The Catahoula Leopard Dog is a beautiful breed with a strong work ethic. They're a strong dog trained to work in swamps and woodlands, and they need a hard and constant leader with plenty of time to keep them engaged.

Although purebred dogs are uncommon, they may be found in the hands of rescue organisations or shelters. Keep in mind to adopt! If you want to bring a puppy home, don't go shopping!

These puppies are devoted to their owners, but they require a lot of activity. They'll thrive in a house with a large, fenced-in yard and responsible pet owners. You'll have a loved family member who can keep you on your toes if you can satisfy their demands.

Catahoula Leopard Dog Highlights
Breed Size	Large
Nature	Gentle, Willful, Aloof, Friendly
Energy Level	Active
Intelligence	Medium
Barking Level	When Necessary
Coat Length	Short
Breed Group	Working
Droll Amount	Low
Good with	Familes, Children, Dog
Feed Level	Medium, High
Colour Type	Red, gold / yellow, black
Other Facts	Easy to groom, loves water, strong loyalty tendencies, good hiking companion.

Dog History

The Catahoula was named after a Choctaw Indian phrase that meant "holy lake" and originated in northern Louisiana near Catahoula Lake. He's most likely the result of crossbreedings between native dogs and Spanish explorers' Bloodhounds, Mastiffs, and Greyhounds. They are also known as Catahoula curs, Catahoula leopard curs, or Catahoula hounds, but when they became the state dog of Louisiana, their name was formally changed to Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. The Catahoula was trained to track and round up wild pigs that roamed the woodlands, earning him the nickname "hog dog."

In 1976, the Louisiana Catahoula Cur Association was founded, and the National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas was founded in 1977. Other organisations include the Catahoula Cur Breeders Association, which registers Catahoulas, and the American Catahoula Association, which uses exhibitions, clinics, trials, and approved testing to promote and preserve the breed's conformation and working aptitude. Treeing, Hog Bay, Cow Bay, and Cow Trials are some of the events. In 1979, the breed was declared the state dog of Louisiana.

In 1995, the United Kennel Club became the first national dog registration to acknowledge the Catahoula. In 1996, the Catahoula was included to the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service, which keeps track of uncommon breeds. It has not yet satisfied the criteria for AKC recognition and hence is not permitted to compete in AKC conformation contests.

The Catahoula is a one-of-a-kind dog with an interesting history and excellent working abilities. It is not suitable for every family, but if you commit to one and build a link with him, you will have a lifelong defender and companion.

Health and Care

Catahoulas are typically healthy dogs, however they, like all breeds, are susceptible to some health issues. Although not all Catahoulas will contract one or more of these illnesses, it's crucial to be aware of them if you're thinking of getting one.

Find a reliable breeder who will show you health clearances for both your dog's parents if you're buying a puppy. Health clearances demonstrate that a dog has been checked for and cleared of a certain disease. Health clearances aren't given to dogs less than 2 years old since certain health concerns don't show up until they reach full maturity. Look for a breeder that waits until her dogs are two or three years old before breeding them.

Look for health certifications from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for hips and the Canine Eye Registry Foundation for healthy eyes on both parents in Catahoulas.

The following issues might arise in the breed:

• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
• Deafness

Care

The Catahoula is not a dog that can be crated and left alone in the yard. He requires company and exercise, and he should be as comfortable within your home as he is outside.

This breed is not appropriate for underground electrical fencing. If a Catahoula sees another dog entering his territory, he will disregard the shock, and the lack of a firm barrier allows other dogs to access the yard, perhaps leading to a violent conflict.

Expect him to get at least an hour of activity every day. Engage his intellect with interesting activities or training sessions.

Begin teaching your Catahoula puppy the day you bring him home. He is bright and quick to learn, but he requires a strong leader. If you want to form the strongest relationship with your Catahoula, be patient, firm, and consistent. Tell him what you're looking for, and then let him get to work. Instead of penalising him for transgressions, seek for things you can reward. Harsh reprimand can have a negative impact on the dog's self-esteem and attitude. Regular training and social engagement will ensure that you live happily together. In his attempts to amusing himself, a bored or lonely Catahoula is destructive.

Housetraining the Catahoula is simple if you are diligent and stick to a routine. Crate training aids in this process by preventing your Catahoula puppy from chewing on things he shouldn't or generally getting into mischief when you aren't around. When he's feeling overwhelmed or fatigued, he may go to his kennel for a safe refuge. Never use a container as a punishment location.

It's also crucial to teach your Catahoula how to walk on a leash, especially because he'll be a powerful puller. Good leash manners are critical for the health of your muscles, your happiness, and the safety of your Catahoula. Because he has a high prey drive, never let him off the leash in an area where he can come across strange dogs or other animals.

