Reviews of Dingo Books

This blog brings together reviews I have written for several books on dingoes. I have included a summary of reviews of my own books, For the Love of a Dingo and Merigal Dingoes, as well as links to blogs with words of warning for dingo researchers.

The Dingo Debate: Origins, Behaviour and Conservation by Bradley Smith (Editor).

I’ll begin with what I believe to be the most valuable book on Dingoes for many years,

This is not a book simply to read. It is one all dingo advocates, conservationists and ecologists should return to repeatedly for information supporting our fight to save the Dingo.

There is a new breed of young scientists studying the dingo. Editor, Bradley Smith is one of them. Their positive findings on the need to preserve not annihilate the dingo needs to be heeded by all governments. I hope the ongoing research by these young researchers continues to be published and made available to the general public.

Here is the link to my full review.

Dingo Tails: Kane Guy

I have never read a book on any subject containing such a wealth of knowledge in a series of short stories by so many different writers.

Dingoes Tails was the concept of Kane Guy a teacher, writer, husband, father of three, and absolute dingo admirer.

With the publication of Dingo Tails Kane hopes to paint a new picture of the dingo in the eyes of everyday Australians; that by the end of the book the reader will be able to see through the indoctrination of media sensationalism and appreciate the true beauty of the dingo through its many endearing and truly unique qualities.

Here is the link to my full review.

Living with Dingoes by Gill Ryhorchuk

Living with Dingoes gives greater insight and understanding of this beautiful Australian native animal. It clearly describes dingo behaviour and mannerisms and I enjoyed reading about the varying personalities of Gillian’s dingoes

This is a must reading for anyone considering owning a dingo. In fact it should be compulsory reading for anyone considering a dingo as a pet as they are definitely not suited to many people

Here is the link to my full review.

Living with the Dingo by Adam O’Neill

This is not a book full of scientific jargon but rather O’Neill’s observations and experience deliver a “Biodiversity 101” lesson at a practical level, explained in easy to understand language.

My favourite quotation in the book is:

Only when we put away the poison baits and concentrate on rehabilitating our environment as a whole, will our endangered species have any hope of survival. The dingo has 4,000 years of experience in managing Australian land systems and controlling the animals that existed within them. I believe the dingo is our only chance for eco-reconciliation.

Here is the link to my full review.

Dingoes Don’t Bark by Lionel Hudson

The book clearly describes the situation and plight of the dingo at the time (1974) and gives some of its sad history since white settlement including its relationship with Aboriginal people before the impact of that invasion.

He also raises a topic not considered a great deal in the early 1970s; that of the dingo’s role in maintaining the balance in nature. Meeting Robert Harden, who was researching dingoes and kept one at home, gave him further insight into this animal he had come to admire. Many old dingo myths are disproven.

Here is the link to my full review.

The Way of the Dingo

As a dingo lover, it is a tough book to read. But I must confess it is beautifully written.

Sid Wright was a dingo hunter and the fictional story is based on his experiences.

The reason I did read it was because Sid Wright also understood and respected the dingo.

Here is the link to my full review.

Death of Dora

In March 1988 Berenice’s first dingo, Dora, the one she was given to prove her claim about dingoes being tameable and trusting was true, died.

At nearly 14 years of age, Dora was an 'old' dog, but retained her quality for life right up to the final days. She would still try to play with Berenice with bows and backward jumps - only to collapse on the ground as her arthritic legs gave way but smiling all the time. 


They still enjoyed a daily walk down into the Merigal garden, sharing as they had done over the past 13½ years.

Although Dora had dingo friends, she continued to be friends with the cattle dogs. Her latest was female Cattle Dog, Wish. Wish would make Dora's day. As soon as she was let out of her night yard, Wish would rush to find Dora so she could submit to her, sliding along the ground in complete submission. Dora would stand there with her head up high, her tail over her rump, the expression in her eyes regal and aloof, though sometimes there was a little surprise on Dora’s face at this total submission. But it all helped to keep a twinkle of youth in Dora's heart and enjoy her position as the alpha Dingo bestowed on her when Napoleon died suddenly.

Dora was buried in the little dingo cemetery', next to the grave of her illustrious son, Napoleon. Not many people can boast having patted Dora, she was very much a one-person dog, but everyone respected and admired her. She was never a problem dog. She did not dig, or try to jump out of her enclosure, she was very obedient. She was always close by, but never seemed to intrude. It had been a great concern to Berenice a time could come when she could no longer meet her needs as an old dog and give her the extra support.

Berenice was scheduled to go into hospital in early April and for some months would not be able to lift or carry anything. It seemed to Berenice, in keeping with the whole of Dora's life, she should not be a burden at this time, and she passed away quietly.

If there had been no Dora, there would have been no project, no Society. Berenice owed much to her and learned so much from her. Always aloof and free spirited, she was the essence of the Dingo in the wild and the essence of the domestic Dingo - a totally adorable enigma. There would never be another Dora for Berenice.

Right to the end she maintained her independence, which was sometimes frustrating. When she saw Berenice preparing to 'feed up', she would go under the house and refuse to come out until she was ready, thereby holding up the progress of the evening routine. Even giving Dora her tablets was fraught with 'danger'. As she took her medication, she would frequently look Berenice straight in the eye and bite down hard, many times reducing her to tears. But that was Dora, and Berenice loved her so dearly.

Dora was sponsored in her final years by the RSPCA Head Office, and it was with a heavy heart Berenice advised Mr McCaskill of the death of their protege.

Committee member Ailza Green arrived early on the morning of Dora's death, and helped Berenice dig Dora’s grave in an area reserved as a cemetery, and where her son Napoleon was buried just over three years earlier, an area being developed into a Memorial Garden.

