Bush dogs are small, highly social South American canids rarely kept in zoos. Their complex pack dynamics and aquatic abilities require specialized care to ensure good welfare in captivity.
Bush dogs are obligate social animals — isolation or incompatible groupings cause significant welfare harm through stress, anxiety, and suppression of natural behaviors. Their enclosures must include water features deep enough for swimming and diving, as aquatic behavior is a strong motivational drive. As a secretive, forest-dwelling species, they require dense cover and retreat areas away from public view. Their small size and cooperative hunting behavior means varied prey items and foraging enrichment are important. Pair or small group housing with compatible conspecifics is essential. Bush dogs communicate vocally with considerable sophistication — enclosures must allow full acoustic expression without distressing nearby animals. Captive management is challenging due to their rarity and the limited knowledge base available to keepers.