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Rescue a
Carolina Dog
Carolina Dog Puppies for Sale
Carolina Dog
(American Dingo)
Photo Courtesy of Susan Anthony,
California-Carolina Dogs.
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Find a
Carolina Dog Breeder
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Rescue a
Carolina Dog
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Description |
The Carolina Dog is very similar in appearance to a small
Dingo. The distinctive features of this breed are those which have been valuable
to its survival in the swamps and forests of the South. The Carolina Dog has a
medium length straight back, well developed chest and well tucked up belly,
giving it a slight resemblance to the sight hound breeds. It has a long neck,
wedge shaped head with powerful jaws, almond shaped dark eyes with a soft,
intelligent, yet alert expression, and large erect high set ears which are very
mobile. The Carolina Dog is very well muscled and powerful for its size, showing
strong, free and agile movement with a lot of drive and is very flexible and
able to turn instantly. Distinctive to the breed is the “fish-hook” tail,
carried in various positions according to the mood of the dog, but never slack
or loose. The skin is tight and the coat is short but thick with a dense
undercoat in season; there is a profusion of longer guard hairs on the neck,
withers and back that may be erect when the dog is aroused. The color of the
Carolina Dog is distinctive, usually a deep red ginger with pale buff markings
on the shoulders and side of the muzzle, and paler shadings on underside, throat
and chest. Lighter shades of red and cream are not uncommon. Darker shading over
the back, loins and tail is permitted.
The following are the color variations from light to dark. Predominant Color
listed
White with spots
Tan, Beige, Desert Sand, Yellow
Orange, Ginger Red
Red Sable
The preferred color is deep red ginger with pale buff marking over the shoulders
and along the muzzle. Variations in color, grading from straw colored through
wheaten to pale yellow or buff are also acceptable, but never all white. The
Carolina Dog must look like a natural animal, capable of surviving in the wild,
hardy, strong and capable. They are not trimmed. |
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Temperament |
The Carolina Dog is a pariah dog. ("Pariah dog" is
a general name in India for the half-reclaimed dogs which swarm in every
village, owned by no one in particular, but ready to accompany any individual on
a hunting expedition.) The Carolina Dog is one of the very few
breeds existing today that is truly a primitive dog, a result of natural
selection for survival in nature, and not of selective breeding.
Wild specimens are still known, so this is not a completely domesticated canine.
This dog that has survived as a free living animal in the swamps, savannahs,
and forests of South Carolina and Georgia for thousands of years, has also
proven to be highly adaptable and amenable to domestication, and an excellent
pet. Many dogs are known to be extremely shy around people and
dislike a lot of handling unless socialized at a very young age. With proper
socialization, they are proven to be loyal companion dogs. Many of
the characteristics of the natural dog that are predominant in the Carolina Dog
contribute to his ability to adjust well to being a loving pet. The Carolina Dog
enjoys and needs to be part of a pack, and thus integrates very well into the
family framework. He is a gentle, social dog, and bonds very well with children,
enjoying play and activities with them. The Carolina Dog is very clean by nature
and is easy to housebreak. He is intelligent and responsive and learns easily
and is not destructive. Not aggressive by nature but with a well developed
hunting instinct, the Carolina Dog will get along with other animals if
introduced to them at a young age. Like the other types of pariah dog, the
Carolina Dog is quite independent. If you are to keep one of these dogs as a family pet, one needs to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates
under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success. He is suspicious and may be somewhat shy to strangers and in
unfamiliar surroundings or circumstances. This is not a dog that is outgoing and
friendly to everyone, but rather is devoted to his own “pack”. They
enjoy hunting small
game, a task they do with grace and quickness. The Carolina Dog could almost pass for a larger size
Dingo.
Like the Dingos and pariahs before them, they have
strong herding instincts. Carolina Dogs have a tendency to howl at certain
noises. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: 17-24
inches (45-61 cm.)
Weight: 30-44 pounds (15-20 kg.) |
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Health Problems |
- |
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Living Conditions |
The Carolina Dog is not recommended for apartment
life. They do best with plenty of space around them. They are still not fully domesticated. It can live outdoors provided it is
not too cold and they adapt well to hot sunny climates. |
Exercise |
The
Carolina Dog should be taken for a
daily, long walk. While on the walk it is very important that the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human while on a leash, as in the dog's mind, the leader leads the way. |
Life Expectancy |
About 12-14 years. |
Grooming |
The coat of the Carolina Dog is easy to groom and
practically takes care of itself. It will benefit from an occasional brushing.
Bathe only when necessary. |
Origin |
Carolina Dogs were
Indian Dogs and were the First Domesticated Dog of the Americas. The Carolina Dog comes out of the American Deep
South and is thought to be a direct descendant of the ancient pariah dogs that
accompanied Asians across the Bering Straits land bridge 8,000 years ago. A
number of such pariah types exist in the USA. The Carolina Dog was discovered
and named by Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr., a biology professor at the University of
Georgia, at the United States Department of Energy's Savannah River site in
South Carolina. This is a remote area from which the public has been excluded,
and wild dogs that have lived there for centuries have had little opportunity to
breed with domestic dogs. Brisbin noted that these dogs were almost identical in
looks to the Dingo. Other scientists observed that the
Carolina's bone structure was very similar to the remains of the neolithic dog
bones from Native American burial sites thousands of years old. Ecologists in
the South, including Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr., are searching for pure specimens
still in the wild swamps and piney woods of the Savannah River basin. Pups are
occasionally placed with selected families to be raised and trained as
companions and hunters of small game. Brisbin hopes that by researching the
Carolina Dog, today's dogs can be better understood. Many of these dogs were
favored by Indians and used for various tasks such as herding. The Kentucky
Shell Heap Dog and the Basketmaker Dog are examples of ancient pariahs on the
North American continent. Down South, the Carolina Dog is affectionately named
"Old Yaller" because of his yellow color. |
Group |
Southern |
| Recognition |
UKC, CKC, NKC, CDA, APRI, ACR, DRA |
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UKC = United Kennel Club
CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
ARBA =American Rare Breed
Association
CDA= Carolina Dog Association
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc. |
"Simon, the Carolina Dog desperately
needs a home ASAP. He is currently in a foster home and will have to be
euthanized if the right type of home does not come along soon. Simon is a
good dog, but has special needs as far as the type of home he needs to live
in. He's looking for that special owner before it's too late. If you think
you may be able to help save Simon's life please contact Paula Farrell under
the listing named Simon on the Carolina
Dog Rescue Page ASAP. His time is running out. "
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Photo Courtesy of
Carolina Dog Association
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Marlowe, the Carolina Dog puppy at 6
weeks old. "Note the dark coat and floppy puppy ears."
Marlowe, the Carolina Dog puppy at 3
months old. "Notice the process of the ears becoming upright. Marlowe's
right ear would stand up, then flop, then stand up again over the course of
a few months until it finally decided to stay put. Note his coat is much
lighter -- but at this point, his tail was still dark (the color change
worked its way down his body -- very cool.)"
Marlowe, the Carolina Dog full grown
at about 1˝ years old. "The ears are up permanently at this point, and
his coat is fully lightened."
Marlowe, the Carolina Dog full grown at about 1˝ years old.
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"Pictured is my 11-week old Carolina Dog puppy, Sophia. She flew from a farm in South Carolina to San Diego, then I picked her up and drove to Gilbert, Arizona (too hot to fly into Phoenix for pets), where she now lives."
Carolina Dog Pictures 1
Understanding Dog Behavior
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