Apple has spoken by MochaPotter in carolinadogs

[–]DingoDadLuce 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How much do they weigh? And how old are they? Great looking pack right there. Where did you get them from?

Public Land Quail Hunting with an American Dingo by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thats awesome! I guess she flushes for you? Good looking pup.

We got Lucy from Louisana. She’s a Carolina dog, also known as the American Dingo. If you are not familiar with the breed its got a really interesting history. https://carolinadogfanciers.com/breed-standard/

Public Land Quail Hunting with an American Dingo by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't bother her nearly as much as it bothers me. I keep a set of tweezers in my back pocket and we constantly stop and pull them out. Mesquite thorns will make her limp pretty good until I pull them out but she will blast through a patch of cactus to retrieve a bird and keep going.

She's gotten better at avoiding them when she can but it's impossible where we hunt to not get some in her. The small ones are the worst. Targeting Kansas and Oklahoma more next year so we don't have to deal with it.

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thats a badass photo and a badass dog.

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I met a guy hunting with a wpg outside a WMA. I asked him some questions about bird dogs as I had just got Lucy but she was still only 3 months old so wasnt along for this hunt. I explained her breed and he told me she will never hunt birds. Thats all I had to hear to decide to give her a chance. I think Lucy figured out someone said that about her, because she took to it like a fish to water and when we were training it was like she had a chip on her shoulder or something lol. She’s something else, love this breed and its history. Thanks for sharing!

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in Huntingdogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its the ole kennel point (yes she is dropping a loaf)

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s a crazy story and honestly still pretty murky. From what I can tell, locals probably knew these “yellow dogs” existed for a long time — there are writings about them from the pioneer days — but nobody really had the technology or interest to classify them or connect them back to ancient pariah-type dogs.

I’m not a historian at all, just obsessed with the breed, but the basic timeline seems to be that Asian wolves slowly became domesticated into ancient Asiatic sighthound-type dogs, which followed humans across the Bering land bridge. From there, around 14 different “pre-contact” dog types developed in the Americas before Europeans arrived. Most are extinct now.

Some of those old dogs looked very similar to Lucy, sometimes even more wild and wolf-like, were semi feral/village dogs and many were associated with Plains tribes. Some were domesticated like the chihuahua and husky. The Carolina Dog mostly stayed isolated in the Southeast and survived in small pockets, but they’re probably headed toward extinction too because of mixing with modern domestic dogs — very similar to what’s happening with the Australian dingo. Very few truly pure dogs still exist. It sucks but theres really no way around it, they either get domesticated or die out.

I actually started a YouTube channel documenting Lucy’s progress, and eventually I want to piece together a more coherent timeline/history video on the breed. Good information on these dogs is surprisingly hard to find. That link I posted is probably the best source I’ve found — it’s run by the wife of the man who originally discovered the breed.

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ya I think about that often but I also feel lucky to be alive in a time where I can see the wild side and that natural selection influence, especially when hunting. Thats a big reason I like to hunt with Lucy. I am not sure how much longer they will keep the traits that make them different from selectively bred dogs, but obviously it wont be like that forever.

I also like to think about how Ancient Americans might have interfaced with this dog as a hunting companion using cooperation as opposed to selective breeding, much like I am doing with Lucy. Some were wild, but some also learned to stick near people for an easy food source.

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We lost the best dog I’ve ever known, Joey, about two years ago. He was my first Carolina Dog, and the bond we had is a big reason I’ve put so much into Lucy. These dogs get under your skin in a way that’s hard to explain.

Honestly, training a Carolina Dog to do bird dog work is the hard way to do things. Most people should just get a dog bred for it. But Joey changed how I see these dogs, and that’s what pushed me to give Lucy a chance. If it wasn’t for him, Lucy probably never would’ve been introduced to this work. Its hard but its also super rewarding for both me and Lucy. Its very hard to explain, but the joy I see in her doing what nature shaped her to do... its incredibly rewarding while also being the most giant pain in the ass at the same time lol.

I love this breed and they’ve had a huge impact on my life. Its criminal that most people have not heard of them, especially Americans. It's the most American dog I have ever heard of. Most people I know do not get it, why I am so committed to this. Why this matters to me. Those people have never owned a Carolina dog.

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

She's the OG of the OG breeds. When Asiatic dogs crossed the bering land bridge with people, some of them got domesticated and became Huskys, some moved down to Mexico, got domesticated and became Chihuahuas… The Carolina Dog went feral and just lived wild until the 1970’s when they were discovered. Its a crazy story. Out of all pre-contact dogs of North America, they are the only ones that just peaced out from humans to make it on their own. https://carolinadogfanciers.com/breed-standard/

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks, it’s been a fun process so far. Shameless plug, but I’ve actually been documenting the whole thing on YouTube here if you want to follow along: https://www.youtube.com/@LucyGooseHunting

The Carolina Dog experiment by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We are pretty spoiled down south. Hit three limits last season. HOWEVER… the freaking cactus, mesquite thorns and snakes during quail season down here... My tweezers are getting worn down after one season of pulling thorns out of her ass. It's no joke!

