Like many open-country carnivores, it hunts in packs. By working cooperatively, African wild dogs can bring down prey many times their size, such as zebra. Solitary hunting is easier for forest species that can take advantage of cover to stalk and surprise their prey. Social living requires social organization, and that of the African wild dog is interesting and unusual. Males in a pack outnumber females by about two to one.
Dominance hierarchies are common in social animals.
In a dominance hierarchy, individuals are ranked, and high-ranking individuals have first access to food, mates, and other resources. In wild dogs, there are parallel, independent hierarchies for the males and females. Usually only the highest ranking female and highest ranking male mate and produce a litter during a season. All members of the pack, male and female, cooperate in the raising of the pups. When they mature, the male pups tend to remain with the pack and become permanent members.