Breed Spotlight: Catahoula Leopard Dog

Coat Type and Colors

Catahoulas have a single short coat that is smooth and varies in color and markings. They can also come in a range of coat colors and patterns, from red merle and brindle to solid blue and chocolate.³ They can also come with tan markings and white trim.

Ears

The Catahoula leopard dog’s ears are triangular shaped and drop, similar to other hound breeds and Labs.

Shedding and Grooming

Catahoula leopard dogs are low maintenance when it comes to grooming, as they don’t have any special needs or requirements. A Catahoula’s coat sheds regularly so weekly brushing and occasional baths are all that’s needed to help keep your dog looking and feeling their best.³

However, if your Catahoula loves to play outside, they may get dirty more often and need more frequent bathing. Remember to keep their nails trimmed, teeth brushed, and ears cleaned for optimal comfort and health.

Drooling Level

Catahoulas aren’t known for excessive drooling.⁵ You most likely won’t have to worry about them slobbering all over everything, maybe just their toys.

Behavior

Catahoulas are extremely loyal. If you make a Catahoula leopard dog part of your family, they will be highly loving and devoted to everyone who lives in your home. However, they can be protective and independent, and will stand up for themselves if they feel they’ve been mistreated.3 Socializing Catahoulas early and providing them with firm positive training can help mitigate unwanted behavior.

While Catahoulas have such strong personalities, they aren’t typically aggressive. They can make good guard dogs because they’re reserved around strangers and can appear intimidating.⁶

Exercise Needs

Make sure to give your Catahoula plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Catahoulas were bred to herd livestock and work — they need to have something to occupy them so they don’t become destructive.³ They also need lots of exercise! 

Catahoulas shouldn’t be kept indoors or in small spaces for long periods of time, and typically won’t be content sitting at home without something to do while you’re away.⁵ They’re usually better suited for homes with a big fenced-in space to run around in, as this breed’s chase instinct could make them travel too far from home. But if you can take them on lots of walks throughout the day, they might be okay living in an apartment. 

Catahoula leopard dogs are also strong swimmers and likely to excel in organized sports like agility courses.³ 

Good with Other Pets?

While Catahoulas are generally good with children, they may not always be good with other dogs, and usually do well in a single-dog household. You may be able to train them to live with another dog or possibly a cat if they’re socialized with them as a puppy.⁵

Keep in mind that, due to their hunting dog nature, Catahoulas may find smaller animals more fun to chase than to live with.

Trainability

Catahoula leopard dogs are known for their independence, tending toward stubbornness, and are commonly high-energy. Because of these personality traits, they can be somewhat difficult to train if you don’t have the patience and consistency required.⁵ This is why Catahoulas are recommended for experienced pet parents.

It’s important to assert yourself as the person in charge. A professional dog trainer can help if you don’t feel up to the job. Catahoulas are also very intelligent, so they’ll catch on quickly during your training sessions as long as they’re willing to focus and cooperate. Positive reinforcement will go much farther than discipline.

Good with Kids?

The Catahoula leopard dog’s temperament of affection and loyalty makes them generally good with kids. Overall, Catahoulas are protective, and can be a good family dog if you and your children love to do outdoor activities you can bring them along on. But this breed has a lot of energy and can be very independent. So they may be too much for quiet children, children with little patience, or small children that can be easily knocked over.

Barking Level

Catahoulas don’t bark a lot, and will usually only do so to alert their owners when a stranger is approaching.⁵

Catahoula Leopard Dog: A History

It’s clear that Catahoulas are a unique and special breed of dog. Originally bred in Louisiana, Catahoulas were named the official state dog in 1979.⁵ While the exact origin of the Catahoula is unknown, some people speculate that Spanish settlers in the Southeastern United States bred mastiffs, bloodhounds, and greyhounds with the Native Americans’ wolf-like dogs.³ The name Catahoula actually has Choctaw roots and means “sacred lake.”³ They were crossbred again when the French arrived with their Beaucerons to get the Louisiana Catahoula leopard dog we know today.⁵

In Central Louisiana, around Catahoula Lake, Catahoula dogs were bred and used to help wrangle wild hogs and cattle.³ They worked differently than other herding breeds by creating a canine fence around the herds using their bodies, and waiting for their master to tell them where to drive the herd. This working dog instinct is still found in today’s Catahoulas, which is why they always need a job to do.