Did the First Australians Keep Dingoes as Pets? NYT: Science By: Franz Lidz 27 June 2024 at 05:00 Burial remains from 800-2,000 years ago hint that the First Australians may have kept the continentβs famous canine species as pets. Β© Biodiversity Heritage LibraryAn illustration of several dingoes, from the 1863 book βThe Mammals of Australia.β A recent paper suggested that the wild dogs may have been trusted companions of the First Australians.