Okay. I know this is a controversial topic but I have been going back and forth with this idea of people suggesting to me that Bella might have a little "something something" in her. Most recently is my trainer. She said that she had two dogs in the past that were very high wolf content and that she believes Bella might have some wolf or possibly coyote in her! Um REALLY?
I got her as a pup from SPCA who rescued her from a Reserve in Northern British Columbia. Given the location and the environment with lots of feral dogs running around it is possible but I don't know how to look at a dog and determine these things.
I will attach some pictures. As far as her temp. personality she is a little different. She has always had very strong eye contact, even at 8 weeks old she would stare me down. Very alert at all times (sleeps with one eye open). Very quiet in the house, only barks during play occasionally or if she sees something in the backyard. She loves people and whenever she greets someone she always tries to kiss them. Very sweet and loving but not really the cuddly type. She is submissive yet very playful.
Also something that comes to mind is her ears. They are very mobile. Straight up when alert. Out to the sides like and airplane when she's relaxed. Flat against her head when submissive. Moving all around and cockeyed when she hears something or is nervous. I know all dogs do this to some extent but I've never seen it like this...
Anyways sorry this was so long and thanks for checking this out. I won't say what I think because I really don't know what to think!:redface:
I don't think she has any wolf or coyote in her (in recent generations anyway). But the res dogs, kind of half-wild, can be similar to a wild dog in looks and temperment. So probably the closest thing would be Carolina Dog, although there's usually more sled breeds in the northern areas.
She reminds me of my friend's Carolina Dog a lot. Especially the ears. (Which are so adorable! I love huge ears like that.)
Her behavior/personality sounds like his dog, too. I thought he was exaggerating a bit, because he went from cats straight to shelter Carolina Dog, but maybe not.
Thanks everyone for your opinions so far. She does look and act a lot like a Carolina Dog so I was kind of going towards that too. She could just be the result of years a and years of cross breeding that creates a wild dog/dingo appearance, right? However the trainer in our puppy class keeps hinting she thinks there might be some wolf or coyote in there.
Only thing that would make me think Coyote in her outward appearance is the black tipped tail she has. It's unusual for a dog of that color pattern. However, if Coyote IS the case, it's probably been diluted and is back a few generations. She's really cute!
Yes, the black tip kind of feels out of place on her. When she was just a baby her muzzle was blackish too but it has since receded away there is just a bit under her nose and chin. Actually the shelter had listed her as German Shepherd because apparently some of her litter mates had Shepherd markings. Does anybody see Shepherd in her? Maybe it's kind of silly to try and guess what she is, but what I'll take from this so far is none of you think she's a true hybrid.
Yes, the black tip kind of feels out of place on her. When she was just a baby her muzzle was blackish too but it has since receded away there is just a bit under her nose and chin. Actually the shelter had listed her as German Shepherd because apparently some of her litter mates had Shepherd markings. Does anybody see Shepherd in her? Maybe it's kind of silly to try and guess what she is, but what I'll take from this so far is none of you think she's a true hybrid.
I live in the Carolinas, and I dont know what the genetic background is but a good number of my previous foster puppies (and TONS in the rescues) have the same coloring/ pattern.... that orangey tan color with dark rimmed eyes and usually a darker muzzle that tends to fade. The shelters usually say shepherd mix but that coloration is VERY VERY common, at least with the mutts where I live. I'll try to find some pictures of my past foster dogs with it.
EDIT: just realized that most of my old fosters are on film and not digital... here's a few examples from some shelters all within 10-20 miles of my area. the coloring (though not the up ears) is common here.
Yeah Rescued I see what you mean about the similar coloring, black markings around the mouth, very interesting. Thank you for sharing. It must have to do with all of the cross breeding because I am all the way in British Columbia Canada.
Isn't it possible for pups in the same litter to have different fathers? If it is, then maybe she and her litter mates don't share the same genetics. Or maybe she just displays a different expression of the same genes. I'm a complete throwback to my grandmother, short dark eyed and dark haired while my parents and siblings are tall and have light eyes and hair. Genetics can be weird.
