The name “Painted dog” is appropriate given the remarkable coloration of their fur but, make no mistake, these are very much wild dogs that hunt in highly organized packs with 80% or greater success.

We were fortunate to see two packs while in Botswana. In both cases the guides indicated the packs were healthy, a good sign as there are many pressures on them that continue to put the species in jeopardy in many locations.

The first pack we encountered was sleeping soundly in the shade of a bush on a hot day.

They slept and rested literally in a large pile!

While “cute” might be an adjective that comes to mind, it is also not hard to remember these are wild dogs, not cute, domesticated ones.

Resting in the shade on a hot day.

And most are sleeping soundly.

One or another of the pack was always alert.

The second pack was on the move, trying to get a drink of water from a pond where a couple of hippos were arguing with them. The hippos “won” in the end!

We were able to get very close to both packs. As long as we remained quiet and in the vehicle, they were not particularly bothered by our presence.