You may not have heard of the Catahoula before , but these dogs are one of Louisiana ’s well - kept enigma . While they are not a coarse breed , they happen to be the state ’s official dog . Catahoulas like to cerebrate for themselves , and although they are intermediate in sizing , they make up for that with cock-a-hoop personalities .
Add to that mix this dog ’s strange spotty pelage and oddly piercing middle , and you ’ll begin to see why this is no ordinary canine . Are you ready for a dog who thinks they are your equal , and perhaps even just a little in high spirits in the pecking order than you are ? That ’s the magical spell and the challenge of lifespan with a Catahoula !
Origin and History
Catahoula is a Choctaw Indian Son that translates as " consecrated lake . " Since the domestic dog originated in the area around Lake Catahoula , it was only natural that they eventually became known as Catahoulas themselves . Since the dogs carry spot in their coats , standardized to a leopard , this verbal description was worked into the name . Today , you ’ll hear these blackguard referred to as Catahoulas , Catahoula curs , Catahoula Leopard Dogs , and Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dogs . No matter which name is used , each cite to the same stock .
The exact rootage of the Catahoula Leopard Dog are unknown , but it is believe that these dogs first emerged in the United States in Louisiana . Therefore , these eye tooth have long held a especial place in the heart of Louisianans . The Catahoula was named the prescribed state dog in 1979 .
According to theAmerican Kennel Club ( AKC)account of the breed history , Spanish explorer Hemando de Soto ’s despatch arrive in Florida in 1539 and journey into Louisiana . The Spaniards institute their bounder with them , and it ’s believed this mathematical group included Mastiffs , Bloodhounds , and Greyhounds . Historians chew over that these dog-iron interbred with the native population of dogs who lived with the local Indians , and the descendents of those litters eventually develop into the prototype for the Catahoula .
As for how the Catahoula became such a natural herding andiron , DeSoto ’s expedition once again cipher prominently in the level . The Spaniards bring a ruck of hogg with them to ensure they had a good food for thought supply . After DeSoto ’s death , many of the hogs were slaughter , but some were also given to the local Indians .
These hogs multiplied quickly . roughly 300 years after the hogg ' introduction to the region , their numbers had grown so high that they became a nuisance . Early European settlers began using the native dogs to herd and catch up with the hogs in parliamentary procedure to thin their universe . The dog would literally surround a hogg , package it in , and then wait for their human familiar to help them nail the business .
Catahoulas became part of the AKC ’s Foundation Stock Service in 1996 . They have not yet gained full identification and are still debate a rarified breed by the club ’s standards .
Breed Characteristics
True working dogs , Catahoulas are not spawn for uniformity of show . Even so , there are a number of vulgar characteristics among Catahoula Leopard Dogs .
Appearance
pelage colors change widely . These dogs are almost always spotted , and their spots come in all unlike colors . They usually have European blackbird coat , either in black and tan , black-market and white , or in multiple shades of black-market and grey that give them a blue coloring , standardised to that of theAustralian Blue Heelerand the Blue Tick Coon Hound .
Catahoulas lean to have short , thick coats and are not prostrate to shedding . They do not require much grooming .
Catahoulas are known for having clear-cut , intelligent eyes , often refer to as " glass eyes , " in vivid shade of light blue or goldish - browned . It is common to see Catahoulas with two different colour eyes .
When fully grown , males stand up 22 to 26 in tall at the articulatio humeri and weigh as much as 90 pounds . pornographic females tend to rove from 20 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder joint and matter between 50 and 70 pounds .
Catahoulas are heavyset animate being , with broad , flat skulls and net feet .
Temperament
Catahoulas are fiercely independent creature that sometimes number across as being rather offish in nature . They can be very stubborn and tend to have very unassailable alpha tendencies .
As is the slip with mostherding breeds , Catahoulas lean to be territorial , and are very protective of their homes and dimension . They make fantabulous watch dogs . They are patriotic and know toward people they know , but they are not instantly drawn to unknown . It takes a Catahoula quite a while to warm up to new masses . They are very protective of their human kin , as well as of the stock they are rouse with herd and hold safe .
Catahoulas insist on take the prevailing office among other pets in the household . They are particularly stingy with food , and will often apply their herding instinct to chase other pets away from the food for thought and piddle roll . Since these dog will take the dominant situation whenever possible , they are typically not ideal companions for small children unless there is adult supervision . They can make good companions for older child and adults who are able to exhibit truehearted but fairish leadership to them on a consistent basis .
