The Catahoula Leopard Dog is the first working dog in the world. As a result, it is known as a skilled hunter and an excellent goat herder. As a hunter, the Catahoula likes to hunt animals such as boars, raccoons, squirrels, bears and deer. Also, it can be successfully used to detect narcotics.
The History of the Breed
Nowadays, the Catahoula Leopard is Louisiana's official dog and its name is believed to derive from the name of the Choctaw tribe; still, the exact origin of the breed is unknown. However, it is known to be descending from the Native American dog, red wolf and some European breeds, such as the Mastiff and hound. These last two breeds were brought to America by the Spanish explorers. Some people even believe that the French colonists added their own Beauceron dog to this combination of breeds. Whatever the case may be, it is a well-known fact that Native Americans used this exceptional animal for both hunting and herding. Furthermore, when the first white colonists came to the New World, they used this breed for hunting. This old tradition is still kept today.
Physical Description of the Catahoula Dog
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog is a medium sized breed (from 55 to 60 cm in height with a weight of 22 to 43 kg) with a muscular body, a massive head, powerful jaws, strong neck, medium-sized ears, small and sharp eyes (colored in blue or any other color), and a long, slightly curved tail. The coat is short, glossy and can have a variety of colors, including: blue leopard, red leopard, black, red, yellow and striped, brown and / or white.
The Personality of a Catahoula Leopard
The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard is a very loving animal, always playful and energetic, but cautious with strangers and extremely territorial. The only problem you may have with this dog is that it tends to dominate and take control. In order to avoid this, you need to know that this dog needs professional training. So, if you try to train it yourself, you will, very probably, fail. In this case, it is better to take the dog to a specialized trainer at an early age, because, as a puppy, it is very eager to learn new things. This eagerness, along with its high energy level, if not controlled, can eventually become a problem. However, this is most certainly not its fault but just its natural instinct. Consequently, it is your duty as an owner of a Catahoula dog to be well informed about the dogs temperament and choose what is best for it.
The Grooming and Care of this Breed
A major advantage of the Catahoula Leopard is its unpretentious coat, which does not require regular grooming or special care. On the other hand, it is a well-known fact that this dog needs space to run and, as a result, will not adapt to apartment life so easily. The perfect living place for this breed would probably be a hunting lodge or a house with a large yard. However, if you live in an apartment and you want to purchase a Catahoula Leopard dog, exercises are recommended along with plenty of socialization with other dogs.
