Wild Dog Characteristics: Reliable • Charitable • Interesting • Loyal • Restless
Scientific Name: Canis canidae
Collective Term:  A tribe of wild dogs 

The Ruggedly Restless Wild Dog

Most people who meet a wild dog are struck by its energetic, demonstrative and restless behavior. This mid-sized individual differs from its domestic dog and wolf cousins in a number of notable ways: it is physically more powerful than the dog and its social structure differs dramatically from that of the lone wolf. It is difficult to describe the wild dog's personality without explaining it in terms of its pack of friends, for wild dogs don't see themselves as rugged individualists but rather as members of a social team that demands constant bonding and cooperation.

You Can Count on a Wild Dog

Reliable in a crisis, wild dogs are charitable to those in need and have a strong sense of social justice. They are dependable and generous to a fault, but there is a darker side to their character. If they believe they have been wronged, they'll carry a grudge for a long time and punish the offender by withdrawing otherwise unconditional support.

Although they are not a natural leaders, wild dogs are popular and well liked and their indomitable sense of adventure attracts others who appreciate living on the edge. They were not blessed with a particularly handsome face, but their trim body is well conditioned by athletic endeavors and they take pride in their appearance.

Travel is Key for the Wild Dog

As is typical of a carnivorous personality, wild dogs love to travel and choose to vacation in stimulating environments where they can expand their understanding of the world. They become restless when they haven't taken a vacation in a while.

Thinking of bringing that new invention of yours to the market? Put a wild dog in charge. No one can take an idea and run with it better than this hardy individual. Its powers of endurance and canine enthusiasm make for such a powerful combination that wild dogs are consistently amongst the highest wage earners. So why don't they simply run their own businesses and reap the rewards? Well for one thing, they don't possess the leadership and entrepreneurial talents of their canine cousins. Instead, by concentrating on relationship building and teamwork, wild dogs achieve the kind of job satisfaction that no salary can replace.

Wild Dogs Need Freedom

Wild dogs are highly principled individuals although they take a while before placing their trust in others. Employers should give them a lot of freedom since they do not perform well in structured environments. When it comes to stamina, they are without equal and are usually the first to arrive and the last to leave. Versatile in their skills, their sharp minds can adapt to almost any environment.

Wild Dogs in the Wild

It is believed that the domestic dog descended not from the wild dog but from the wolf. This is primarily due to differences in social structure between these two species. Unlike the wolf, which orders its society in a strong hierarchy, wild dogs tend to act as a pack, without any formal social structure. Domestic dogs must accept their role as subordinate to their owners, and since wild dogs are not naturally submissive, they are unsuccessful as pets. 

Cooperative hunting is conducted without a dominant animal and proves highly effective on long hunts when each wild dog takes a turn in the lead. This wears down the prey, which succumbs to exhaustion before its eventual disembowelment. After quickly feeding at the site of the kill, the wild dogs make their way back to the den to regurgitate the meal for the benefit of the pups.

Careers & Hobbies

Police work • Engineer • Military • Journalist •Academic
Running • Writing • Horse riding • Surfing the net

Love & Friendship

A wild dog will not overwhelm you with its beauty, nor can it match the suave Tom Cruise style of the wolf. Instead, its mating strategy is summarized in two words persistence and endurance. By wearing down its quarry with an endless offering of flowers, cards, and romantic dinners, the prey eventually succumbs to sheer exhaustion.

The wild dog is clearly a dog at heart and is willing to romp with the best of them but manages to maintain its dignity under the most demanding bedroom conditions. It’s a highly principled individual and has every expectation that its marriage will be a permanent one, but its canine need for sexual variety is a powerful compulsion and ultimately the wild dog cannot ignore the call of the wild.

While there can be no question that its most compatible partners are to be found in the canine family, it's also well suited for productive relationships with other carnivores including badgers and bears. However, the wild dog is cautioned to avoid the sharp claws of its nemesis the wild cat.

Famous Wild Dog Personalities

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova was women's tennis biggest star in the 1980s. Her rivalry with American Chris Evert embodied the struggle between a cotton-tail rabbit and Martina's wild-dog aggression and endurance.

Vladimir Lenin

Wild dogs do not have the social hierarchies associated with dogs and wolves. Each member of the pack is treated like any other -- and this wild dog trait was possibly responsible for Lenin's rise to power.