Carolina Dog

The Carolina dog is a breed from the U.S. that exists both with man and in the wild. These dogs are generally among the pariah dogs (this classification is not uncontroversial) and show some rather unique characteristics. The Carolina dog is recognized as a breed by the United Kennel Club (UKC); the Carolina dog is not recognized by the FCI.

These dogs were first discovered and named in the late 1970s by Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., a zoologist at the University of Georgia, while he worked on the banks of the Savannah River. Brisbin attracted the attention of a stray white dog with brown markings that wandered on the banks of the river. At first, Brisbin thought the dog was simply one of the many strays in the area, but when he discovered more and more of these dogs in traps and in the forest, he began to wonder how many of these dogs might exist in the wild. Later, Brisbin saw another one of these dogs in an animal shelter; he adopted this one and many other Carolina dogs in the years to come.

Origin and History

The origin of these dogs is still not known. One theory is that they came with immigrants across the Bering land bridge 8,000 years ago. This could make them one of the first dogs on American soil.

Pictures by European artists and cave pictures of Native Americans show dogs that are externally similar to the Carolina dog. Fossils of ancient dogs in North America also show similarities with the bones of the Carolina dog. Whether these dogs are really related to these ancient dogs is still being determined by DNA investigation.

Brisbin himself found similarities between the skull of a 2,000-year-old dog and those of Carolina dogs, but believed that the differences were too great to conclude a clear affinity. Maybe these dogs were once more widespread, and retired to the wild after the expulsion of indigenous peoples from their present habitat.

Another theory suggests that there may be an isolated population of European or otherwise stout dogs, which would then have developed only in recent centuries. This thesis is supported by the fact that feral dogs survived in other parts of the world and have developed similar behavior and appearance.

Most of these dogs were captured for studies in the 1980s.

Description

The colors of the Carolina dog are quite varied, from solid color (usually deep red-brown, with lighter portions around the mouth and at the bottom) to multi-colored, and in different color structures. The most common colors are red-brown (light as well as dark), white with spots, brown, beige, sand-colored, yellow and orange.

The conformation is typical to that of pariah dogs: long legs, slim, square building, straight back, adjacent skin at the throat, and slightly sloping croup. There is a resemblance to the dingo, which often catches the eye, but also to the Canaan dog and the Korean Jindo dog.

Behavior

The Carolina Dog is considered to be adaptable and, despite its wild home, a lovable pet if one respects his independent personality. Anyone wishing to have a Carolina dog should also have a good understanding of this breed. He is regarded as very intelligent, happy, inquisitive and easy to motivate. Because of his background, he is very shy if he lacks socialization; with good upbringing, he is very friendly, but reserved towards all strangers.

To their owners, these dogs have a close relationship within the family and are cuddly, sensitive and very affectionate. Many of these dogs are very observant of the facial expressions and gestures of their human pack members, and can understand the pitch of the voices. In this way they deal with sick and needy people differently than the healthy.

The bitch can be in heat up to three times a year; in the wild it embeds itself once or twice a year in seasonally reproductive cycles, which leads to a significant number of puppies. According to Brisbin, this is done to ensure rapid propagation, before diseases such as Strike heartworm become an infestation. Some pregnant dogs dig holes, and then bring their pups to the world. After birth or during gestation, the female pushes faeces with its nose in the sand.

In the fall, Carolina dogs also dig “snouts-holes”, hundreds of small holes that exactly fit their snouts. These holes are arranged in specific patterns. Females exhibit this behavior more often than males, and the reasons for this behavior are unknown.

The pack dynamic was also new to the researchers, as puppies are supplied together. They hunt in a very effective pack formation. When hunting snakes, they use a whip motion, breaking the snakes in the air. They are also very flexible in their movements and are good climbers.

Environment

Those Carolina dogs that are in the wild live in isolated pine and cypress swamps in the southeastern United States, in very sparsely populated areas.

Nursing and Health

Because of its wild past, domesticated Carolina dogs do not have breed-specific types of diseases. On average, they live to be 14 to 15 years old. The short fur is practically taken care of by the dog itself; brushing is recommended, but is not necessary. These dogs should be bathed only when really necessary.

Recognition as a breed

The Carolina dog is not recognized by the FCI as a breed, but it is recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) and the United Kennel Club (in 1995). The ARBA places these dogs in the group of archaic dogs. The UKC has classified them as pariah: Group 3 Sighthound and Pariah Dog (Sighthounds and Pariah dogs). This group includes, for example, the Basenji and the Thai ridgeback.

In their breeding, care should be taken to ensure that these dogs are physically capable of surviving in the wilderness. Shaving and cropping of ears and tail are prohibited.

Persistence

As a breed, the survival of these dogs seems more assured for those in the hands of man than those in the wild populations. This is because, from the perspective of some breeders, the small gene pool of these dogs keeps them protected from too much inbreeding. Due to increasing population distribution, mixing with other dogs, and the immigration of coyotes, the survival of the wild population is seriously threatened. It is believed that coyotes not only compete with these dogs, but eat with or mingle with them.

It is assumed that the habitat of these dogs has made them what they are. The main threat to the genetic purity of these dogs is the mixing with other domestic dogs. Because of this situation, there are some individuals who have taken on the tasks to breed these dogs and raise awareness of them. In the southern United States, they are superior and appreciable guard