Any dog lover could easily find themselves drawn to the African wild dog. This canid doesn’t look too far removed from the fluffballs with whom we so readily share our homes, although this would certainly be a pup of indecipherable descent!

Although the wild dog shares a number of appealing characteristics with the domestic dog, they also have a number of very distinct differences. A domesticated dog has five toes for example, whereas a wild dog has only four. The majority of domesticated canids have retained the dew claw – a fifth digit that sits further up the leg from the foot, and provides additional stability as well as a handy chew holder. African wild dogs don’t have them and it’s believed to be because they’re unnecessary for the dogs’ endurance hunting habits.

Their scientific name Lycaeon pictus translates to ‘painted wolf’, yet the African wild dog is neither wolf nor dog. The Canidae family encompasses wolves, dingos, jackals, coyotes and wolves, however their last common ancestor with wolves dates back around 6 million years (Focus, 2019). They’re the sole species in the genus Lycaon.

The wild dogs are taller and longer legged than their domesticated counterparts and those giant rounded ears would dwarf those of most household pets. Their long legs are put to good use, and the wild dog can reach a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour, while domestic dogs average around 30 kilometres per hour (though a Dachshund might balk at that). Then there’s the coat. The striking mosaic of black, brown, yellow and white is generally consistent across the species, although with some variations across regions. There are no domestic canids with a similar coat pattern. Wild dogs have 40 teeth while other canids have 42, despite this, the wild dog’s bite force is the strongest among canids and those teeth are designed to strip carcasses quickly and efficiently so there’s less time for it to be pilfered by larger predators.

Yet both wild and domestic dogs are vulnerable to disease. Domestic dogs can carry troublesome diseases such as rabies and canine distemper, and with wildlife areas and rural communities becoming increasingly close to one another, domestic dogs pose a very real threat to wild dog populations and could easily decimate them should such a disease be passed on. Infectious diseases are a leading cause of mortality in African wild dogs, and since they’re already one of the world’s most endangered mammals, it’s important that we do everything we can to protect them.

That’s why we support the Wild Dog Disease Prevention project. Following the illness and death of a wild dog near Khwai Village back in 2021. Working together with partners Wild Entrust and Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) we funded a vaccination and sterilisation drive to control and protect domestic dog populations in the area so as to prevent the transmission of disease to wild dogs. This drive continues to regularly administer vaccines in Khwai Village and other villages that border the Okavango Delta. Within Khwai Private Reserve meanwhile, the ranger team monitor the wild dog populations and assist Wild Entrust with the population and distribution data they gather.

The vaccination programme creates a “buffer zone” against domestic animal diseases and wild animal populations. A 5 in 1 vaccine is administered, preventing canine distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and two types of adenovirus (hepatitis), along with a rabies vaccination. In addition to the vaccination and sterilisation for owners who opt for it, the dogs are dewormed and treated for ticks and fleas. We have continued to support these vaccination initiatives in 2024 and 2025.

Every effort makes a difference when a species is classed as Endangered as the wild dogs are. African wild dogs are believed to number 1,409 (WWF, n.d.) and the threat of viral disease is compounded by retaliatory killings by humans, illegal snares, habitat loss and fragmentation, and competition from bigger predators such as lions.

While domestic dogs can be found in abundance worldwide, the wild dogs are in trouble. World African Wild Dog day is as good a day as any to consider donating to their cause. This link will allow you to donate directly to our work, alternatively pop us an email on [email protected]

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