Carolina Dog vs Canadian Pointer - Breed Comparison

The Carolina dog comes from wild dogs that used to run with the Paleo-Indians of North America, and today they can still be found in their wild state near the Georgia-South Carolina border.

Many scientists believe that the dog was first domesticated from the wolf thousands and thousands of years ago. Today there aren’t many records on the Carolina Dog’s history and it isn’t sure how long they lived their feral lifestyle in the American South, but it seems as though it was for hundreds of years.

You could say that the modern history of the Carolina Dog started in the 1980s. Dr. Pam Brisbin found a puppy at a dump site which looked like the Australian Dingo. Dr Brisbin and other scientists concluded that the Carolina Dog was a remnant of primitive dogs. Since those times the Carolina Dog has adapted well to being a domesticated pet.

There are some dog breeds whose history and origins are dubious. The existence of the Canadian Pointer is also a matter of debate, and research reveals very scanty information.

The dog seems to have been a gundog which originated in the United States. Another name for the dog is Adirondak Pointing Dog. The Canadian Pointer was developed from English Pointers, Labrador Retrievers and Portuguese Pointers during the 19th century. He was used for hunting and retrieving prey such as birds and rabbits.

The Carolina dog is part of the Sighthounds Group and looks a bit like a Dingo, German Shepherd and Wolf mix. He has fairly long, pointed erect ears, a sharp wolf-like snout and a long tail that curves when raised.

The Carolina dog has been re-discovered however and when trained and socialized, they make splendid pets. It’s a medium sized dog standing at 45–61cm and weighing from 15–20kg. He is slender, muscular and athletic with a coat that is short and fairly smooth. Colors for the Carolina dog vary and he can be fawn colored, a gingerish color, black and tan and can have some white areas on the paws, chest, muzzle and tail.

Temperament:

The Carolina Dog has been a wild dog, belonging to a pack and while he isn’t aggressive, he is nervous and aloof around strangers. Good training and socialization provides him with the skills to get along well with his human family as well as with children and other pets in the home.

Because this dog has always been wild, they tend to maintain some of their wild, independent nature and they can be difficult to train and it requires firmness and patience with him, but he is an intelligent breed.

Temperament:

The Canadian Pointer makes for an excellent family pet. He is intelligent, excitable, loving and devoted, forming a strong bond with his human family. Active and excitable, it is this very energetic characteristic which will require him needing training and socialization. He is inclined to want to jump up against his family at the sheer joy of seeing them.

Although he loves country life, his love of human companionship allows him to adapt to city life and he is non-aggressive and can be a placid pet with children and other pets in the home.

Looks:

The Canadian Pointer is a medium- to large sized breed of gundog. He has a lean, well muscled body with a short, coarse coat. The coat can be dark brown and white, black and white or a fawn color and white. The coat can also be freckled in parts.

He is a gundog belonging to the HPR group. HPR stands for hunting, pointing and retrieving. Weighing roughly 22–27kg, he stands about 56 – 76cm in height. Sometimes the tail is docked but otherwise it is left so that it’s medium length and is held straight out and level with the body. The ears of the Canadian Pointer are fairly short and floppy.

The Carolina Dog is a medium-sized dog which has managed to survive well in the wild environment. It is this life in the wilds which has made the dog to be shy and aloof around strangers.

They are skilled and intelligent and when domesticated they make extraordinary pets even though he isn’t an overly affectionate dog. It is why he requires early socialization so that he doesn’t grow up shunning humans.

With training however, the Carolina Dog becomes a well-adjusted, loving and social member of the family.

The Canadian Pointer is a dog who thrives on hard work and they are strong-willed, confident and boisterous but never aggressive. They’re intelligent and alert and respond well to training and socialization. Once trained he works hard to please his owner.

The Canadian Pointer is independent and can be aloof around strangers, but he just loves his human family and makes every effort to please them and be around them whenever he can. Treat him properly and he will give you endless hours of enjoyment and companionship.

The Carolina Dog is a fairly healthy breed. You won’t have to be rushing off to the vet often with him if you look after him well in terms of a good diet, a food amount of exercise and plenty of love and attention. In fact breeders of the Carolina Dog have noted that they haven’t seen any cases of genetically inheritable diseases with this robust dog.

However with all dogs, no matter how healthy they are, there can be problems. Problems common to domestic dogs can include skeletal and visual problems. Many dog owners have their pets tested to identify some of the potential health defects that some dogs are prone to. This can include hip dysplasia, cataracts, cancer and PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Pointer dogs are looked upon as a healthy breed, but having said that, they aren’t immune to illness, and there are some common dog diseases that you should be aware of -

Hip Dysplasia:

This disease is caused by a malformation of the hip joint. This ailment can result in pain and discomfort for your pet as well as arthritis and even lameness. Unfortunately there is no cure but the vet can do a lot to make life more comfortable for your pet.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

This is a genetic eye disease where your pet gradually loses vision. The retina deteriorates and stops functioning.

Grooming:

The Carolina Dog is a seasonal shedder and the shortish coat will simply require a thorough brushing twice a week to keep him in tip top condition.

This dog, with his upright ears, isn’t prone to ear infections as other breeds, but nonetheless as part of his grooming routine, its a good idea to to check his ears inside for wax build-up and dirt. Certainly his teeth should be brushed 2 or 3 times a week with special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. This keeps the gums and teeth healthy and also avoids other diseases that come about because of dental disease.

Diet:

Whether you feed your Carolina Dog once or twice a day, you want to ensure the very best quality diet to avoid skin problems and illness. You also have to ensure your dog has 24/7 access to fresh, cool drinking water to help him with digesting his food.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market which have been manufactured for certain stages of your dogs life. Add in some rice, vegetables and meat from time to time and every now and again you can give him some raw meat too.

Training and Exercise:

The Canadian Pointer was specifically developed to be a hunter so he is an energetic dog. When it comes to caring for him, training and socialization can make him an even more amicable pet. He is muscled and lithe and you want to keep him that way by ensuring he is well exercised.

Take him on walks, into the park with ball and frisbee or let him run while you cycle. Don’t leave him without exercise as he can become frustrated and ill.

Grooming:

The Canadian Pointer is a low maintenance breed with his short coat. You’ll need to give his coat a good brushing twice a week to rid him of loose hairs to keep the hair shiny and healthy.

Check for Ear Infections:

Dogs like the Canadian Pointer with floppy ears will need to have their ears checked for infections to avoid hearing loss. You’ll see your dog shake his head, the inside of his ears may be red and he could have a moist discharge.

Remember that yeast and bacteria are problems with floppy-eared dog breeds and you’ll need to ensure that the ears are cleaned and kept dry. Be careful if you don’t know how to do it, and get advice from your veterinarian on how to attend to the ears of your dog.