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Breed Characteristics
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Catahoula Leopard Dog
| Other Names | Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, Catahoula Hog Dog, Catahoula Cur, Louisiana Catahoula Cur, Leopard Dogs, Catahoula hound, Leopard Cur |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Weight | 55 - 80 lbs. (16 - 37 kg) The dog’s weight should be in balance with the height. |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 22 - 26 in. (56 - 58 cm) Females: 20 - 24 in. (51 - 61 cm) |
| Coat | The texture of a Catahoula's coat may show some variance, being slick/painted-on, coarse, or woolly/shaggy. However, while other coat types may not be penalized, several registering bodies that recognize the Catahoula specify a short or slick-coated dog. Others, including the Animal Research Foundation, will accept short-to-medium haired dogs, but may list long fur or feathering of the fur as uncommon or a flaw. Slick coat: A slick coat features fur that is very short and lies close to the body. These coats dry very rapidly, and because of this, the dog can be cleaned and ready in a matter of minutes. It is often referred to as a "Wash n' Wear" coat. This coat type is most common. Coarse coat: This coat is a little longer and fuller than others. They do not require that much maintenance; however, these dogs are not quick to dry when wet. These coats will often display "feathers" seen on the rear legs, tail, and underbelly. Also they can be considered "fluffy". Woolly coat: Woolly, shaggy, and double coats are far less common but rarely appear in some litters. At about 3 weeks of age, the coat will be longer and fuller and appear woolly. Most puppies will shed this for a coarse coat; however, some will become double-coats. Some coats will maintain a length similar to that of a stock-haired German Shepherd Dog while others will maintain their shaggy appearance. |
| Colour | Catahoulas come in many different colours including blue merle, red merle, brindle, and solid colours. Often, solid coat Catahoulas have small splashes of other colours such as white on their face, legs or chest. The leopard-like coat of most Catahoulas is the result of the merle gene. The merle gene does not normally affect the entire coat of the dog, but dilutes the colour only in areas that randomly present the characteristic of the gene. Visually, white coats seem unaffected. Red Leopard: These are various shades of brown and tan, may also have white. Known as "red merle" in other breeds. Blue Leopard: These are various shades of dark greys, black and some may also have white (generally on the feet and chest). Known as "blue merle" in other breeds. Black or Black Leopard: These are leopards least affected by the merle gene but will display smaller patches of blue or gray. Gray or Silver Leopard: Blue Leopards where the black colour has been diluted to gray. Known as "slate merle" in other breeds. Tri-colour: Catahoulas with three distinct visible colours, usually white, black, and gray. Quad-colour: These are Catahoulas with the varying body colourations and trim colours that help to designate the number of colours present on the dogs. Gray Catahoulas may be considered a Quad-colour when White and Tan trim are included. This dog would display Black, Gray, White, usually around the neck, face, feet, and tail, and Tan, which may also appear around the face and feet. Most Five-coloured dogs are misnamed Quad-coloured dogs. Patchwork: These Catahoulas are predominantly white dogs with small amounts of solid and/or merle patches appearing throughout the coat. The coloured patches may be black or brown. Dilution may affect those coloured patches and produce gray, blue, red, or liver colouration within them. |
| Litter Size | 7-13 puppies, Average around 8 |
| Life Span | 12-14 years |
| Origin & History | 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, 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. |
| Personality | The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is independent, protective and territorial. Loving with its family and all people it knows well but can be reserved with strangers (this would include strange children). Socialize well, preferably at a young age. They need to be allowed to come up and smell a person. They mature right around 2 years of age. Affectionate with his master. The Catahoula is not recommended for an owner who does not take the pack leader issue seriously. For the right owner who understands the importance of structure, leadership, and exercise the Catahoula can make a wonderful pet. The objective in training this dog is to achieve pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success. This breed needs a dominant owner who shows strong leadership. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Prone to hip dysplasia and deafness. Along with 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. |
| 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. |
| Exercise | When not hunting, 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 Catahoulas play they can be very noisy and physical. People need to be careful and teach the dog to control its 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, Aussies, and some of the hunting breeds such as the German Shorthaired Pointer. They enjoy participating in agility. |
| Other Considerations | 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. Catahoulas need attention. This is not a dog that can be tied to a doghouse, fed and ignored. Chaining and/or ignoring a Catahoula will either make it shy or aggressive. They need human companionship. This does not mean they need to live in your pocket and cannot 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 doghouse, 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. Notable references to Catahoulas in history and pop culture; During the early 1900s, Teddy Roosevelt used the Catahoula when hunting. Jim Bowie and his brother Rezin Bowie, who spent much of their youth in Catahoula Parish are reported to have owned a pair of Catahoulas. They were said to sleep with a Catahoula at their feet. Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long had an interest in the breed and collected them. This interest was recognized by an annual competition known as Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials. In 2007, the Catahoula was voted to be the school mascot for Centenary College of Louisiana. In the television series Veronica Mars, episode 15 titled "Ruskie Business", Veronica needs to track down a Catahoula leopard dog named "Steve" to find his owner, so she can bring the owner back together with his runaway bride. In The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse's friend Terry Bellefleur has had a series of Catahoulas as his prized pets. The Bellamy Brothers included the Cajun-influenced song Catahoula on their 1997 album Over the Line. The song has also been released as a music video. In the novel Cry Wolf by Tami Hoag (copyright 1993), the lead male character Jack Boudreaux is purported to be the owner of a Catahoula named Huey. In Adam Johnson's novel, The Orphan Master's Son (2012), the protagonist is presented with a Catahoula puppy, which he sends to a prominent North Korean film star. The dog serves an important role in the story, and its breed's behavioral traits are featured in its interactions with the human characters. Actor Sylvester Stallone is the proud owner of a Catahoula named "Spooky" In Bones, Season 8, episode 21 "The Maiden in the Mushrooms", the murder of a court TV show producer was over a "leopard dog", or Catahoula. In the Discovery Channel TV show, Alaska: The Last Frontier, Eivin and Eve Kiltcher own a Catahoula. In the "No Looking Back" CD, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown performs the song "Alligator Eating Dog" about a Catahoula Hound. The song was written by John Loude |
