The Taming of the Shrew

In the winter of 1992 Snowdrift and Sunny became proud parents. Sunny did all the hard work of giving birth while Snowdrift suffered all the anxiety of an expectant father.

Although not actively involved in the care of his family during the first two or three weeks, Snowdrift was pleased to help in the care of his son and two daughters as they became more active.

Dingo education starts at a very early age and pups must learn to respect and obey their parents. Their survival in a hostile world, over the last two hundred years has depended on how well they have learned their lessons. Those born in captivity are no exception to the rule. They must obey their parents and never trust strangers. Their play is supervised by their parents and is part of their education in teaching them hunting skills.

It seemed a very short time before this family had to bid farewell to Humpty Snowman who was to travel by air to his new home in Céligny, on the French Swiss border where dingoes are not persecuted as they are in Australia. There is no problem with keeping a dingo as a pet in Switzerland, as there is here, because there are no preconceived ideas - the Dingo is regarded merely as an Australian dog breed.

Next to move was Mingga, who became best friend of a member of the ANDCS. This left Wattle to receive the full attention of her parents. She was constantly in trouble and Snowy, although a very loving father, was also a very strict disciplinarian who demanded obedience from his children. Wattle was determined to go her own way and consequently Snowy resorted to ever more severe punishments for his wayward daughter. When it was thought he was being too harsh with her she was removed from his care.

Snowy's sister, Queenie and her mate Humpty Two, had two daughters about the same age as Wattle and this easy going couple were quite happy to take Wattle as a playmate for Amber and Keira. Wattle was accepted as one of the family, but when the pups were big enough to jump onto the top of the kennel, Amber and Keira would not allow Wattle to join them on their perch. It was clearly a meeting place for immediate family members only and this did not include her. Eventually this family group also broke up and Wattle found a new mate - handsome, good natured Harry.

Wattle had become very afraid of strangers and set about excavating a "bolt hole" for herself under the pile of rocks. There she remained when visitors were around and Harry got all the attention. This made her extremely jealous so, at the first opportunity she would dash out, take a savage bite out of Harry and retreat under her rocks. Harry did not have her speed and agility and was too big to squeeze into her hide out. It became clear that this bad tempered virago was dominating Harry.

They were moved to another run with no "bolt hole". Wattle did not like this so, while everyone was asleep she tunnelled under the fence to freedom, where she ran around and stirred up the occupants of all the other runs. After her tunnel was blocked up she used the skill she had learned from her mother in opening the gate to freedom. Her mother had exceptional dexterity in the use of her front paws. Bolts secured by slide catches were easy work, as were padlocks if not securely locked. Once when the key was left in the padlock she managed to turn the key and remove the padlock. Wattle, although lacking her mother's expertise, still has a high degree of skill and can easily remove slide catches and if the padlock is not locked she will remove this detested object and bury it in some distant area of her run before opening the gate to freedom.

Wattle is determined to get what she wants, so, to avoid having her wreck the whole complex it seemed expedient to give her back her home with her pile of rocks. While showing off the angelic side of her nature to all the helpers she depends on to take her for walks she made Harry suffer for her jealousy of his popularity. The attacks on him became more frequent and savage until he began to look like a moth eaten Teddy Bear. It was necessary to do some partner swapping.

Luke, who was living out his retirement years from Taronga Zoo, was laid to rest at the ripe old age of 14 years. This left Yindi, his daughter, and the only survivor of the family, all alone. Harry moved in with her. Yindi did not appear to miss her father. She had always lived with her family and had always been at the bottom in the "pecking order". She was fascinated by her new mate who was very handsome, in spite of his somewhat tattered appearance.

Harry, however was not pleased with his new accommodation or his new companion and tried to demolish the fence to make his escape. When he tried to squeeze through a very small gap he tore a deep wound in his leg which made him very sore and sorry for himself for a few days. After this he abandoned all ideas of escape for he had discovered that he was TOP DOG. Years of coping with Wattle's aggression had made him wary, but now, dizzy with euphoria, he took full advantage of his superiority by stealing all the food from his new mate.

For the first time in his life Harry had become a greedy pig. It was necessary to supervise mealtimes, give lessons in table manners, emphasis the importance of sharing and remind Harry of the eighth commandment - Thou Shalt Not Steal. Yindi has lots of friends who give her extra food and she is happy with her new mate in spite of his bad manners. She is now 14 years old but seems to have regained her youth since she has been with Harry who is half her age. Harry now has a thick lustrous coat with none of the chewed up appearance of last year and he now has no fear of attack. He has been slow to accept another mate but who can blame him for thinking that every bitch is a bitchy one.

Wattle still had her pile of rocks but no mate. It was decided to try her with Paterson (son of Banjo) who had returned from Taronga Zoo after 18 months there. He had become very stressed because of repeated attacks by the three tropical dingoes and was glad to return to his birthplace. How would he handle another nasty little bitch?

Wattle and he were set free at opposite ends of a large paddock. She made straight for him in a furious rage, intending no doubt to tear a strip off him. Much to her amazement, Paterson stood until she reached him with fangs bared, he knocked her to the ground and stood on her until she submitted to his superior strength. For the first time in her life she was the underdog.

Eventually she gave in. Her new mate was a very pleasant companion who, although he was not prepared to put up with her tantrums was happy to live in peace with her as long as she behaved herself. Two weeks later they were observed kissing each other on top of the rocks.

Congratulations Paterson for your success in the Taming of the Shrew.

April 1996.