Native to the lush , damp greenery of Louisiana , Catahoula Panthera pardus dogs ( sometimes called the Catahoula leopard cur ) have been developed as outstandingly various working dogs . In their dwelling state , you ’ll find Catahoulas tax with herding cattle , pretend as guard dog , retrieving water bird , and hunt wild Sus scrofa .
Aloof toward stranger , Catahoula leopard modernise strong attachment with their family unit and can make great family dog . Bred with a strong independent streak , Catahoulas are n’t afraid to stand up for themselves and require a bit of solitaire . But when they ’re properly trained with positive reenforcement , Catahoulas can be your double-dyed pup .
Appearance
Catahoula leopard weenie are striking . Because the primary concern of their breeding livestock is their working and herd ability , show is often a secondary concern , which has tolerate for a stunning amount of variance from frank to dog-iron , according to the National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas ( NALC ) .
Historically , all of today ’s Catahoulas come from three training lines , each of which produce dogs of different sizes and colors . Over the years , those three lines have been cross - breed again and again , result in the mutant we see today . Coats range fromsingle colors such as black , reddened , and icteric , tobrindle and double - brindle coats . You ’ll also see coats with the merle or " leopard " formula that hold the frump his name in shades of black , dispirited , and red . The variation is so gamy that two unanimous - coloured frank who are bred will often result in a litter of brindle or ousel - cake Catahoula Panthera pardus dog puppy .
These pawl typically have asmooth , shortsighted coator a coarse , average one . The short pelage is by far the most coarse . These coating are very close to the torso and glossy , giving the Catahoula an almost painted appearance . Though single - coated , theCatahoula throw off on a regular basis .
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In addition to their striking coating colorations , Catahoulas are well - known for their eye , which oftentimes make out in light colors ( or " crank " and " crack drinking glass " pattern ) that appear slate gray , pale blue , or livid . The Catahoula also carries the heterochromatic gene , so the stock is frequently seen with two different center colors .
Catahoulas stand roughly 2 substructure improbable and are slight , well - muscle dogs . Their faces feature boneheaded , broad muzzles and large , light-colored eye that give the Catahoula a sleepless , alert expression . Most Catahoulas have long , thin arse , but some dogs have bobbed tails that stop after the first or second vertebrae ; this is a by nature occurring variation and not the effect of docking .
Temperament
Catahoulas are fellow dog , rather than family frankfurter , because they are not felicitous lounging around . They need to be in a setting where they can indulge in their natural tilt of hunt and herding .
If you do n’t happen to exist on a cattle ranch or in the woods , Catahoulas will do well in houses withlarge , palisade yardsor other place where they can get about an hour ’s worth of strenuous employment every day . They alsodo well in lightness , herding , and obedience competition that help keep both their bodies and judgement fighting and engaged . Their ideal pet parent is patient , confident , and capable to offer their dog plenty of exercise .
Catahoulas are bright dogswho pick up on instruction clean quickly , as long as prescribed strengthener is used . And while they form deep bonds with their family , Catahoula leopard dogs have a course suspicious panorama towards strangers . Unless they’resocialized well during puppyhood , they will probablysound off when someone unexampled approaches .
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Living Needs
Catahoula Panthera pardus dogs are n’t urban center pups . Apartments are particularly bad choices for them , but anything that does n’t have a good - sized , fenced cubic yard is snuff it to think more lapse from you to guarantee their physical need are being met . If you ’re acamper , hunting watch , hiker , orrunner , these fighting , loyal dogsare going to love to go along with you . According to the NALC , they’reexcellent swimmer . And , of course , if you ’ve acquire a ranch or farm and something for them to crowd , you ’ve found your new full friend .
Catahoula Panthera pardus do best in single - animal households , though they can be cultivate to brook other dogs if they are socialize as pup . They can also be condition to dwell with cat they are invoke with , but region cats and small animals in the yard are probably going to be seen as something play to chase .
How well Catahoulas live with child will depend largely on how honest-to-goodness they are . Smaller nestling will start the risk of being accidentally knocked over by the active Catahoula . But older children , specially one who camp out or William Holman Hunt , will love them as companions .
Care
Catahoulas ' short , single coat will shed regularly , sobrushing them a mates times a weekwill help keep hairsbreadth off everything you own . It can also represent as a slap-up bonding activity with young puppy and their family units .
Along with brush , do n’t draw a blank totrim their nails . bathing tub are blend in to be strictly as - needed ( which could mean they ’re somewhat frequent , specially if you have a pup who loves to run away around outside 24/7).Keep their ears check up on and cleanso they do n’t get infect , andgive their teeth a regular brushing , too .
Like all heel , Catahoula leopard hounds thrive with incontrovertible reinforcement . These pups tend to have an main streak , so commence consistent training when they ’re new ( and do your patience ! ) .
Because they were bred to herd and body of work , these are dog thatneeda job to do . They wo n’t be felicitous sitting inside all Clarence Shepard Day Jr. while you ’re off at work . When you ’re busy or off from home base , make indisputable your pup has outlets for his big brain likepuzzlesandtoys , and alwaystake him out for a paseo , run , or another fun adventure when you return .
Health
The Catahoula leopard is afairly healthy strain . But , like all heel , there are some health conditions pet parents need to stay put vigilant for .
Hip dysplasiais common in many dog breeds , and the Catahoula is no different . This is a circumstance where the frump ’s hip articulation does n’t develop right , result to an unstable joint . It ’s typically corrected with surgery .
Another headache is geneticdeafness . According to a written report by Louisiana State University :
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Catahoulas with preponderantly white coloration are the most likely to be affected .
History
Born and bred in Louisiana , the Catahoula leopard blackguard dates to the very beginnings of the Louisiana Territory . Though accurate origins are as murky as the swamp of the South , it ’s generally assumed the stock came about when explorer Hernando de Soto and his Spanish conquistadors came to town and bred theirgreyhounds , mastiff , andbloodhoundswith the dogs owned by the Native American inhabitant , according to the American Kennel Club ( AKC).From that resulting stock , hound were additionally hybridize by French pelt trapper in the 1700s with their Beaucerons , which has leave in the dogs we know today .
With an eye towards single-valued function over contour , Catahoulas have a remarkably wide-ranging appearing in coating and eye people of colour , but all share that strong , watchful , turn disposal that makes them so handy in herding and hunt .
in the first place called the Catahoula leopard cur , the " Panthera pardus " descriptor is a credit to the spotted — or European blackbird — pattern the majority of the breed has . That was the name they were grow under when the Catahoula Leopard Cur Association was create in 1976 to help standardize breeding pattern and develop the breed standard for dog house club recognition . The name was formally changed to Catahoula Panthera pardus dog in 1979 when the strain was adopted as the prescribed State Dog of Louisiana . In 1996 , the breed was take into the AKC ’s Foundation Stock Service . The strain was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1995 .
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Fun Facts
Coat Color . National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas , Inc.
Breed - Specific Deafness preponderance In Dogs ( percentage ) . Louisiana State University .
Catahoula Leopard Dog . American Kennel Club .
State Symbols . State of Louisiana .
