New Guinea Singing Dog Breed Profile

Head: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull-type, moderate in size, wedge-shaped when viewed from any direction, vulpine, and in proportion with the rest of the body. The topskull is fairly broad and may be slightly arched for flat. A slight median furrow runs from the stop, disappearing towards the occiput. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.

Eyes: Somewhat small to moderate in size, almond to triangular in shape, and amber to medium to dark brown in color. The eyes are set slightly obliquely. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. They are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed. The eyes are also highly reflective of light, appearing to glow a greenish color due to a well-developed tapetum.

Ears: Somewhat small to medium in size. Set fairly high on the skull with the ears oriented toward the 10 and 2 o’clock position when relaxed but drawn up to the 11 and 1 o’clock position when alert. They are triangles in shape, with tips orienting just slightly forward (hooded) and the back of the ear being a continuation of the arched neck. The ears are well-lined with fur. When showing submission, the ears will lie even further forward as opposed to being retracted back, as in most wild and domestic canids—a trait unique to this breed. They are always carried firmly erect by maturity. The ears are never long, overly large, or broken.

Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight and level, tapering gently from the full and broad base toward the nose. The upper and lower jaws are well developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black. The nostrils are well opened.

Neck: Moderately long to allow for good head carriage and strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Sufficiently deep and broad to allow for ample heart and lung function. Narrow in comparison to domestic dogs overall, but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well developed without being excessively pronounced.

Body: The body is of good substance, having strong, lean musculature and solid, yet never heavy, bone throughout. The body is never heavy and cloddy, nor racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. In comparison to domesticated dogs, the body is fairly narrow and especially flexible.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Front feet may “toe-out” just slightly.

Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually up above the level of the topline and gently curved over the back or out almost level with the topline when gaiting. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, gently curved, sabered, sickled, or brushed.

Movement: Smooth, flowing gait with graceful and agile movements. The movement is energetic, effortless, and efficient. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: The New Guinea Singing Dog breed is, first and foremost, a feral dog. These dogs have developed alone in the wilderness for eons without interference or reliance upon humans, and they lack any reliance on humans and can exist without them just fine. That being said, dogs that have been raised by people from young pups or for generations are eager to interact with (not so much please) people. They can be comical, affectionate, and protective. They are also eager to learn tricks when in the right mood. However, like most wild canids, they are difficult to confine and will come and go as they please in search of new adventures. They also exhibit an extremely high prey drive, making any other animal fair game. If left to their own devices in an unstimulating and unenriched environment, they will create their own entertainment, often to the tune of exploring what their surroundings are made of and figuring out how many options there are to escape to find a more stimulating environment. For these reasons, when kept as pets, these dogs must undergo socialization and companionship obedience training to help them understand the boundaries that exist outside of the wild that will keep them and others safe. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.