Tips on African Painted Dogs

[dillotest0]

I recall a while ago I was looking to 'revitalise' my collection of animal photos, mainly in that I'd revise the quality of several formerly-neglected species.
One species, however, I find is still rather neglected by the collection, this being the African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus. In zoos I find, these dogs, like several other dogs, can be hard to find, or they are asleep.
I was hoping to break this curse at some point - and was wondering whether anyone on here has any tips on taking good photos of the species?
[I am based in the UK]

 

[mrcriss]

Yep. Find out when feeding time is and go there then

 

[Lafone]

I recall a while ago I was looking to 'revitalise' my collection of animal photos, mainly in that I'd revise the quality of several formerly-neglected species.
One species, however, I find is still rather neglected by the collection, this being the African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus. In zoos I find, these dogs, like several other dogs, can be hard to find, or they are asleep.
I was hoping to break this curse at some point - and was wondering whether anyone on here has any tips on taking good photos of the species?
[I am based in the UK]

Definitely echo the tip on hanging about at feeding or cleaning time - at Whipsnade they are also active earlier in the day / later in the afternoon and you can catch them patrolling about so it’s a good place to see and photo them.

If you are going there you can get to the short sides of the enclosure at the bison end by going a bit off the path (still all permitted areas just not straight past) and I’ve had some good ones doing that as it follows the track they patrol about. You can also see them sometimes from the rhino side, they aren’t easy there.

Most of the time I’ve sat on the bench / watched the storks for a long time waiting for the dogs or the keepers or both so it’s a long wait sort of thing.

I’ve got a few good ones but it takes some luck and a few visits as they are rarely easy. I’ve had good shots with them in the cooler weather particularly a sunny or bright day after it has rained when they want to run about. In the better weather a long lens and watching them get up to turn round for even more napping is the way to go! Spotting them is the first challenge when the grass gets longer but once you have you’ll gather people also looking for them as they follow the lens in my experience! A bloke once asked me why I was watching a tree…

 

[RatioTile]

It might seem counterintuitive, but in my experience they're more active in the cold, so winter's a great time to see them.

 

[RonBurrgundy]

When I visited London Zoo we went to the Painted dogs about an hour after the zoo opened and all the animals were active. But I don't think you can get very good photos since you look down on the animals.

On a side note Duisburg had a nice feeding show were the food was moved around on a wooden Zebra and the animals had to chase it in order to get the food.

 

[dillotest0]

Update! 24/10/23

I was at Whipsnade Zoo today and made a point of visiting the painted dogs as the last animals of the day.
It was about the time of sunset, and low and behold the dogs were active, but in the back.
Initially lazy, they eventually got up to walk and make errands.

The curse has been broken ! ^-^

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Update! 24/10/23

I was at Whipsnade Zoo today and made a point of visiting the painted dogs as the last animals of the day.
It was about the time of sunset, and low and behold the dogs were active, but in the back.
Initially lazy, they eventually got up to walk and make errands.
View attachment 664577
The curse has been broken ! ^-^

This is one of my absolute favorite species, so I greatly appreciate good photos of them!