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The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, is named after Catahoula Parish in the state of Louisiana in the United States. Of remaining dog breeds, the Catahoula is believed to have occupied North America the longest, aside from the dogs descended from Native American-created breeds.

Quick facts

Catahoula Leopard Quick Facts
Weight:	20-44 kg	45-95 lbs
Height:	50-66 cm	20-26 inches
Coat:	Short, smooth
Activity level:	Very high
Learning rate:	Very high
Temperament:	Assertive, territorial
Guard dog ability:	Very high
Watch-dog ability:	Very high
Life span:	10-14 years

 

 The Catahoula Leopard Dog, also known as the Catahoula Hog Dog, Catahoula Cur, or Leopard Cur, has been in existence for almost 5 centuries and they are recognized today for being faithful protectors and companions. They are very versatile dogs. The Catahoula Leopard is an excellent working dog, and can be a good companion for anyone looking for a strong, sturdy pet.  These dogs rarely show aggression toward owners or family if they are properly trained. They are protective of whom and what they think that own, but know their place.

 They are very sure of their territory and who their master is; they will protect you from anything, even if you don't want them to, so make sure you keep this dog in check. They have very versatile, ever-changing personalities that can range from utter show-offs, to gruff protectors, to happy child-friendly dogs. They will respond to discipline and are easy to train. Catahoula Leopard Dogs tend to be one-person dogs. They are outdoor dogs, originally bred to help with hunting duties. They are primarily used today to round up cows and other livestock, due to their herding abilities. They are prized dogs among outdoor men for their individuality and strength.

 Catahoula Leopard Dogs are also good at "treeing", or scaring raccoons out of nearby trees. Catahoula Leopards can climb trees. Some even climb right over fences and this should be kept in mind when keeping them in fenced yards.

 The Catahoula Leopard's look is as distinct as its name. They are medium to large dogs that have ears that droop, and friendly yet sturdy faces with glass blue pupils, although due to extensive breeding they can have different eye colors. They also have long tails that are slightly curved. See the coat colours described below.Today, the standard for the Catahoula is a medium sized dog with a muscular build. The Catahoula female should stand approximately 21 to 23 inches at the withers, with males standing approximately 23 to 25 inches at the withers. The average weight of the Catahoula female is 55 to 65 lbs., while males average 65-75 lbs. Once called a "Catahoula Cur", the foundation of the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog came from the Red Wolf, which was in Louisiana in the 1500's, the Mastiff and Greyhound which were brought by DeSoto in 1541, and the Bas Rouge (Beauceron) brought by the French in the early 1700's. Together these four canines contributed in part to the inception of the Catahoula that we know today. The name was changed from Catahoula Cur to Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog when governor Edwin Edwards signed a bill establishing it as the State Dog in 1979.

 There has been a great deal of speculation as to where the "Bob-tailed" Catahoula came into existence. Some have questioned whether or not it is truly a Catahoula. There are naturally bob-tailed Catahoulas. In some show arenas this is considered a fault. In others it is not. In some cases the dog is a natural bobtail specimen, and in others the tail is bobbed by an individual for whatever reason. The difference can be felt in the bone of the tail. If you have a bob-tailed Catahoula, you must verify with the officials of the show you attend as to whether or not this is considered a fault. The Catahoula may be registered by the National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas (NALC), American Research Foundation (ARF), States Kennel Club (SKC), National Kennel Club (NKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), Louisiana Catahoula Cur Association (LCCA), and Catahoula Cur Breeders Association (CCBA). In addition to these registries, there are organizations where you may show your dogs or have them perform in the working arena. One such place is the American Catahoula Association.

 What makes the Catahoula so versatile?  What breeders look for is a dog that works. They do not want to see the Catahoula end up as some of the other groups of hunting dogs have. Today, we know from studies that some of these traits are directly inherited. For example: Tracking is 46% inherited and Scenting is 39% inherited.  Since the gene is present for inheritance, it is not necessary to be a hunter or a rancher to produce dogs that will work or hunt. It is necessary to understand what the desirable traits are and to breed for those traits. Of course, this doesn't mean that any two dogs can be bred to produce the perfect specimen. It takes more than that. You must study the line background of each of the dogs you intend to breed. Know where they came from, and what six generations of ancestors were like - not just the colors, or eyes, but their temperament, abilities, conformation, etc. All of their traits must be considered, not just a few. Understand and accept the probability, not the possibility, of what may result from the breeding. It takes more than just two dogs to produce that great dog. It takes time, knowledge, and planning.

 You must be ready to teach and exercise a Catahoula. If not, it will often eat your house. The Catahoula will not let you forget that you own a dog. If you do not have the time and energy it takes to train and exercise these dogs, then the Catahoula is not the dog for you. To describe what a Catahoula is like is almost impossible. You really have to own one to understand these dogs. Once you own one, you will be amazed that this dog already knows what you want, and what you are going to do. He will out-think you, if given the chance. The Catahoula is at home with children. If the two are allowed to grow together, you will not have to worry about your child. You will have a built in baby-sitter. As with any dog, you must be cautious when introducing new people to the dog. Catahoulas know what and whom they like. You will not be able to force this dog to like someone if he doesn't. His family comes first. The Catahoula is an assertive dog. This dog will not tolerate being mishandled, mistreated, or attacked. It will defend itself to whatever means.