Owners should plan to enroll in obeisance education with their Catahoula when their dog is very vernal . Some Catahoulas also take very well to agility education activity .
These wiener take more time to get on than many other canine breeds of similar size . It broadly speaking takes between two and three years for a Catahoula to set out exhibiting the behaviors of afull - grown grownup hotdog .
Training
Owners who do not quickly establish themselves as the master with theirCatahoula puppiesmay discover themselves in for a lifelong conflict for the dominant lieu in the relationship . This is why earlyobedience trainingis so important with this breed .
It ’s a right general rule for puppies of any breed to receive plenteousness of socialization and respect training , but this is perfectly imperative for Catahoulas .
These dog have big personalities and they are behave to command . If you do not set yourself up as your dog ’s pack leader from daytime one , you are throttle to have difficulties for the rest of their life . These dogs are not the breed for inactive proprietor because they ’ll lay their own rules and become belligerent if their human companions do n’t comply .
It ’s your business as drawing card to establish firm boundaries for your pet , and you ’ll need to provide firm but honest guidance and behavioural expectations . The behavior and actions you allow your ducky to get by with as a puppy are exactly what they ’ll expect to get away with as an adult , so start out with the same boundary from the very offset . Back these standards up with schematic training , provide hatful of confident reinforcement for the behaviors you want , and you should wind up with an fantabulous companion .
Of course , your Catahoula will in all likeliness challenge your agency from time to prison term just to test if they can take over as pack leader . These challenges are not difficult to defeat if you stay uniform in your leading and do n’t become lax about behavioral expectations . These dogs require active leadership throughout their life , but what you get back from them is more than enough reward for your effort .
Exercise Requirements
These dogs have a bunch of strength and get-up-and-go , but they are not hyperactive . With all this energy , they do need to be exercise frequently . A good daily walking of at least 30 to 40 minutes will bring home the bacon the minimum amount of utilization postulate to keep them in shape . walk actually helps relieve tension , too . This will help keep a Catahoula from acquire destructive deportment like nuisancediggingandchewing .
As with the other herding breeds , Catahoula Leopard Dogs are most content when they are working . These highly intelligent herd dogs have long been used to herd raving mad grunter in the Louisiana swampland , and they are also excellent farm animal herders .
They are strong-growing herdsman that go best in groups . Unlike some other herding dogs , they do n’t tweet at the hound of their wards . rather , they continually run rotary around the animals they are trying to organise , fundamentally irritating them into moving in the desired direction .
Health
Overall , Catahoulas be given to be very goodly animals . The most common problems in this breed are :
Lifespan
A very Edward Everett Hale and hardy breed , these dogs are also naturally long - lived . It ’s not unusual for them to survive 12 to 15 years and stay on spry well into old eld .
Grooming
Since most Catahoulas have very short pelage , their grooming pauperization are comparatively bare . These dogs shed lightly all year around , so brush them at least every two to three days to keep loose fur to a minimum .
brush also slay grease and debris , so you really only ask to bathe these frank once every few calendar month , unless they get dirty rolling in mud or other unsuitable substances . You shouldbrush this wiener ’s teethat least twice a workweek and this task is easier if you train the dog to go for it from the time he ’s a puppy . houseclean out the ears once a week . Trim their nail on a regular basis to keep overgrowth and promote nail wellness .
Fun Facts About the Catahoula
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is a unequaled breed that is n’t well - known to many . Still , there are some interesting facts to be aware of regarding this breed :
Purchasing or Adopting a Catahoula
presume you may handle living with an overgrown puppy for two to three eld , there is nothing more rewarding than mould a bond with a loving and firm Catahoula . If you ’re interested in adding a Catahoula to your household , you may find out a directory of breeder with these puppies for sale through theAmerican Catahoula Association . TheAKC marketplacealso has Catahoula puppies available . The price for Catahoula puppies typically ranges from $ 300 and $ 500 .
Rescue Organizations
You may also need to moot adopting a deliverance dog through the nonprofitCatahoula Rescueorganization . If you are n’t set on an eld or having a purebred Catahoula , you may also searchPetFinderandSave - a - delivery . Breed - specific rescue are also an option :
Is this the Breed For You?
Even though their natural instincts are to piece of work , Catahoula Leopard Dogs also make excellent familiar , take their owners are prepared to handle such energetic and sometimes aggressive canines . If you are searching for a dog with a mickle of energy , and have way for them to roam , this could be the breed for you .
