Editing Dingo (section)

===Reproduction===
{{See also|Canine reproduction}}
[[File:Dingowelpen Berlin.JPG|thumb|right|Dingo pups]]
Dingoes breed once annually, depending on the [[estrous cycle]] of the females, which according to most sources, only come in heat once per year. Dingo females can come in heat twice per year, but can only be pregnant once a year, with the second time only seeming to be pregnant.<ref>{{cite book|last=Trummler|first=Eberhard|author2=Dietmar Mundo|title=Das Jahr des Hundes – Ein Jahr im Leben einer Hundefamilie|edition=1st|year=1984|publisher=Kynos Verlag|location=Nerdlen|language=de|isbn=978-3-924008-11-6}}</ref><ref name="victoria">{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=E|last2=Stevens|first2=PL|title=Reproduction in Wild Canids, Canis-Familiaris, From the Eastern Highlands of Victoria|journal=Wildlife Research|volume=15|pages=385–97|year=1988|doi=10.1071/WR9880385|issue=4}}</ref>

Males are virile throughout the year in most regions, but have a lower sperm production during the summer in most cases. During studies on dingoes from the Eastern Highlands and Central Australia in captivity, no specific breeding cycle could be observed. All were potent throughout the year. The breeding was only regulated by the heat of the females. A rise in [[testosterone]] was observed in the males during the breeding season, but this was attributed to the heat of the females and copulation. In contrast to the captive dingoes, captured dingo males from Central Australia did show evidence of a male breeding cycle. Those dingoes showed no interest in females in heat (this time other domestic dogs) outside the mating season (January to July) and did not breed with them.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Catling|first1=PC|title=Seasonal variation in plasma testosterone and the testis in captive male dingoes, Canis familiaries dingo|journal=Australian Journal of Zoology|volume=27|pages=939–44|year=1979|doi=10.1071/ZO9790939|issue=6}}</ref>

The mating season usually occurs in Australia between March and May (according to other sources between April and June). During this time, dingoes may actively defend their territories using vocalisations, dominance behaviour, growling, and barking.<ref name="impact"/>

Most females in the wild start breeding at the age of 2 years. Within packs, the alpha female tends to go into heat before subordinates and actively suppresses mating attempts by other females. Males become sexually mature between the ages of 1 and 3 years. The precise start of breeding varies depending on age, social status, geographic range, and seasonal conditions. Among dingoes in captivity, the pre-estrus was observed to last 10–12 days. However, the pre-estrus may last as long as 60 days in the wild.<ref name="canid"/>

[[File:Look at me dad.jpg|thumb|right|A male dingo with his pups]]
In general, the only dingoes in a pack that successfully breed are the alpha pair, and the other pack members help with raising the pups. Subordinates are actively prevented from breeding by the alpha pair and some subordinate females have a [[false pregnancy]]. Low-ranking or solitary dingoes can successfully breed if the pack structure breaks up.<ref name="Nord">{{cite web|author=Parks|author2=Wildlife Service|name-list-style=amp|title=A Management Program for the Dingo (''Canis lupus dingo'') in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2006–2011|url=http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/wildlife/programs/pdf/dingo_management.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913072502/http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/wildlife/programs/pdf/dingo_management.pdf|archive-date=2008-09-13|publisher=Department of Natural Resources|access-date=4 May 2009}}</ref>

The [[gestation]] period lasts for 61–69 days and the size of the litter can range from 1 to 10 (usually 5) pups, with the number of males born tending to be higher than that of females. Pups of subordinate females usually get killed by the alpha female, which causes the population increase to be low even in good times. This behaviour possibly developed as an adaptation to the fluctuating environmental conditions in Australia. Pups are usually born between May and August (the winter period), but in tropical regions, breeding can occur at any time of the year.<ref name="canid"/>

At the age of 3 weeks, the pups leave the den for the first time, and leave it completely at 8 weeks. Dens are mostly underground. Reports exist of dens in abandoned rabbit burrows, rock formations, under boulders in dry creeks, under large [[Triodia (grass)|spinifex]], in hollow logs, and augmented burrows of monitor lizards and wombat burrows. The pups usually stray around the den within a radius of {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}, and are accompanied by older dogs during longer travels. The transition to consuming solid food is normally accomplished by all members of the pack during the age of 9 to 12 weeks. Apart from their own experiences, pups also learn through observation.<ref name="Ian">{{cite book|last=Moffitt|first=Ian|title=Der Australische Busch|edition=5th|year=1984|publisher=Time-Life Books|location=Amsterdam|language=de|id={{Listed Invalid ISBN|90-6182-070-0}} }}</ref> Young dingoes usually become independent at the age of 3–6 months or they disperse at the age of 10 months, when the next mating season starts.