicate declining health or illness. It is critical that developing illnesses or changes in behaviour are investigated quickly on detection, as many diseases to which dingoes are susceptible may have a poor prognosis if treatment is not provided quickly, or the health issue is prolonged.

To further support the health and wellbeing of your dingo, it is recommended that proactive methods to maintain health where possible and in accordance with veterinary advice. This may include annual vaccination (for heart-worm, as well as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine hepatitis and canine parainfluenza) or use of proactive or preventative parasite treatments, including worm, flea, mite and tick treatments, which can be administered orally, topically, or with medicated cleaning products.

Preventative health care can reduce veterinary costs, extend the life of your dingoes, and significantly contribute to their overall health and wellbeing. Some parasites carried by dingoes can be transmitted to humans, so preventative treatments to protect the health of you and your dingoes are recommended in accordance with veterinary advice.

Keeping up to date medical and general health records can assist you in identifying trends in health and behaviour for your dingo over time. It is recommended you keep relevant health records for future reference, which may include:

• Veterinary reports or test results.
• Prescription information.
• A record of medication given, including vaccination dates.
• Any other relevant observations.

These records can assist in prompt appropriate treatment if your dingo develops any health issues.

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