Carolina Dog Care

The Carolina Dog--also referred to as the American Dingo--is a medium-sized pariah-type breed that's most commonly found in the southern U.S. These dogs are believed to have descended directly from Australian Dingoes and various wolf breeds, and have only been domesticated since the early twentieth century. As such, Carolina Dog care and maintenance differs from other "pet" dog breeds, and includes a lot of exercise, training, and socialization. These dogs are best suited for active families that have access to plenty of secure outdoor space

Below you'll find details on caring for a Carolina Dog including info on puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. For answers to your questions about this semi-feral breed, read on!

Since Carolina Dogs are semi-feral animals thought to be direct descendants of Dingoes and wolves, their exercise requirements are pretty high. These dogs are independent animals with a strong "pack" mentality, so their ideal activities will allow them to run free in a large, rural (yet enclosed) outdoor space--preferably with other dogs. They also make good jogging and bicycling companions.

The typical adult Carolina Dog, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need at least 90 minutes of outdoor exercise per day, which you can accomplish with a couple of long walks (or jogs/bike rides) and an extended period of play. You can start exercising your Carolina puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (10- to 15-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to consider when exercising your Carolina Dog: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, and navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And all Carolina Dogs, regardless of age, will definitely need to be leashed when in public. These dogs have high wandering tendencies, so they'll easily run off if given the chance; they also have very strong prey drives, so they'll instinctively chase small animals--birds, squirrels, cats, even small dogs--if allowed. A leash will help control your Carolina Dog in these situations. Even when exercising in your own yard (which is hopefully very large!), the area will need to be securely fenced. Even after about 100 years of domestication, Carolina Dogs still have "wild-animal" instincts, so they'll quickly escape so they can roam free unless closely supervised.

Precautions aside, exercising a Carolina Dog every single day is an absolute must. If bored or restless, these dogs will become frustrated, destructive, disobedient, and are likely to escape so they can be free--so consistent exercise is great for both the dog and its owners. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 45-minute walks (or 30-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Outdoor Roaming: Carolinas love to run/explore in large outdoor spaces, preferably with other dogs
• Tug-of-War: Good indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Hiking: Puts a Carolina Dog in its natural element; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash
• Dog Park: If properly socialized from puppyhood, a Carolina will enjoy the company of other dogs; a leash is recommended

If you must keep your Carolina Dog indoors for extended periods, it'a a good idea to give the dog access to one or more balls or toys that will allow it to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you have a consistent exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks/jogs/bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate care. Carolina Dog shedding is fair for most of the year, and heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling isn't much of an issue.

Carolina Dogs have short-haired, thick, double-layered coats that shed moderately year-round--but when they "blow" their coats in the spring and fall, the shedding is heavier. For owners living in colder regions, their Carolinas will develop even thicker winter coats--which means the spring shed will be quite heavy.) Weekly brushing (and daily during shedding season) will minimize the shedding some, but owners will still need to vacuum the floors and use lint rollers on clothes and furniture from time to time to pick up stray hairs.

And Carolina Dog rarely drools--perhaps a bit in anticipation of food or after drinking water, but very little otherwise. If your Carolina Dog is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is necessary.