The Dingo Debate: Origins, Behaviour and Conservation by Bradley Smith (Editor)

I initially read The Dingo Debate cover to cover because I am passionately interested in Dingoes and there is very little up to date information available in book form. I was enthralled by the amount and quality of the information.  Every section was informative and covered all aspects of the Dingo. I am currently writing the biography of Berenice Walters, the Dingo Lady (1928-2002) and frequently refer back to this book to check historical facts and differences in our knowledge now compared to her time.

The Dingo is Australia’s most controversial, maligned and misunderstood animal. The history of the dingo has been one of condemnation and cruelty surrounded by myths and lies spread largely by the grazing fraternity.



The Dingo Debate sets the record straight with scientific evidence of its important role as an apex predator in keeping the balance of nature and controlling feral pests. Anyone considering reading the book should not be put off by my use of the word “scientific”. It is written in a manner easily understood by the average lay person.

It discusses the origin of the Dingo and their relationship with the indigenous people, how they live in the wild, their contribution to ecology and the impact of attempts to wipe out dingoes. It is well illustrated with photographs and tables and includes comprehensive reference tables at the end of each chapter.

This is not a book simply to read. It is one all dingo advocates, conservationists and ecologists should return to over and over again for information supporting our fight to save the Dingo.

There is a new breed of young scientists studying the dingo. Editor, Bradley Smith is one of them. Their positive findings on the need to preserve not annihilate the dingo needs to be heeded by all governments. I hope the ongoing research by these young researchers continues to be published and made available to the general public.

And still the horror of 1080 continues

Berenice Walters began her fight against 1080 in 1976 and never gave up the battle.

1080 (Sodium mono fluoroacetate) had been banned in the USA in 1972 when it was realised secondary and tertiary poisoning had a substantial effect on non-target mammals and birds.

In July 1976 Premier Neville Wran stated he was “horrified at the indiscriminate use of 1080 poison and contamination of our wilderness areas.” 

He immediately, called a Dingo Seminar to be held to question the use of 1080 and the practice of aerial baiting for predator control.

In 1977, despite Mr Wran’s intervention concerning aerial baiting in national parks a year earlier the horror of the practice continued elsewhere putting other wild life at risk in the maniacal pursuit to exterminate the dingo.

For 200 years many Australians believed, without question, our heritage was not worth protecting if it interfered with making money. They also believed, without question, the only good Dingo was a dead Dingo.

Berenice was not prepared to stand by in mute horror like most of her countrymen as the mass slaughter of wildlife by aerial baiting continued.

The general public blindly accepted baiting was done in winter because it was the time of year when dingoes were most savage and did the most damage.

However, it is the time of year when the female and her devoted mate are scrounging for food to support their puppies. The poisoned adults die an excruciating, long and panic-stricken death, whether they be the stock killing culprits or not, desperately struggling to return to their pups. Alone, the pups slowly starve to death, or fall prey to other hungry predators, while pitifully searching for their missing parents; starvation forcing them from the safety of their den.

Through the media, Berenice constantly questioned how much longer white man, and his sheep and cattle, would be the nation’s only concern.

Even in the mid 1970s a large section of the community was horrified at the continued use of aerial baiting yet, a minority group had permission to proceed with this highly questionable practice, and, with a minimum of publicity, contaminate the whole of the environment.

The situation frightened Berenice.

Domestic dog breeders more frequently were stipulating any dogs sold were not to go to country areas where aerial baiting had been carried out.

It was not unusual for people returning to the city with sick dogs to be warned by their vet about the possible hazards of drinking in streams possibly contaminated by aerial baiting.

In the winter of 1978, aerial baiting was again approved in national parks, although following the "Dingo Seminar", at least Ministerial approval had to be granted. 

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Understanding Dingoes: Natural Behaviour in Domestication by Berenice Walters (1991)

Berenice and Snowgoose

Keeping Dingoes in a domestic environment must eventually lead to the dulling of the natural senses by which the dingo has survived as a wilderness animal, just as the sheep or cattle dog's natural working ability will deteriorate when it does not have access to regular work, and human selection for ability and tractability to work stock.

Therefore, I never cease to be both delighted and amazed at the 'naturalness' so often displayed by our Dingoes. For instance, if visitors come near one of our Cattle bitches when she has pups, she will show her protectiveness by defending her pups, sometimes with aggressive behaviour.

But the Dingo female will leave her pups ‘hidden’, and making a target of herself as she retreats, in a tactic she hopes will draw the 'enemy' away from her pups. There are many stories of wildlife using this decoy, even pretending to be injured.

Snowdrift's recent actions were of great interest. I had released him in the house yard, which is the favourite run, and then brought over Jedda for companionship. As always, before releasing her I wanted to make sure he knew the identity of this Dingo to avoid any over reaction by either of them.

I could not find Snowy at first, then I saw him standing quietly and unnaturally under a tree, like a statue - or a part of the bush. His ears were dropped, head low, hindquarters twisted. At -first I thought he had injured himself, but as I slowly approached with Jedda, I saw the very last segment of his tail move slightly. Then I realised that he had been camouflaging himself by standing so still, until he was sure just who accompanied me. As soon as he realised it was. Jedda, he came forward quite submissively, coyly acknowledging us both; whereupon both Snowy and Jedda took off like rockets in a joyful romp around the house, excitedly exploring and sniffing in a gush of enthusiasm and happiness. 

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Dingo Dads are the Best

Dingo dads are patient and caring 

  

At 6 weeks old Jarrah tried to mimic his dad's actions

Peter shows Jarrah the 'watering hole'

Jarrah can't resist cautiously pulling on Peter's tail. Peter seems to be saying 'Watch it, Kid'

Peter Pan nonchalentlychews on a bone while Dawn and their pups, Jedda and Jarrah, respectfully look on.