CATAHOULA LEOPARD

Temperament:  Energetic, Smart, Independent
Height: 20 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight: 50 to 90 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years
Dog Breed Group: Herding Dogs

MORE ABOUT THIS BREED

The Catahoula Leopard Dog breed has a striking appearance and a strong work ethic. They’re a tough dog, bred to work in swamps and forests, and they require a leader who is firm and consistent, with time to keep them occupied.

These pups are very affectionate with their humans, but they do need lots of exercise. They’ll do best in a home with a big, fenced in yard and experienced pet parents. If you can meet their needs, you’ll have a loving family member who can keep you on your toes.

Louisiana’s “hog dog” is a jambalaya of native American dogs, Spanish Mastiffs, and Greyhounds. Catahoulas were created to track and drive feral hogs and cattle when it was time to butcher them, and not surprisingly they are aggressively resolute in their work.

This tough yet strikingly beautiful dog can have a spotted, brindle, solid, or patched coat of many colors.

Befitting their heritage as herding and driving dogs, Catahoulas are wary of strangers. They’re protective of their families and opinionated about who is and isn’t trustworthy. People who live with them say they’re excellent judges of character.

PERSONALITY

The proper Catahoula is not aggressive toward people. He is wary of strangers but never shy. With family members, he is loving and protective. Males can be aggressive toward other male dogs, and Catahoulas in general work aggressively, a necessity in rounding up unruly hogs or cattle. Their instinct is to track and herd game, and if that isn’t an option for them, they need some other outlet for their energy. Catahoulas are excellent watchdogs and will bark a warning or otherwise go on alert at the approach of strangers. Treat them firmly but fairly. They do not accept mistreatment or physical abuse.

FEEDING

Recommended daily amount: 3 3/8 to 5 1/8 cups of a high-quality dog food daily, divided into two meals. To avoid gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as bloat, withhold food and water for at least an hour after vigorous exercise.

How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

HEALTH

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is generally healthy, but the breed is susceptible to hip dysplasia and deafness. At a minimum, ask the breeder to show evidence that your puppy’s parents have hip evaluations from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), as well as a BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) evaluation for deafness from the OFA.

Careful breeders screen their dogs for genetic disease, and only breed the best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy can develop one of these conditions.

CARE

He needs companionship and exercise and should be as familiar with the inside of your home as the yard.

Expect to give him at least an hour of exercise daily. Engage his mind with training sessions or fun activities.

Begin training the day you bring your Catahoula puppy home. He is intelligent and learns quickly, but he needs a strong leader. For best results, be patient, firm, and consistent to develop the strongest bond with your Catahoula. Let him know what you expect, and then let him go to work.

Regular training practice and social interaction will help ensure that you live together happily. A bored or lonely Catahoula is destructive in his attempts to entertain himself.

GROOMING

The Catahoula Leopard Dog’s coat, which sheds moderately, ranges from short and sleek to medium in length and coarse, with a little feathering on the hind legs, tail, and belly. In either case, brush him weekly to keep his coat gleaming, and give him a bath once or twice a year. The rest is routine care: regular nail trimming and ear cleaning, as well as tooth brushing with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

SOME PICTURES ABOUT THIS BREED

Source: dogtime, vetstreet.