 If you intend to become a breeder you should reconsider, it is important to study the genetics of this breed and important to keep the working abilities foremost in mind when breeding. (There are to many people who would sell this dog to people who are capable of working with this dog. Catahoula Rescues save over 1000 a year from Pounds and Kill Shelters each year.) This dog has been allowed to evolve for over 400 years with very few changes.

 History

One theory as to the origins of the breed states that the Catahoula is thought to have descended from "war dogs" (Mastiffs and Greyhounds) brought to Louisiana by Hernando de Soto in the 16th century. Dogs left behind by the explorer's party were interbred by the local natives with their semi-domesticated Red Wolves.

In the 17th century, French settlers arrived in Louisiana. They brought with them the Beauceron and mixed them with the dogs that had been created by the earlier cross of red wolves and the Spanish "war dogs".

In 1979, Governor Edwin Edwards signed a bill making the Catahoula the official state dog of Louisiana in recognition of their importance in the history of the region. At this time they lost the name Catahoula Cur for Catahoula Leopard.

Catahoulas are almost always happiest when they have a job to do (working dog). And are not often suited for life as a family pet in a suburban household. Catahoulas make good ranch or farm dogs, as they are herding dogs.

 Catahoula lines

There are three versions of the Catahoula Leopard:

• The Wright line was the largest at 90 to 110 pounds and were developed by Mr. Preston Wright. This line represented dogs originally produced from Hernando de Soto's dogs.
• The Fairbanks line was the next in size at 65 to 75 pounds and were developed by Mr. Lovie Fairbanks. They were brindle to yellow in color.
• The McMillin line was the smallest in size at 50 to 60 pounds and were developed by Mr. T. A. McMillin of Sandy Lake, Louisiana. These were Blue Leopard dogs with glass eyes.

These three lines were crossed back and forth and created the variations of Catahoulas seen today. [1]

Some veterinarians say that the Catahoula was exported to South America to deal with feral long horn cattle that escaped into the jungles during cattle drives south from the U.S. in the 1800s. Typically, beaters drove the wild cattle out of the jungle, where the Catahoula would control it by latching onto it's nose, until the longhorn could be shot. Reports of even young puppies nipping the nose of owners and children are common.

 Appearance

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Catahoula is a medium-large dog. Typically, females are 20"-24" tall and males are 22"-26" tall at the withers. Weight may range from 40 to 100 lbs. The Catahoula has a very short, smooth, single coat which comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Common Catahoula colors include blue leopard, red leopard, patchwork, black, red, yellow, and brindle. Various amounts of tan, brindle, and/or white trim may also be present. The eyes may be any color or combination of colors. The Catahoula is highly intelligent and very energetic. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation in order to be happy. Catahoulas generally do not fare well in an urban setting. Catahoulas make excellent working dogs, excelling in herding, hunting, protection, and police work. They tend to be protective and territorial, guarding their home and family. For this reason, Catahoulas make excellent watch dogs. As a general rule, Catahoulas are not well-suited to novice owners. Experience with Catahoulas or other large and/or assertive breeds is a plus for prospective Catahoula owners.

 Coat

Catahoulas have a single, short, dense coat in a variety of colors. According to Don Abney, an authority on the breed, the term "Leopard" refers to merles which may be blue, gray, black, liver, red, and patched. Patched dogs are predominantly white with any color patches. Solid colors are black, red, chocolate, yellow, and brindle.

• Blue - Blue Leopard  refers to the blue merle color pattern. Blue leopards are black dogs with the merle pattern. Blue leopards are some shade of grey with black patches scattered throughout the coat. Blue leopards may range from mostly grey to mostly black. Sometimes the terms "grey leopard" or "black leopard" are used. This refers to the mostly grey to mostly black merle color pattern and sometimes the terms "grey leopard" or "black leopard" are used.
   
• Red - Red Leopard refers to the red merle color pattern. Red leopards are red/liver/chocolate dogs with the merle pattern. Red leopards are some shade of light reddish-brown with darker red or brown patches scattered throughout the coat. Sometimes the terms "brown leopard" or "chocolate leopard" are used.
   
• White - Usually, when a Catahoula is referred to as being "white", it means that the dog is primarily white with some areas of leopard coloration. White dogs are generally the result of being "double merle" (carrying two copies of the merle gene ). White dogs often have hearing or vision problems. (microphthalmia shrunken eyes).
   
• Patchwork - Refers to leopards with patches of several different shades in their coats. The background color may be white or very light, and the patches are usually large and scattered in such a way as to give a more torn or blotchy appearance than that of a typical leopard. This pattern is similar to the harlequin pattern seen in Great Danes. Patchworks may be blue/black based or red based.
   