Janess,
It's possible, but not likely that your dog is part Carolina Dog. I'm not an expert on dogs, but I know a lot about that breed. You dog may look similar for a very good reason though. In researching the Carolina Dog it's been found that the basic doggie DNA is very similar in all pariah dogs (Carolina Dog, dingo, jindo, New Guinnea singing dog and others) All modern breeds are time altered versions of these primitive dogs. As a result, if you mutt breed long enough, the DNA choices that determine characteristics like coat color, build, tail aspect, etc. start to default. So if you mutt breed long enough you do end up with a medium sized, ginger color dog with big, straight ears and a slightly curles tail. This may or may not be the case with your dog. But it hardly matters. A good dog is a good dog. And a dog with all the doggie base line characteristics is just a great dog. One way to tell if your dog may be part Carolina is to examine the coat. Is there a single coat? Or is there a very fine downy underlayer as well as a main coat? There are other Carolina specific traits too. You can read all about the breed all over the web.
Yep. She's a cutie. The OP noted some pronounced independant ear control. This is a genus trait of the primitive dogs too. Just cute as you could imagine. My wife and I joke that we should have named our dog Radar (his name is Benny. Given by his rescue agency). But we thought it best not to confuse his name too many times in his life. The OP's dog has the Carolina colorings. But the coat, the tail and the eyes look wrong. That's why I think she may be a regression rather than a trait specific primitive dog. And as I said, it hardly matters. She isn't a coyote. Not that coyotes are bad pets from what I've read. But I've never had one. Maybe a tiny hybrid chip (black tip on the tail). Carolina Dog's are VERY attached to their owners. Smart and interactive, the tail is used for communication with other Carolina dogs. The eye's are almond shaped. Like Dingo's. The coat is as I described above. They seem to have an instinct for getting along with humans. This would be consistent with the pariah dog ancestry. They're smart enough to "study" us on their own terms!!! A very different experience from owning most other breeds. The OP's description seems to fit a lot of these traits. And good for them. It's a great experience to own a dog like this. But... As I said before. There are a few ways to get to a medium sized, ginger colored dog with straight ears (and the other primitive pariah traits) There are a few appearent differences between the OP's dog and Carolina dogs. And it also seems regionally unlikely that she is a Carolina dog. But it's a big world and anything can happen.
The temperament traits are very against her being Wolf or Coyote mix. Both Wolf and Coyote mixes tend to be very wary and sometimes fearful of strangers and new people. The strong eye contact is also a VERY doggy trait, wild mixes are normally programmed to avoid strong eye contact.
Yep. She's a cutie. The OP noted some pronounced independant ear control. This is a genus trait of the primitive dogs too. Just cute as you could imagine. My wife and I joke that we should have named our dog Radar (his name is Benny. Given by his rescue agency). But we thought it best not to confuse his name too many times in his life. The OP's dog has the Carolina colorings. But the coat, the tail and the eyes look wrong. That's why I think she may be a regression rather than a trait specific primitive dog. And as I said, it hardly matters. She isn't a coyote. Not that coyotes are bad pets from what I've read. But I've never had one. Maybe a tiny hybrid chip (black tip on the tail). Carolina Dog's are VERY attached to their owners. Smart and interactive, the tail is used for communication with other Carolina dogs. The eye's are almond shaped. Like Dingo's. The coat is as I described above. They seem to have an instinct for getting along with humans. This would be consistent with the pariah dog ancestry. They're smart enough to "study" us on their own terms!!! A very different experience from owning most other breeds. The OP's description seems to fit a lot of these traits. And good for them. It's a great experience to own a dog like this. But... As I said before. There are a few ways to get to a medium sized, ginger colored dog with straight ears (and the other primitive pariah traits) There are a few appearent differences between the OP's dog and Carolina dogs. And it also seems regionally unlikely that she is a Carolina dog. But it's a big world and anything can happen.
Thanks for your input Chuck, very interesting! Do you have a Carolina dog? I also highly doubt that Bella is a Carolina dog. She was born in a very remote part of Northern British Columbia. The whole litter of puppies was found in a dumpster on a Native Reservation. So the probability of her being a Carolina dog is about the same as her being a Dingo I just find it fascinating though how many traits she does share with the Carolina dog. Also the idea of these types of dogs that show up all over the world is very cool. We love her so much she is a great dog, and we are so lucky to have her.
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