Carolina Dog

An energetic natural fellow like the American Dingo should ideally reside in a house with a garden to frolic into its heart’s content.

However, the garden must be securely fenced as the Carolina Dog is an excellent climber and has a strong hunting instinct.

The owners should not be overly concerned with having a pristine lawn and tidy flowerbeds, as this dog loves to dig.

Meaningful Tasks for the Carolina Dog

Ordinary walks do not suffice for this intelligent, trainable pooch. It takes pleasure in all kinds of dog sports, such as agility or flyball. At least once a day, the swift, agile Yellow Dog needs a thorough tiring-out.

Because the sensitive, loyal Carolina Dog closely attaches to its pack leader and is sensitive to their expressions and gestures, it can also be suitable as a working dog, like a rescue dog.

Challenging search and games of fetch also bring great delight to this astute four-legged friend.

The American Dingo’s short, dense coat requires little care. Running a grooming glove over the fur about once a week should suffice.

However, during the moulting season, owners may need to brush more often.

Good to know: The moulting can be more intense in this breed than in others.

Choosing Natural Food

An active dog like the Carolina Dog needs high-quality, nutrient-rich food. The feeding method BARF, consisting of fresh ingredients like raw meat, eggs, and vegetables, is well-suited for this primitive dog breed.

This biologically appropriate raw feeding method is closest to the diet of wild dogs.

The breed originated not from intentional breeding but from natural selection. Among the wild American Dingos, only the healthiest and strongest survived.

Therefore, typical hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, eye problems, and genetically induced deafness are scarce in this breed.

However, allergic reactions to certain medications have occasionally been observed in Carolina Dogs.

How Long Does the Carolina Dog Live?

It appears that modern dog breeds have hardly influenced the Carolina Dog’s genetic makeup. 

Instead, the wild dogs seem to have consistently interbred with coyotes and wolves over time.

The result is an exceptionally robust, long-lived breed that can live up to 15 years. 

The Carolina Dog likely descended from East Asian dogs that crossed the Beringia land bridge from Asia to Alaska over 8,000 years ago.

These animals probably accompanied the first humans to settle on the North American continent. 

Thereafter, the dogs lived for thousands of years alongside Native Americans.

Wild Carolina Dogs Rediscovered in the 70s

Hence, the alternate names “North American Native Dog” and “Indian’s Dog”. Cave paintings and bone discoveries in burial sites testify to the cohabitation of humans and dogs at that time.

As European settlers increasingly displaced various Native American tribes, their dogs retreated to a remote area along the Savannah River in the state of South Carolina.

There, the animals lived hidden in packs until being discovered in the late 70s by the zoologist Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin Jr.

Wild Specimens of the Breed Still Live in the USA Today

A biology professor from the University of Georgia researched these yellowish, wild dogs and founded the “Carolina Dog Club of America”. Since 2017, the breed has been officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Wild specimens still live today in the pine forests and swamps between Georgia and South Carolina.