Rez dog explained

Rez dog
Othername:	Rez
Species:	Dog

Rez dog (short for reservation dog) is usually a term for outdoor, stray, and feral dogs living on Native reservations in the United States and Indian reserves in Canada.^[1] The term has taken on many connotations, and has to some extent become an emblem of and metaphor for reservations/reserves, life on them, and indigenous North Americans in general. For example, a "rez dog" may refer to a resident of indigenous lands.^[2]

The distinction between a rez dog and dogs in general is often seen as emblematic of the difference between indigenous and majority culture ways of life.^[3] Untended dogs roaming indigenous lands cause problems that the communities must deal with.^{[4] [5]} The dogs are generally thought of as mixed-breed and unsupervised.^[6]

In commerce and literature

A clothing company, "Rez Dog Clothing", has adopted the persona of reservation dogs.^{[7] [8]}

The narrator of two chapters of Antelope Woman, by novelist Louise Erdrich, is described as being part Ojibwe reservation dog, part Lakota dog, and part coyote.^[9]

See also

• Carolina Dog
• Native American dogs
• Pariah dog
• Mixed-breed dog

Notes and References

1. Book: Mary Ludington. The Nature of Dogs. Simon and Schuster. 2007. 978-1-4165-4287-2.
2. Book: The Praeger Handbook on Contemporary Issues in Native America: Linguistic, ethnic, and economic revival. 337. Bruce Elliott Johansen. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2007. 978-0-275-99139-5.
3. News: Rez Vignettes: The Good Life of a Reservation Dog. Daily Yonder. Mary Annette Pember.
4. News: UNM-Gallup Professor Copyrights Plans for 'Rez Dog-Proof' Solar Oven. University of New Mexico. 2006-08-14. Linda Thornton.
5. News: From the editor's desk...No tears for the Rez Dog Maggie. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025112850/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79285907.html. dead. 2012-10-25. Indian Country Today. 2000-02-09. Miles Morrisseau.
6. News: Cultural broadcasting: Radio show a rare outlet for Indigenous voices and music. Minnesota Public Radio. 2003-02-06. Jeff Horwich.
7. News: The Daily Oklahoman. Elizabeth Camacho Wiley. Norman, Okla.-Based Clothing Entrepreneur Logs Miles, Hours to Push Line. 2003-01-31.
8. News: Rez Dog Clothing Company Takes Bite of American Indian Apparel Industry.. Indian Country Today. 2003-02-12.
9. Book: A reader's guide to the novels of Louise Erdrich. Peter G. Beidler and Gay Barton. University of Missouri Press. 2006. 978-0-8262-1671-7.