The African hunting dog, also called Cape hunting dog or painted dog, typically roams the open plains and sparse woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.

African hunting dogs live in packs that are usually dominated by a monogamous breeding pair. The female has a litter of 2 to 20 pups, which are cared for by the entire pack. These dogs are very social, and packs have been known to share food and to assist weak or ill members. Social interactions are common, and the dogs communicate by touch, actions, and vocalizations.

African hunting dogs hunt in formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 (or more) animals. Larger packs were more common before the dogs became endangered. Packs hunt antelopes and will also tackle much larger prey, such as wildebeests, particularly if their quarry is ill or injured. The dogs supplement their diet with rodents and birds. The dogs have sometimes developed a taste for livestock. Unfortunately, they are often hunted and killed by farmers who fear for their domestic animals.

Fun Facts

• No two hunting dogs are marked exactly the same, making them easy to identify.

• African hunting dogs are the only canid species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs

• The African hunting dogs scientific name, Lycaon Pictus, means “painted wolf” referring to the animal’s irregular marked coat which features patches of red, black, brown, white, and yellow fur.