Catahoula Leopard Dog

[ArpeggioAngel]

Been a long time folks... hope all my old friends here are doing well.
The last two years have been quite a ride for me which is why I haven't been around. Lost a job, got a new job that required me working crazy hours, snake collection reduced greatly due to horrible finances etc.....
Finally back in a much more manageable job with better pay and better hours so hopefully I will have more of an opportunity to pop my head in here now and again.

Many of my friends here will remember that I had three dogs - a GSD, a wolf mix and a rottie. Last year both my wolf mix and my GSD passed away due to old age and some health issues. Since then, my rottie has been a little lonely. I still have my cats and she adores them, but has been needing someone her own "size" to play with. So I recently started looking into getting another dog. I have an "appt" on Sunday to go meet a rescue Catahoula Leopard Dog. He is 9months old and was found as a stray. From the research I have done they seem like what I am looking for in a dog, although I am a little wary of how he would do with my cats. But, I thought of anywhere I could check with people who might have first hand knowledge this would be the place. I know so many people here who own different breeds or have experience with different breeds so wanted to put it out there and see if anyone has any advice or input/info on this particular breed?

Any and all feedback appreciated and hope to catch up with all of you along the way!

 

[Nanci]

I'm so glad you're looking at a rescue dog, not a puppy.

 

[DragonsDenSerpents]

I have a Catahoula. They are very independent dogs, so training and bonding is a MUST. They are a herding breed technically (mine will indeed herd other dogs and people, though he's not as bad as some collies I've worked with), but keep in mind they are bred to do a job (wild hog hunting) and use their own brains about that job. Mine is okay with cats and small creatures, but they do have a high chase drive. Three hour walks minimum daily are required with Remy or he'll start to go nuts. We split it up into hour and a half long walks each, but at 9 months, your pup should get less than that to protect his joints. Remy gets puzzle toys and is fed a raw diet so he is kept occupied when we're not home or just wanting to relax. They're extremely smart, so rotate their toys and keep them mentally stimulated with training, puzzle toys, games, walks (in different places), etc.

 

[Outcast]

I grew up with them. My family actually used to breed them for shows, hunters, ranchers, etc... They need a job, they are extremely intelligent and active dogs. 9 months is a great age. He is still young enough to be taught that Catahoula does not mean Cats are food. We used to have a few of them that would guard our chickens from racoons and stuff. Every once in a while they would try to play with a chicken and it would end up dead, but they knew that they weren't to eat them and that they were in trouble... They are really great dogs, I hope to get one as my PTSD service dog, if I can find one in the area. That way he/she has a job to do. They are great family pets as well, though some do become rather protective of their "pack". If you want I can find a little bit of history on the breed as well for you.

 

[Outcast]

Have to add, this breed is easily my favorite breed of dog. They are almost the corn snakes of the dog world, because they come in all types of color variations https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...urce=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=tcb5ULriEYWO2gWQz4H4BA

 

[DragonsDenSerpents]

Yep, even the general body type can vary since they were bred for purpose, not a particular look. My boy is more slender, slightly sighthound-ish in build:

That's his "Comeoncomeoncomeon lemme go find whatever you just hid!" pose. :laugh:

 

[Outcast]

The ones we bred were typically mid size and muscular. I guess that is why so many of them went on as hog dogs...LOL. I really miss having a catahoula... Though I think that my pound puppy may have a little in her blood lines, the way she acts half the time...LOL

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Thanks guys! The one I am looking at was found as a stray. The people who found him didn't know what kind of dog he was so when they took him to the local shelter to get fixed and shots they put "unknown" under breed. When they picked him back up someone had filled in Catahoula. Since then they have had a couple Catahoula breeders stop in to look at him just to see if he was a "real" Catahoula or just some creepy people trying to pass him off as one and apparently these breeders have all agreed that they think he is purebred. He is a blue merle and looks like he has one blue eye (I think I read they call it cracked glass or something along those lines) and one brown eye.

They wanted to keep him, but their son is home schooled and as much as he doesn't want to spend the time working with the dog (it was supposed to be his), it is also becoming a distraction from his schooling. They said the dog is great with other dogs and doesn't appear to want to harm their cats although their cats are not tolerating him very well. Mine are used to rowdy dogs so I am hoping they would do ok. I also work at home so he won't ever be truly "alone" and we have a large fenced yard for him to run in.

Apparently he is extremely smart and has learned how to open the door on their porch as well as the window!

It has been a LONG time since I got a new dog. I didn't necessarily want a young puppy, but still wanted something young enough that would bond with us and be trainable. But the search for the right dog is more overwhelming that I remember.


EDIT TO ADD - I have done quite a bit of research on the breed online but thought the best knowledge would be first hand knowledge!

 

[Outcast]

If you ever get to know any of the breeders in your area you should ask them if they have any Terra Cotta dogs in the blood lines... Those come from my families "farm" back when we were breeding them. We sold puppies to people from all over the country. Had a guy drive to Oklahoma, from California, to pick one up. And another from the east coast... I really miss having catahoulas.

 

[Outcast]

That's his "Comeoncomeoncomeon lemme go find whatever you just hid!" pose. :laugh:

My dog gives me that look when she knows that I am being dumb....LOL

 

[Shiari]

My catahoula/lab thought anything smaller than about 20lbs was food. This meant cats, small dogs, raccoons, etc. He caught a wild field mouse when he was 7 months old. There was no changing his hunting drive even from such a young age. He was not good with other dogs (my fault!) for the most part, but was fabulous with family and *any* child. He wanted nothing more than to be surrounded by dozens of young kids.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

So I went and met the dog yesterday...and ended up not getting him. He was beautiful and sweet, but just not the right fit for our home.
I think with Roxy we are actually going to look at getting a puppy. She got along well with him, but being a little older he was a little rough for her. We think with a puppy she will stand a better chance of asserting herself as the Alpha dog and knowing her personality will probably "adopt" a puppy as her own. He also seemed more like a "dog's dog" than a person dog. He was friendly, but not really interested in getting to know new people at all which I think would not have boded well for good bonding or training at this point. I wish it would've worked out, but I haven't given up hope!

I will still look at going through a rescue or shelter even for a puppy and have already found a few I think I may go look at this week/weekend.

 

[airenlow]

Glad to see you back on the forum, KT! Good luck with your search! You can always borrow The Kenz when you are in OH...