African Wild Dog Alpha Pair Reproductive Behavior

In Southern Africa, Wild Dog&denning season generally peaks between the months of April-August. During the “breeding season” the alpha male will work hard to keep other males at bay. This will try to ensure he is the only male to mate with the alpha female. Unlike other dog species, the mating of the African Wild Dog is a short affair, lasting just a minute or so. If mating is successful, the female goes through a gestation of 2-2.5 months. She will give birth to her pups in an underground den site where she will remain and look after the litter. It is up to the rest of the pack to hunt and return with food to the den site for the alpha female and her pups. Once the pups are a few weeks old she will often leave another adult female as a babysitter at the den while she uses her experience to assist the pack with hunting. Once her pups reach between 8-10 weeks, they can start to accompany the adults on short hunts.