Instructions
Start by guessing the dog’s size and weight. A Carolina dog will be anywhere between 17 and 24 inches in height from the shoulder. They can weigh anywhere between 40 and 60 lbs., depending on their age, gender and whether or not they are strays or pets. A stray will be considerably thinner for obvious reasons.
Take note of any prominent features. The Carolina dog has a medium-length, straight back, well-developed chest and raised belly. The hooked tail is distinctive to the breed. It’s carried at different angles depending on the dog’s mood, but is never slack. The skin should be tight and the coat will be short and thick with a very dense undercoat. Because of their uncontrolled breeding, they can be practically any color that a dog may be, so color is not indicative of the breed.
Look at the dog’s head and face. The neck should be long and thick, connecting to a wedge-shaped skull. The muscles of the jaw bulge from the sides of the mouth, making the head seem thicker than it really is. The dog should have exceptionally long and pointed ears that stand high on the top of the head. They should be very mobile and will indicate the dog’s mood by how high up the sides of the skull they are raised. The eyes should be dark and almond-shaped. This combined with a tongue that perpetually lolls from the side of its mouth gives it a very friendly and open expression. If the dog matches this description, then you’re looking at a Carolina dog.
How to Identify a Carolina Dog
The Carolina dog is named for the state in which the first specimens of the breed were discovered. It is considered a “pariah” breed in that it is only semi-domesticated, belonging to no one in particular but happy to accompany anyone they come across. Wild packs of this breed still exist in uninhabited parts of the deep South. Given that most Carolina dogs have had no directed or controlled breeding with other species, scientists believed that they serve as a direct link to their ancestors, which likely accompanied Asians across the Bering Straits land bridge over 8,000 years ago. Several records exist to support this theory in that this breed was kept by Native Americans to aid in hunting and guarding their homes. There are several breeders throughout the country that have successfully obtained breeding pairs of the Carolina dog and have found that it makes for an acceptable pet. Given the species’ rarity, it’s unlikely that someone would recognize such a dog should they see it. For that reason, here is a guide on how to identify a Carolina dog.