Percy The Pup Teaches Young Dingo New Doggy Tricks

[Mila's Mum]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuf...ew-doggy-tricks

An unwanted puppy is teaching Wellington Zoo's young dingo how to be a canine.

Four-month-old dingo Wolfrik has lived with carnivore team leader Paul Horton and his family at the zoo since being separated from his litter at Colong Station in Australia at the age of six weeks.

The only animals he had contact with were chickens and while his socialisation with humans was excellent, his canine skills were lacking, Mr Horton said. Enter Percy from the SPCA, who will help teach Wolfrik basic skills such as when a bite is too hard, important dog body language and confidence in new situations.

"Hopefully if Percy displays complete nonchalance in an environment that would be scary for dingos, it will rub off on Wolfrik," Mr Horton said.

Both animals moved to their new zoo enclosure yesterday. They will live together for about a year.

Percy, a mixed-breed from an unwanted litter, was picked for his social, confident nature and his previous work in SPCA animal therapy programmes. He has visited kindergartens, hospitals and retirement homes.

The five-month-old dog has been registered with Wellington City Council as an honorary dingo, according to SPCA animal care and adoption manager Nicholas Taylor.

He said Percy had caught the hearts of zoo staff, and the two canines interacted well when they moved in together yesterday.

"Percy will have lots of people's attention all day and a very new best friend."

Mr Horton said the zoo hoped eventually to get a female dingo to breed with Wolfrik, and Percy would then be adopted by one of the zoo staff.

[Little Gifts]

What a fantastic story! For his young age Percy sounds like a very special boy.