• Solid - This refers to black, red, chocolate, yellow, and brindle. Trim colors may be black, white, tan, red, or buff.

  Leopard - Refers to the merle color pattern. The merle pattern breaks up the dog's color, so that some hairs lack pigment. The overall effect is a dilution of color, with some unaffected patches of dense color scattered throughout the coat.

   

 Eyes

Typical of the breed are "cracked glass" or "marbled glass" eyes and occurs when both colored and glass portions are present in the same eye. Cracked or marbled eyes are blue or blue-white in color. Catahoulas with two cracked or marble glass eyes are often referred to as having double glass eyes. In some cases a glass eye will have darker colored sections in it and vice versa. Cracked eyes may be half of one color and half of another. They may just have a streak or spot of another color. Gray eyes are usually cracked eyes, made of blue and green, giving them their greyish appearance. The eyes may be of the same color or each of a different color. Eye color can also be brown, green, grey, or amber. No particular eye color is typical of Catahoulas. (Don Abney).

 Feet

Though most dogs have webbing between the toes, Catahoula feet are webbed very similar to that of a duck with more prominent webbing which extends almost to the ends of the toes. This foot gives the Catahoula the ability to work marshy areas and gives them great swimming ability.

Temperament

Catahoulas are highly intelligent, energetic, and quick, yet are generally very loving and gentle with children. They are inquisitive and have an independent streak. However, the Catahoula temperament is not suited for everyone; these dogs tend to be very protective of their territory and family, and also, may be aggressive toward other dogs—especially of the same sex. These traits, combined with their independent nature, their high energy levels, and physical strength, can make a Catahoula "too much dog" for inexperienced or meek owners, and can make having such a dog a liability in suburban neighborhoods. Ideally, a Catahoula should have proper obedience training, secure confinement on the owner's property, and an outlet for its energy. The ideal place for this breed would be in a rural area where they can have plenty of space to expend their energy. Some catahoulas may be aggressive towards children and others outside of the family. This dog will pester you constantly if you don't exercise them regularly. They require mental activity as well. It should be noted that the term aggressive is misused to the point where people automatically think of it in terms of "dangerous".

This is a high work drive dog. When the dog is working it wants to be left alone to do its job. Working includes keeping an eye on the yard and family. Don Abney has written a good article on this subject. Most of which we consider to be correct. See link for the full article. http://www.abneycatahoulas.com/issue_aggression.shtml

 

Exercise

When the Catahoula plays they can be very noisy and physical. People need to be careful and teach the dog to control their play. When playing with this breed, one needs to be careful that they are not hurt by the dog running into them, jumping and bumping them. They do need exercise and will start getting into trouble chewing, digging, barking etc. if they don't get it. The Catahoula should have daily exercise running free in a fenced in yard or safe open area. They love going for a jog, hike or participating in agility.

Living Conditions

Some do well in apartments while others do not. It all depends on the lines of the dog and how much time an owner spends with the dog and how much exercise it receives. Catahoulas need attention. This dog cannot be tied to a dog house, fed, and ignored. Chaining and or ignoring a Catahoula will either make them shy or aggressive and will lead to a lot of problems. They need human companionship and thrive well as a pack animal. This does not mean they need to live in your pocket and can not be kept outside; this breed needs direction, training, something to do, people, attention, etc. If left on their own they will make their own entertainment. This is usually not good. This is a very smart dog and must work. If they are kept outside where it is really cold, they need a good warm dog house, preferably one that has an entrance and then a turn into the sleeping quarters. That way they are protected from the elements. They need to be kept inside in really cold weather, as they are a single coated dog.

 Sporting

The Catahoula is a common working dog of the region and is seen on farms and ranches across North America. These dogs are outstanding tracking and hunting dogs, commonly used for hunting feral pigs, squirrel, deer, raccoon and black bear.

Catahoulas have found their way to the Northern Territory of Australia where they have been found to be a superior hunting dog for pigs by breeders.

 They have been introduced in New Zealand and Germany as well, but the number of Catahoulas there is unclear.

 Health problems

As a breed, Catahoulas are relatively free of a lot of diseases. Deafness is one of the major genetic flaws in Catahoulas. A Catahoula that is mostly white, or has a white face with glass eyes, has an 80% chance of being deaf in one or both ears. Hearing in one ear is also referred to as "directional deafness." Breeders are not readily willing to allow deaf Catahoulas to leave their premises and will generally euthanize the deaf pups. Catahoulas are also prone to hip dysplasia. Catahoulas can have eye problems (tunnel vision, eye won't open all the way, pupil is abnormal, etc.). Some older dogs are known to have gotten cancer.

 Miscellaneous

• The breed is not fully recognized by the American Kennel Club but may be recorded under the "foundation stock service" program.
• The breed is recognized by the United Kennel Club under the "herding dog" breed group.
• The Catahoula is the state dog of Louisiana.
• The name Catahoula comes from an Indian word meaning "clear water."