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Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog
Puppies for Sale
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog
(Catahoula Leopard Dog)
(Catahoula Hog Dog) (Catahoula Cur)
Photos Courtesy of Black Oak Catahoulas
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Pronunciation |
Louisiana
Catahoula Leopard Dog |
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Description |
The short, single coat is colored in a
merle or black/tan 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. |
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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. |
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Height, weight |
Weight: 55-80 pounds (16-37 kg.)
Height: Males: 22 to 26 inches (56-58 cm.) Females: 20 to 24
(51-61 cm.) The dogs weight should be in balance with the height. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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, Jack
Russell
Terriers, Fox Terriers, Aussie,
and some of the hunting breeds such as the the German
Shorthaired Pointer. They enjoy participating in agility. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 12-13 years. |
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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. |
| Origin |
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is
believed to have originated from Nordic Wolfhound being introduced some three to
five hundred years before the Spanish arrived - However, no one will really know
for sure. The state of Louisiana is cited as the point of origin,
particularly the area of Catahoula. In 1979, the breed was designated the
state dog of Louisiana. The Catahoula was named after a Parish in Northeastern
Louisiana and after the mottled spots on its coat. At one time this breed was
used to round up feral pigs and cattle -- livestock that had escaped, and was
living in woods and swamps. It involved team effort that is highly coordinated
and organized, fast paced, dangerous, and a marvel to watch. The ideal dog
team usually numbers three, and they must work together. Otherwise, the
one pig can kill all three in a matter of minutes. Each dog has to be aware of
what the pig and the other two dogs are doing and react
accordingly. Hunters sometimes used the Catahoula to trail and tree
raccoons, but this dominant breed is more at home acting the thug with obstinate
boars. This dog is used particularly on the difficult task of driving and
rounding hogs and unruly cattle. |
Group |
Herding |
| Recognition |
UKC, SKC, ARBA, NALC, APRI, ACR. Also a number of other rare breed
club shows. In Canada they are also recognized by a Rare Breed Club |
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UKC = United
Kennel Club
SKC = States Kennel Club (which is in MS)
ARBA= American Rare
Breed Association
NALC = National Association
of Louisiana Catahoula
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry |
Pictures by Cottonwood Kennel
This is Easy Joseph, nicknamed Elmo
Buster and Tracker
Courtesy of SwampPop Catahoulas
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog
Pictures
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Cur
Dogs
Squirrel Dogs
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