The Catahoula has the spirit of the wolf, the speed of the Greyhound, the strength of the Mastiff and the assertivety of Beauceron. All this is piled into a loving, intelligent and loyal companion who wants nothing more than to please his master.
The Catahoula Leopard dog is the state dog of Louisiana in honor of their important contribution to the state's history. It is an all-around working dog of the United States and the oldest breed to have been developed in the US.
Description
The short, single coat is colored in a merle or solid pattern. Some coats can be coarse, but most are short and tight. Color is an especially notable feature in this herder: eye color and coat color working in a very complementary and expressive way. The skull is broad and flat. The legs are solid and strong boned. The deep chest provides for good heart and lung capacity.
Temperament
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog is independent, protective, and territorial. Loving with their family and all people they know well and reserved with strangers (this would include strange children). They need to make up to a person, not a person make up to them. Of course there are temperaments on both sides of this, but this is for the average dog. They mature right around 2 and it is as if a light goes on and they say to themselves "I am an adult now and I need to act grown up." This breed's
reservation with strangers should not be noticed in a pup, but will show as the dog matures. Although affectionate with his master, the Catahoula is not recommended for the casual pet owner who is uninterested in allowing the dog to function in his intended capacity. For the right owner, this is a protective yet dominating canine. Signs of timidly on a leash should not be taken as cowardness, but the intolerance for strangers. This breed needs a dominant owner who shows strong leadership.
Height, weight
There are three versions of the Catahoula Leopard dog:
- The Wright line: The Wright Line was the largest line of Catahoulas at 90 to 110 pounds (40 tot 50 kg) and were developed by Mr. Preston Wright. This line represented dogs originally produced from Hernando de Soto's dogs.
- The Fairbanks Line: The Fairbanks Line was the next size at 65 to 75 pounds (30 to 35 kg) and were developed by Mr. Lovie Fairbanks. They were brindle to yellow in color.
- The McMillin Line: The McMillan Line was the smallest in size at 50 to 60 pound (about 25 kg) 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. These three lines were crossed back and forth and created the variations of Catahoulas seen today. The dogs weight should be in balance with the height.
Health Problems
Prone to hip dysplasia and deafness. Along with the deafness (both ears or just one) this breed can have eye problems (tunnel vision, eye won't open all the way, pupil is abnormal, etc.). As a breed they are relatively free of a lot of diseases. Some older dogs are known to have gotten cancer.
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. Catahoula need attention. This is not a dog that can be tied to a dog house, fed, and ignored. Chaining and or ignoring a Catahoula will either make them shy or aggressive. They need human companionship. 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 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.
Exercise
This breed needs to be taken on a daily walk, jog, hike or run. In addition, they will enjoy running free in a fenced in yard or safe open area. When the Catahoula play 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. But, they are not a high energy level dog, as seen in Border Collies, Australian Shepherd and some of the hunting breeds such as the the German Shorthaired Pointer. They enjoy participating in agility.
Life Expectancy
About 12-14 years.
Grooming
Since the Catahoula is a short, single-coated dog, the grooming needs are minimal. They should have a bath a couple of times of year (unless they get into something and get filthy) and a good brushing once a week. The nails should be trimmed regularly and the teeth kept clean. This breed is an average to light constant shedder. When nervous or stressed, they have a tendency to
shed more, especially when you are petting them.
Group
Herding, Hunting.
Recognition
NALC, UKC, ARF, AKC, CMKU.
The Catahoula Leopard dog is the state dog of Louisiana in honor of their important contribution to the state's history. It is an all-around working dog of the United States and the oldest breed to have been developed in the US.
Description
The short, single coat is colored in a merle or solid pattern. Some coats can be coarse, but most are short and tight. Color is an especially notable feature in this herder: eye color and coat color working in a very complementary and expressive way. The skull is broad and flat. The legs are solid and strong boned. The deep chest provides for good heart and lung capacity.
Temperament
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog is independent, protective, and territorial. Loving with their family and all people they know well and reserved with strangers (this would include strange children). They need to make up to a person, not a person make up to them. Of course there are temperaments on both sides of this, but this is for the average dog. They mature right around 2 and it is as if a light goes on and they say to themselves "I am an adult now and I need to act grown up." This breed's
reservation with strangers should not be noticed in a pup, but will show as the dog matures. Although affectionate with his master, the Catahoula is not recommended for the casual pet owner who is uninterested in allowing the dog to function in his intended capacity. For the right owner, this is a protective yet dominating canine. Signs of timidly on a leash should not be taken as cowardness, but the intolerance for strangers. This breed needs a dominant owner who shows strong leadership.
Height, weight
There are three versions of the Catahoula Leopard dog:
- The Wright line: The Wright Line was the largest line of Catahoulas at 90 to 110 pounds (40 tot 50 kg) and were developed by Mr. Preston Wright. This line represented dogs originally produced from Hernando de Soto's dogs.
- The Fairbanks Line: The Fairbanks Line was the next size at 65 to 75 pounds (30 to 35 kg) and were developed by Mr. Lovie Fairbanks. They were brindle to yellow in color.
- The McMillin Line: The McMillan Line was the smallest in size at 50 to 60 pound (about 25 kg) 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. These three lines were crossed back and forth and created the variations of Catahoulas seen today. The dogs weight should be in balance with the height.
Health Problems
Prone to hip dysplasia and deafness. Along with the deafness (both ears or just one) this breed can have eye problems (tunnel vision, eye won't open all the way, pupil is abnormal, etc.). As a breed they are relatively free of a lot of diseases. Some older dogs are known to have gotten cancer.
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. Catahoula need attention. This is not a dog that can be tied to a dog house, fed, and ignored. Chaining and or ignoring a Catahoula will either make them shy or aggressive. They need human companionship. 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 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.
Exercise
This breed needs to be taken on a daily walk, jog, hike or run. In addition, they will enjoy running free in a fenced in yard or safe open area. When the Catahoula play 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. But, they are not a high energy level dog, as seen in Border Collies, Australian Shepherd and some of the hunting breeds such as the the German Shorthaired Pointer. They enjoy participating in agility.
Life Expectancy
About 12-14 years.
Grooming
Since the Catahoula is a short, single-coated dog, the grooming needs are minimal. They should have a bath a couple of times of year (unless they get into something and get filthy) and a good brushing once a week. The nails should be trimmed regularly and the teeth kept clean. This breed is an average to light constant shedder. When nervous or stressed, they have a tendency to
shed more, especially when you are petting them.
Group
Herding, Hunting.
Recognition
NALC, UKC, ARF, AKC, CMKU.