10 Things You Didn’t Know about Potcake Dogs

The potcake dog is a particular kind of mixed-breed dog that can be found on a number of the islands situated in the Caribbean Sea. As such, they can exhibit a wide range of characteristics, though there are still strong commonalities among them because of their shared origin.

In modern times, more and more potcake dogs are been seen in regions outside of the Caribbean Sea, which can be attributed in part to rescue efforts meant to relieve an over-population problem. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about potcake dogs:

1. Mixed-Breed Dogs

There are a lot of people out there who have a less than positive opinion of mixed-breed dogs. For proof, look no further than the less than positive connotations of labels such as “mutt” and “mongrel.”

However, bringing home a mixed-breed dog can have both upsides and downsides, meaning that interested individuals need to make their own evaluations based on their own priorities.

2. Small Gene Pool

With that said, there is a common look for potcake dogs, though it is important to note that this is not a universal look. In part, this is because the potcake dog has a small gene pool, which can be attributed to the fact that their island homes have isolated them to some extent.

3. Unclear Gene Pool

Speaking of which, it is interesting to note that potcake dogs have a pretty unclear gene pool as well. For example, it is possible that potcake dogs are descended in part from the dogs of the Arawaks, but it is also possible that this isn’t true because the dogs of the Arawaks died off before inter-breeding could happen to a significant extent.

Other potential candidates in the potcake dog’s gene pool include but are not limited to terriers, Carolina dogs, and much more recent imports.

4. Named for Their Traditional Food Source

The potcake dog is named for their traditional food source, which is a leftover mixture of congealed rice and peas. Feeding dogs something besides meat was a common practice in a wide range of cultures situated in a wide range of places, which was made possible by the fact that dogs are omnivores rather than obligate carnivores.

5. Can Eat a Wide Range of Foods

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of potcake dogs are known for having tough stomachs, so much so that they can eat foods that would pose a serious problem for other dog breeds with no issues whatsoever.

With that said, potcake dog owners still need to be careful when feeding their dogs because there is a limit to even their stomachs.

6. Overpopulation Problem

On some of the islands situated in the Caribbean Sea, there is an over-population of potcake dogs. This is a serious problem because a significant number of them are reliant on tourism to a significant extent, meaning that the over-population problem is a potential threat to their economies.

7. Ongoing Efforts to Combat Overpopulation Problem

As a result, there is a wide range of efforts to combat the over-population problem. For example, there is an effort to bring potcake dogs to other regions where there are people who might be interested in them.

Likewise, there is an effort to encourage potcake dog owners to spay and neuter them, though this is being hindered by the usual problems for such programs.

8. Recognized in Some Places

So far, the potcake dog has been recognized as a distinct dog breed in some places such as the Bahamas. As they continue to spread to other regions, it is possible that the kennel clubs in those places will follow suit at some point in the future.

9. Smart Dogs

Generally speaking, potcake dogs are supposed to be smart dogs that respond well to training. On top of this, they are supposed to be friendly dogs that are not shy when around humans, which is further helped by their calm temperaments.

10. There Are Exceptions to This Rule

With that said, there are exceptions to this rule, meaning that there are potcake dogs that show higher than normal levels of fearfulness and aggressiveness. Moreover, it should be mentioned that even “normal” potcake dogs have unfortunate tendencies of wandering if they are not properly penned in, meaning that good supervision is critical.

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