An assessment of dingo ancestry in camp dogs in Western Australia

Authors

Tracey L. Kreplins, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Danielle Stephens, Zoological Genetics
N Laing, Murdoch University
C Oskam, Murdoch University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-10-2024

Journal Title

Australian Journal of Zoology

ISSN

Print: 0004-959X Electronic: 1446-5698

Keywords

Australian dingoes (Canis familiaris), camp dog, dingo, domestic dog, hybridisation, Western Australia

Disciplines

Biosecurity | Other Animal Sciences | Zoology

Abstract

Hybridisation between Australian dingoes and domestic dogs is a controversial area of interest and research. An ongoing canine sterilisation programme in rural and remote Western Australia provided an opportunity to assess the dingo ancestry of camp dogs and opportunities for hybridisation. Blood samples were collected from 345 individual community dogs at 21 locations. Dogs were screened using 23 microsatellite loci and ancestry percentage assigned using an iterative Bayesian assignment algorithm. A single individual was a dingo, 96% were domestic dogs and 3.5% were hybrids. Camp dog and dingo hybridisation in these areas is of little concern in terms of conserving dingo purity.

Recommended Citation

Kreplins T. L., Stephens D., Laing N., Oskam C. (2024) An assessment of dingo ancestry in camp dogs in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 72, ZO24008.