Catahoula Leopard Dog

5/14/2006

Rating: TBA (2vote/s)

My Catahoula, Maya ,found me, came running up to me while working outside and literally ran me over even though she was just a pup, 3-4 months. After meeting, I found that she had likely been thrown from a truck. (The town I was working in has a bad record for visitors-fisherman and hunters throwning out and or killing obviously unwanted animals. The punishment should be to have the same done to the guilty) She didnt want to have anything to do with getting in or around my truck. I really didnt need or want a dog, and for serveral days tried to ignore her but she would not leave, I didnt even feed her.

After returning home after three days and finding her still waiting, I couldn't resist her and her personality. We've been together ever since. She is multiple shades of browns, whites, and black, and has one solid blue/white eye and the other a dark deep brown. At about 68-70 lbs. she is a powerful, agile, and full of energy- she needs lots of exercise or else gets pushy and restless. It's not a problem for us, she goes everywhere with us.

Her behavior marvels others, they often comment that they wish their dogs would behave as her. She is great with children and small animals, but can be a bit overly curious and friendly with certain dogs, and completely ignore others. Although I have never trained her for hunting, she has proven to be quite the huntress. She will catch any bird, squirrel, rat, mouse, or possum that doesnt keep its guard up in her presence, and has often left it as a gift for us.

She is quite the talker/singer/howeler, and is very vocal. She will even sing along with a bamboo flute...I have trained her in obediance as well as a number of other tricks. She responds to words, sign language, and I would sware that we somehow communicate in some other mental sort of language...She is very intelligent and will use it to her advantage if given the opportunity. I would never recomend a catahoula for someone that cannot dedicate large amounts of time for exercise, loving, playing, and companionship...

Robert Webster Humpidge

Buck, my Catahoula Life-Saver

7/2/2005

Rating: TBA (13vote/s)

My Dog Buck is a real life-saver. Picked him up on short notice at pound in Brevard NC August 2004. He was 10months old and only two days from being put down. Buck was in bad shape from being in the forest alone for several months and only weighed about 45pounds: Animal Control Agents said he did not poo anything but squirrel parts, grass, berries and acorns for the first week they had him. He has since "healed up" and is now a 75#+ package of masculine beauty, muscle, teeth, hair, spirit, tenacity, intelligence, love and loyalty--smartest and most personable dog I have ever owned or met. Gorgeouse White/Tan/Blue/Black coat with copious leopard spots on his skin and in his coat, which is of the single-layer low-maintenance type.

His left-eye is solid Blue/Glass and right Brown/BlueCracked. Large, powerful head and mawl, with sinewly and strongly-supple neck and spine. He is deep chested and extremely agile and athletic...a joy to watch just running and bounding around the backyard. He is so fast that at night he appears in & out of the brush as a graceful ghost, flying low and here and gone in less than a blink of the eye. Did not know anything about Catahoulas, but folks in the Brevard area said that this was the breed I needed as bachelor/traveling artist/sportsman.

Bonded immediately, and less than four hours after saving his life from the pound, he saved my life for the first time, leading me down a mountain trail on the Eastern Continental Divide in the Dupont Forest (had gone to take photos of High Falls) when we got caught in torrential rain that washed out the trail and made seeing more than 30 feet very difficult. Buck realized I could not see the trail, took the lead, went 30 feet down trail, sat down and barked "Woof" until I found him, then repeated the process for two hours until we were back at my Jeep.

Got an empathic message from him, while we were drying off in the Jeep and sharing some jerky, that "You are pretty smart and a lot of fun for a two-legged dog, but next time it"s your turn to mark the trail, "cause I knew right where we were!" Truly "Lassie-Rescue" behaviour & I still cry thinking about it. He has also pulled me out of drowning situations at Gamble Rogers State Park in Flagler Beach, Florida, where my friend and mentor (Troubador Laurete of the State of Florida) drowned saving three Yankees in a run-out in 1991, and while fly-fishing in the Chatahoochee near Atlanta. Has also warded of felons, dangerous dogs, and other wild-beasts on campsites.

