Overview
The New Guinea singing dog is a primitive dog closely related to the dingo and named for its yodelling howl. It is kept in a handful of zoos and by a very small number of specialist owners, so a professional walker is unlikely ever to be offered one. If you are, be honest about whether you want the job.
These are not domesticated in the way a Labrador is. They are agile climbers, determined diggers and gifted escapers, with a prey drive that switches on instantly. They form strong bonds with their own people and are typically shy or evasive with everyone else.
Exercise and walking needs
Exercise for a singing dog is usually a secure yard or run rather than a public walk, and any walk should be on a double-secured lead with a harness and a collar both attached. An hour of movement and sniffing is plenty; the limiting factor is safety, not stamina.
Mental work matters more than miles. Scatter feeding, scent trails and food puzzles in a secure space will do more for the dog than a route through a village it finds frightening.
On the walk
- Escape: They climb fences, squeeze through small gaps and slip collars. Two points of attachment, a well-fitted harness and no retractable leads.
- Prey drive: Cats, squirrels, chickens and small dogs all register as prey. Keep distance from everything that moves and never test the recall; it is not there.
- Strangers: Most will shrink away from people they do not know and some will panic. Do not ask the public to approach, and give the dog an escape route at all times.
- Vocalising: The famous howl can start without warning, especially if another dog howls or a siren passes. Neighbours may want to know about it.
Tips for professional walkers
- Agree in writing where the dog can be exercised and what happens if it escapes. Have a plan before you need it.
- Build trust over several short visits with the owner present before you handle the dog alone.
- Walk at quiet times in quiet places, away from livestock, cats and other dogs.
What to ask the owner
- How was the dog raised, and how does it behave with new people inside and outside the home?
- What has it escaped from before, and what equipment has proven secure?
- Is there a secure outdoor space you can use instead of public paths?