This breed requires early and regular socialisation, especially if you want your Catahoula to be friendly to or at least accept other animals, particularly other dogs. Puppy socialisation sessions are a terrific place to start, but it doesn't have to end there. Introduce him to as many people as possible, both at home and in public, by visiting a variety of dog-friendly establishments, parks, and activities.

Your Catahoula will be a great family member who defends and loves you unconditionally with correct training, consistency, and socialisation.

Dog Breed Care Tips and Important Instructions

The short, single coats of Catahoulas shed often, so brushing them a couple of times a week can help keep hair off your furniture. It may also be a wonderful bonding exercise for young puppies, allowing them to learn about their family units and preventing them from being too aloof.

Baths will be taken only when absolutely necessary, which may make them quite infrequent depending on where you reside. You should be OK if you keep an eye on their ears and clean them regularly to avoid infection, and wash their teeth on a regular basis.

Feeding

3 3/8 to 5 1/8 cups of high-quality dog food, split into two meals, is the recommended daily quantity. Withhold food and drink for at least an hour after hard activity to avoid stomach dilatation volvulus, often known as bloat.

The amount of food your adult dog consumes is determined by his size, age, build, metabolism, and degree of activity. Dogs, like people, are unique individuals that require different amounts of food. It practically goes without saying that a dog that is very active will require more than a dog who is sedentary. The quality of the dog food you buy matters as well; the better the dog food, the more it will nourish your dog and the less you'll have to shake into it.

Rather than putting food out all the time, measure his food and feed him twice a day to keep your Catahoula in good form. Give him the eye and hands-on tests if you're not sure if he's overweight. Look down at him first. There should be a waist visible. Then, with your thumbs down his spine and fingers stretched downward, place your hands on his back. Without pressing too much, you should be able to feel but not see his ribs. If you can't, he'll need to eat less and exercise more.

Fun Facts

Catahoulas have appeared in various works of literature set in and around the bayou, including Southern-fried episodes of Veronica Mars and Bones, as well as Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse vampire books, owing to their Louisiana ancestry.

Piglet is a Catahoula leopard dog that was honoured by the AKC for her search and rescue abilities alongside her owner, Lori Wells of Lancaster, Calif.

Home Training Tips and General Information

Love is all a dog requires.

One of the most prevalent dog claims I hear as a canine behavioural consultant is that all a dog requires is love. Is that correct or incorrect? You might be surprised by my response!

The following are four things you must accomplish correctly while training your Catahoula Leopard Dog puppy. You can influence your puppy's behaviour and make training easier right now by doing four simple things.

What Should You Teach? (and When)

Dog training begins the minute your puppy arrives at your home. If you utilise the incorrect training approach, your puppy will begin to make decisions about how he wants you to fit into his life, which will lead to conflict and behavioral issues. You must respond appropriately to anything your puppy does, or he will learn the incorrect things. Here is my suggested training schedule (what to teach and when to teach it) for your Catahoula puppy.

Instill respect in your Catahoula.

I utilize and suggest "Respect Training" as a dog training approach for Catahoula Leopard Dogs. When you say "No," a dog who respects you will stop what he's doing and do what you say. Teach your dog how to respect you when you call them.

Solving Behavioral Issues

"How can I stop my dog from doing (a specific harmful behavior)?" is one of the most often asked queries by dog owners. Whatever the infraction, my response is usually always the same.

Teach Correct Words in the Correct Context

My Catahoula Leopard Dog training approach includes teaching certain phrases in precise ways so that your dog not only learns the words but also develops the respectful attitude that makes him want to obey you. Teach your dog to comprehend what you're saying by teaching him words. Teach those terms in the proper context, and he will follow your instructions.

Breaking Your Catahoula Habits

There are two essentials to breaking into a house. There are only two, but you must get them both correct. And I don't mean 50 percent correct; I mean 100 percent correct. Otherwise, you'll wind up with a dog that is only 50% toilet trained, which no one wants. So there you have it: your two keys to breaking into a house.

Getting to Know Your Catahoula Leopard Canine

Socializing your Catahoula entails teaching him or her how to interact respectfully with strangers and other animals.

FAQS

Catahoula Leopard Dog Unique Name

Male Name	Female Name
Bingo	Betsy
Blue	Birdie
Bo	Brooklyn
Bruno	Dixie
Carter	Dolly
Eli	Fanny
Gunner	Ibby
Hank	Kira
Jasper	Lizzy
King	Mimi
Levi	Moxie
Norm	Muffin
Rex	Peanut
Samson	Pippa
Stanley	Sophie
Zane	Sydney
Ace	Blanche
Tinker-bell	Chaos
Whiskers	Patsy
Wiggles	Charlie