Have not had chance to hunt him much, but he will avidly pursue anything that moves, and is quite independent in his thinking in this area, so I have to watch him closely when we are out. Has even been known to "chase skirts" of the two-legged, human female species. Have had him out cutting cattle and he picked up on the process after being "tutored" for fifteen minutes by the alpha-female Catahoula at a friend's ranch outside St. Augustine, Florida.

He is marvelous with children, including my under-6 nephews, and I have witnessed him "herding & protecting" a pack of about 30 kindergarteners who were picknicking with their moms on the banks of the Chattahoochee while I was in mid-river fishing this past January. Agree with Nikki's comments above, especially about degree of dedication involved with "owning" Catahoulas and other breeds of this type. Buck, and his breed, are serious dogs, especially about work and protecting you and your family, with a huge capacity for love and clowning about, but are very willful, independent, and can be aloof and aggressive with strangers.

In Buck's case, he is so unusual in both appearance and temperment, as an Alpha-Dog-in-Training, that he receives (and can also dish out) a lot of dog-on-dog aggression: when confronted, he will not back down and has to be either verbally or forceably constrained. Worst problems I have are with other dog owners who do not keep their curs on lead in public parks and other areas--the males invariably, and some Alpha or Zeta females, take the opportunity to attack Buck & "prove themselves", so I have to forcilby intervene before Buck does them serious harm, and carry large walking sticks and an extra cinch-lead for this purpose.

Catahoulas are fastidious dogs, and are extremely reluctant to soil their homes, cars, and sleeping areas, so housebreaking is pretty much just a process of being attentive to their needs and cues. Catahoulas can retain their urine and be "crate trained". Buck, and his cousins, DO NOT respond to harsh discipline or beatings and cannot be controlled in this way: They will quickly turn sullen, or aggressive/hateful, or, most likely, will just find the first available way onto the next trail out of your life and into the embrace of someone more worthy of their companionship.

Catahoulas are reputed to be the oldest breed in North America and to have been breed originally by the American Indians from European Hounds, Mastiffs, Beucharons, et.al., mated with the Southeastern Red Wolf from which they retain their blue eyes and some Wolf-Temperment. They DO RESPOND quickly--usually learning new skills in only one or two passes--and with earnestness to consistent and loving training as long as you know how to do some "Dog Whispering", are something of a Wolf/Dog yourself, are capable & willing to assume the Alpha-Lead in the partnership, and are willing to let them be all the dog that they can be. Reciprocal Respect with strong leadership from you are the two keys to unlocking this breed"s natural instinct for collaboration, partnership and high-performance.

Would love to breed Buck, and have a couple dozen more of him around (think the Tom Hanks movie TURNER & HOOCH), as his temperment, loyalty, intelligence and strength are quite impressive--love to hear from you at Humpidge@Hotmail.com should you know of any available girl-dogs whose owners would not require a large stud-fee.

Nikki Ott

Catahoula Leopard Dogs

8/15/2004

Rating: TBA (19vote/s)

A Catahoula is 50+ pounds of muscle, hair, teeth and claws. Tautly muscled, rugged and athletic, this is a true all purpose breed. They are intense stock workers, guard and hunting dogs but are also used for service work, search and rescue, agility, companions and family pets. They are highly adaptable to nearly any environment and can be found all over the world. An added benefit is their single layed coat. With no undercoat they are truely a "wash and wear" kind of dog. On the down side, they shed constantly year round. The Catahoula personality is something to behold. They are affectionate, faithful and loyal. They are completely devoted and protective of their families and above all their children. Any person who has Catahoulas will tell you that you do not own a Catahoula, he owns you. He is your self appointed guardian whether you like it or not. Your children are his children and he takes this very seriously. A Catahoula also tends to be a clown and will join any activity whatever it may be. These dogs have more personality that some people. But be warned, without proper socailization this dog can be your worse nightmare. These dogs have an independent take-charge nature that can be rambunctious, restless and destructive. They require an experienced or at least educated dog owner who can provide at least hour of physical exercise daily, training and above all patience. Given the proper training and environment this dog can turn the worst critic to a avid enthusiast for the breed.