Catahoula Leopard Puppy - Profile | Traits | Care

The hard-working Catahoula Leopard Dog and puppy, the official canine of Louisiana, was developed to catch and drive wild hogs and cattle to market. When he’s off-duty, the Catahoula Leopard puppy is a wonderful family dog who’s each protecting and affectionate.

Catahoula Leopard Puppy Profile

The Catahoula Leopard Dog, brief for Louisiana Catahoula Leopard puppy, is believed to have originated in northern Louisiana. The job of those rugged however lovely “hog dogs” was to drive livestock to slaughter.

Today, he’s nonetheless more of a working dog than a pet, however, he’s undoubtedly versatile. If you don’t have hogs for him to boss around, he’s eligible to compete in American Kennel Club companion occasions, similar to agility, obedience, and rally. Considering his smarts and athleticism, he’ll seemingly beat out all of the competitors.

You also can rely on the Catahoula Leopard puppy to look over you and your property. Although he’s aloof towards people he doesn’t know, the Catahoula Leopard puppy ought to by no means be shy or aggressive. When he’s round his family, he’s mild, loyal, at all times affectionate—to not point out a clown at heart.

The Catahoula Leopard puppy is a powerful, impartial canine who requires agency leadership. The breed’s exercise level varies from particular person to particular person, however, it’s clever to imagine that he’s going to demand a great deal of train.

Always stroll him on a leash, so he doesn’t apply his aggressive driving skills on different animals. The Catahoula Leopard puppy can adapt to dwelling indoors or outdoor, however, he wants a securely fenced yard—together with loads of human companionship.

History

When the first settlers arrived in Louisiana, they found that the state’s woods have been overrun with wild hogs, in order that they bred their very own herding dogs with canines belonging to native Native Americans.

The end result was a tricky and savvy dog able to taking up ferocious wild hogs, in addition to different fierce livestock. Additional dogs who could have figured into his ancestry: mastiffs, sighthounds, Beaucerons, and even red wolves.

For a few years, the dogs have been generally known as Catahoula Leopard Dog curs. In 1979, they have been formally named Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dogs, once they have been chosen to be the state canine of Louisiana.

In 1995, the United Kennel Club acknowledged the breed. The following year, the Catahoula Leopard puppy joined the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service, the first step towards AKC recognition.

Facts

The Catahoula Leopard puppy has a placing, short- to medium-length coat that may be spotted, brindle, patched, or stable.

Catahoula Leopard Dogs have distinctive eyes colored blue, green, brown, or amber. Some of them include odd eyes—each is a special coloration—or two-colored “cracked” eyes.

Legend has it that the name Catahoula was derived from the Muskogee phrase for Choctaw.

Catahoula Leopard Puppy Temperament and Personality

If you desire a dog who will work laborious and hunt laborious, the Catahoula Leopard puppy is the breed for you. If you favor a dog who’s strictly a family companion, effectively, he can do this, too.

The Catahoula Leopard puppy is first and foremost a working dog, but when these instincts are fulfilled by inventory work, looking huge game, or another activity, he’s comfortable to spend the remainder of his time at home as a loving family dog. He’s additionally a wonderful watchdog—if he doesn’t like somebody, worth his opinion.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is an efficient playmate for older kids, however, a pet is perhaps too rambunctious around toddlers.

If he’s raised with cats, he can get together with them—however, he could chase outside cats. And should you’re entertaining the thought of including one other dog in your family, go for one of much opposite sex?

Start coaching your pet the day you convey his house. Even at eight weeks old, he’s able to absorb all the pieces you possibly can educate him. Don’t wait till he’s 6 months old to start coaching or you should have a more headstrong dog to take care of.

If possible, get him into pet kindergarten class by the point he’s 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize. However, remember that many pet coaching courses require sure vaccines (like kennel cough) to be updated, and plenty of veterinarians advocate restricted publicity to different dogs and public locations till pet vaccines (together with rabies, distemper, and parvovirus) have been accomplished.

In lieu of formal coaching, you possibly can start coaching your pet at home and socializing him amongst family and buddies till pet vaccines are accomplished.

A Catahoula Leopard Dog wants loads of companionship and exercise to be comfortable—the equal of not less than one hour of strenuous train each day. Otherwise, he can flip harmful, to not point out vocal.

If you don’t have livestock or game for him to herd or observe, and also you don’t take him looking on a regular basis, a few long walks or runs ought to do the trick.

He’s additionally a great mountaineering companion, with a high level of endurance and the flexibility to navigate any terrain. The phrase to recollect should you personal a Catahoula Leopard Dog: A drained dog is an efficient dog.

Catahoula Leopard Puppy Grooming

The Catahoula Leopard Dog’s coat, which sheds reasonably, ranges from brief and modern to medium in size and coarse, with slight feathering on the hind legs, tail, and stomach.

In both cases, brush him weekly to maintain his coat gleaming, and provides him a shower a couple of times a year. The relaxation is routine care: regular manicure and ear cleansing, in addition to tooth brushing with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good general health and contemporary breath.

Catahoula Leopard Puppy Health

The Catahoula Leopard puppy is usually wholesome, however, the breed is prone to hip dysplasia and deafness. At a minimum, ask the breeder to indicate proof that your pet’s parents have hip evaluations from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), in addition to a BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) analysis for deafness from the OFA.

Careful breeders display screen their dogs for genetic illness, and solely breed the best-looking specimens, however, typically Mother Nature has different concepts and a pet can develop one among these situations.

In most instances, he can nonetheless reside an excellent life, due to advances in veterinary drugs. But it’s nonetheless vital to decide on a good breeder, and demand upon seeing impartial certification {that a} pet’s parents have been screened for frequent defects and deemed wholesome for breeding.

And keep in mind that you’ve got the ability to guard your Catahoula Leopard puppy against one of the vital frequent health issues: weight problems. Keeping him at an acceptable weight is an easy strategy to prolong your dog’s life.

Catahoula Leopard Puppy – Profile | Traits | Care | Behavior