Catahoula Leopard Dog

[dp in nd]

Does anyone on this board have any experience with this breed of dog ?.I have been thinking of getting a puppy and was looking at getting a Catahoula. I live on an acreage. What are some thoughts and concerns to owning this breed of dog?

 

[john in la]

I have a full breed Catahoula and a half Catahoula half Pit Bull.

First thing you need to know is you will never "own" a Catahoula.
They are like a child.
You may discipline them and keep them in line but you will never dominate them.
After a couple of years you will swear the dog can read your mind as it knows what you want by your body language rather than you having to tell it.

Knowing what you want the dog for would help as they are great cow dogs (header not a healer) great hunting dogs (mostly hogs) and great family protection dogs.

For a family dog they are great if you keep it exercised. Leave it locked in a house all day and never let it run and it will tear your house apart. They are great with kids.

Here is a picture of my half Catahoula as a puppy sleeping with my grand daughter.

And then it sleeping in the baby swing because it missed her when she went home.

For home protection you will not find a more dedicated dog.
Would you open a gate if this was on the other side.

I would love to paint a doom and gloom picture about a Catahoula because they are not for everyone.
But if you can get past their rambunctious and assertive attitude; and realize they are a herding dog breed for years to use antagonization and intimidation everyday in their job; they make a great dog.

A story the old timers tell on how the breed became to be what it is today.
We are not worried about coat or eye color we want a dog that will work.
Let a litter of 8 puppies out to do a job.
Shoot the first 2 that return because they gave up to fast.
Shoot the last 2 that return as they are to slow and do not stay with the pack.
Keep the 4 middle pups to train and raise.

 

[dp in nd]

Just one for a pet. I have no livestock. Will not be locked up in a pen 24/7.

 

[Billy Shafer]

I have four on my feed route. Two will run the cows away from the gates I need to get through.Great friendly dogs never had a problem with any of them. They will protect the family. Never lock one up in a truck. They will take it apart. They have to be free to roam.

 

[john in la]

I have no live stock or hunt either.
Like I said they make a great family dog if you keep it exercised and realize they are bred to be a intimidating dog.
Think of it as a border collie on steroids.
A border collie herds by chasing at the heals.
A Catahoula is bred to face a cow head on and make it move threw intimidation.

They get this trait from being bred to hunt hogs originally.

If you have young children I will add watch it around kids.
Not for the kids safety but for everyone else's safety.
They are a very protective dog of their family group and young kids they play with all day top the list.

 

[Dan in North Houston]

Great dogs but not suited for in town living. They have the energy of a puppy their whole life. Instinctive herding dogs, ours would ignore a walker going by but would try to herd a jogger up the driveway.

 

[pat sublett]

My experience; they are different. Mine was 2 years old when I got her. Two weeks after I got her, the guy that I got her from came to borrow my trailer; She wouldn't let him hook it up until I got there. His wife came a few days later and she got between me and the woman and growled every time she got close to me. I am sure they did not abuse her. I think she just thought she owned the place. I had to teacher not to growl at people but she was easy to train. The first time I started my backhoe she was on top of the fender with one leap. The people I got her from said she had never been around a tractor before. She would ride behind me with her head on my shoulder all day if I let her. I loved that dog more than any I ever had.

 

[GaryinKs]

The best dog I ever had was a Leopard Catahoula , very smart, sat in the seat of a tractor like the dog in the picture, lived to be over 14 years old.She could be taught to do things in just a few minutes.

 

[kj(seil)]

they can chew the dash up in a heart beat.

 

[Billy Shafer]

I have a friend. Got one as a pup told me he is only a pup. What can he do.A dash,steering wheel and a seat later he found out.

 

[Billy Shafer]

That is the same look my wife used to give me.

 

[Dodgeit]

(quoted from post at 08:34:38 06/25/17) I have a full breed Catahoula and a half Catahoula half Pit Bull.

First thing you need to know is you will never "own" a Catahoula.
They are like a child.
You may discipline them and keep them in line but you will never dominate them.
After a couple of years you will swear the dog can read your mind as it knows what you want by your body language rather than you having to tell it.

Knowing what you want the dog for would help as they are great cow dogs (header not a healer) great hunting dogs (mostly hogs) and great family protection dogs.

For a family dog they are great if you keep it exercised. Leave it locked in a house all day and never let it run and it will tear your house apart. They are great with kids.

Here is a picture of my half Catahoula as a puppy sleeping with my grand daughter.


<img src="https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a80275.jpg">


And then it sleeping in the baby swing because it missed her when she went home.


<img src="https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a80274.jpg">


For home protection you will not find a more dedicated dog.
Would you open a gate if this was on the other side.


<img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y137/johnLA/008.jpg">


I would love to paint a doom and gloom picture about a Catahoula because they are not for everyone.
But if you can get past their rambunctious and assertive attitude; and realize they are a herding dog breed for years to use antagonization and intimidation everyday in their job; they make a great dog.

A story the old timers tell on how the breed became to be what it is today.
We are not worried about coat or eye color we want a dog that will work.
Let a litter of 8 puppies out to do a job.
Shoot the first 2 that return because they gave up to fast.
Shoot the last 2 that return as they are to slow and do not stay with the pack.
Keep the 4 middle pups to train and raise.

I agree with most of what John says here. There are two different bloodlines/types of catahoula leopard I found in doing research on them. The full sized hound (western breed) and a slightly smaller one (Louisiana swamp style). Both are great dogs, but must have a job to do till they are about 6 or 7, then they start to chill a bit. I've had both types and they had exactly the same temperament. They have a pack mentality (family is the pack), but must be reminded about every 6 months who the Alpha male is. In my case it was nothing more than holding the head with both hands and making them look into my eyes while I chewed butt. They will be your most loyal and true friend you ever had, and are great with kids THAT they consider part of the pack. Other children not so much, nor people for that matter. After they get some age to them, they start to appreciate being inside and can be left alone all day no problem (7 and up depending).

Lastly they must understand, and you must be willing to assert the fact you are the ALPHA. Once that is established and periodically re-established when tested things will be just fine.

Like John says they are not for everyone, but you'll never have a different breed once you've had a positive experience owning one.