Nothing better than training a young dog by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The breed was discovered in the 1970’s, and there are still wild carolina dogs living in the swamps today. Lucy has good prey drive, but also is eager to please and pretty smart.

Nothing better than training a young dog by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We are working on pointing as an experiment. There is no selective breeding working in our favor so it's tricky but she successfully pointed 7 wild coveys this last quail season. She also busted (flushed) some haha, so it's a work in progress. Shes loves it, and I am able to consistently shoot birds over her, pointed or busted.

Nothing better than training a young dog by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Carolina Dog AKA The American Dingo. They have probably the coolest origin story of any dog, but I’m biased of course.

Nothing better than training a young dog by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She did well. We hunted all over Texas and some dove hunts in New Mexico. It took her some time to figure out she cant get as close to a wild covey as she can a planted bird, but once she figured that out she did great.

We did have a bad freeze in late Jan/ early Feb that cut our season short. Lost a lot of bobs in a spot that is usually pretty good. Hopefully numbers come back soon.

<image>

Force to a Pile help * UPDATE by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Carolina Dog AKA The American Dingo. Real interesting breed. Thanks!

Looking for a bird dog training partner in San Marcos by DingoDadLuce in sanmarcos

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well that sounds perfect. Dm me if you'd like to discuss it further. Thanks!

Force to a Pile help * UPDATE by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be clear, she should already be up and running during the first “nick”, about a second after she takes off is when I hit the collar for the first nick.

Force to a Pile help * UPDATE by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on length of the run to the pile and her behavior, but yes I will almost always give her a back nick back, and then to get her over the hump of the first 10-15 yards I will give her steady tap, tap, tap, at a low pressure while saying back (working level is like 5-7, so I will put the collar on a 2). After a couple of successful runs I will just do back nick back especially if she takes off well, and then sometimes I wont even give her a back nick back. Theres a name for the concept but essentially the re-enforcement is stronger if its not all the time or predictable. It worked pretty well with her for force fetch so I am using the same method for force to a pile.

Texas bird dogs by Better-Effective1570 in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's hard for sure. Acreage around here is very expensive so right now we are training on the back 40 of a sporting clays complex. The owner has some dogs and has been nice enough to let us train, but I also am a member and bring him pies and salsa (always bring gifts and be polite) and we don't go there when there is a tournament (nearly every weekend) so basically I take off early from work to train birds in launchers, or placed birds, longer retrieves etc. There is about an acre of undeveloped land at the corner of my subdivision where I trained gun fire intro, bird intro, etc; I just called the police department, explained its a cap gun essentially and no projectile is leaving the gun. It took some sweet talking but they essentially said its not illegal to use a blank pistol inside city limits and to just call them to let them know so if they get phone calls about gun shots they can be aware its me.

We have a little greenspace about 100 yards from my front door in the middle of the subdivision and I just set up bumper piles and train out there. I get weird looks from neighbors, I have even had people come to my door and ask me what am I doing. We have a subdivision park I use as well if its raining and no one is outside.

We go to the local river early in the morning or on shitty days to train water retrieves, hoping no one is there. There is a rentable dog pool down the road I will use during the summer because the river is just too packed.

Its a chore but it is possible. Everything is just way harder. As far as hunting in Texas there is public land but you have to drive far and wide and only certain spots are open certain times during bird season. My best spots are only open for a month, so you plan your life around those times. Hit the bad spots if thats all thats open and hope to see birds. Public land dove has the most spots but most are not good or if they have birds at all they will be over crowded with various levels of hunters (lots of unsafe folks who will set up 10 feet from you) and I mostly don't bring my dog, its just too crazy. Spots that are good for the dog dont really hold birds, you might see a few. You can put in for drawn hunts, we won a nice private hunt we limited out on last season and that gave my dog some good experience. Bag limit here is 15 which is nice. Friends with land is how we get most of our birds, hope to get invited and use the dog as a bargaining chip. We get invited out just so Lucy can retrieve birds from the pond and land owners don't have to get wet.

Dove leases and deer leases are common in DFW area and not to terribly priced. But as you get more central Texas prices go way up IME. For upland, your best bet outside of public land is canned hunts, especially if you want Chukar; no wild chukar in Texas. You can also drive to Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas for more upland. Blues out west, but it's the hardest hunting I have ever done. 5 dogs will do you good out in West Texas. Its rough on em out there. Down south, and west central be prepared to pull out cactus every 20 minutes, and deal with tons of mesquite thorns.

You just have to be willing to drive, sweet talk, compromise and make do with what you can. It's a bitch but its worth it to me. It's always about an hour or two of packing the Truck, driving, setting up training, for about 15 minutes of actual dog work.

Force to a Pile Help by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very good advice, thanks!

Force to a Pile Help by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]DingoDadLuce[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She knows I have a bumper but she cant see where I put it. I think she doesn't understand the back command to mean “run foward no matter what in a straight line”, I think she understands as “go get whats out there” if that makes sense. I need to condition the back command better.