Understanding the Catahoula Leopard Dog: 9 Key Facts

The Lousiana Catahoula leopard dog is one rare and special breed. Also called a Catahoula cur or just a “hog dog”, this breed has been the state dog of Lousiana for over 40 years. Named after Lake Catahoula, these dogs’ genealogy includes a lot of other breeds, including native American canines, Greyhounds, mastiffs, and others.

Despite this mixed heritage, the Catahoula cur has a very stable breed standard today and it’s recognized by most major kennel clubs in the US. And yet, the breed isn’t all that popular with pet owners. Why is that? We’ll go over the 9 things to know about the Catahoula leopard dog below and we’ll see whether or not this dog is suitable for you and your family.

9 things to consider before getting a Catahoula leopard dog

These large and powerful dogs are roughly a bit larger than a Labrador Retriever – up to 26 inches of height (66 cm) and as much as 90 pounds of weight (40 kg). They are different than labs in a great many ways, however, which is why labs are the most popular pet breed today and the Catahoula curs aren’t.

This isn’t to say that the Lousiana state breed is “bad”, however, on the contrary. These special dogs have a lot of things going for them. They just also have a few specifics that dog owners need to be aware of before they adopt or buy such a dog.

1. Catahoula leopard dogs can make for phenomenal family companions but are not suitable for inexperienced dog owners

These dogs are smart, faithful, hard-working, and very loyal to their owners. However, all that is dependent on the type of upbringing and training the Catahoula cur is going to get. These large and powerful dogs can be a bit too much to handle for novice dog owners. And, while that’s fine with smaller dogs, it’s less than ideal for a dog that gets as heavy as 90 pounds.

Does this mean that the Catahoula cur is inherently aggressive and unwieldy? Yes and no. The Catahoula leopard dog was bred to be a wild hog herding dog so aggression was a part of the job. That’s why adequate obedience training is important – to make sure that your dog behaves itself properly at home and around guests or strangers.

2. These dogs need a yard and lots of outdoor time but aren’t “yard dogs”

As a working and herding dog, the Catahoula leopard dog requires a lot of physical exercise. Most people say that they require about an hour of outdoor time but even that’s insufficient. If you want your Catahoula pet to stay healthy and happy, you’d need to offer about two hours of outdoor time a day. This should be divided into two 1-hour walks, preferably with some jogging and dog park time tossed in too.

What’s more, the Catahoula needs a yard too. The yard should be very well-fenced to prevent escapes but it should also be big enough for your dog to run around and play in. Also, keep in mind that this yard time isn’t a substitute for the outdoor time and walks – it’s a necessary addition to it. Catahoulas don’t adapt well to apartment living because of their high energy levels and large size.

3. The Catahoula “hog dogs” are herding, working, guard, and watchdogs

This is one of the best multi-task work breed out there. Catahoula leopard dogs were initially bred to be cattle and wild hog herding dogs, however, they’ve served all types of other tasks too. They are great working dogs to have around any farm and outdoor property. And, their guarded and protective nature also make them fantastic guard and watchdogs.

Unfortunately, those same characteristics make them ill-suited for many families. The Catahoula cur is just a bit too guarded and wary of strangers for many dog owners.

4. If you want a Catahoula leopard dog you should get ready for meticulous and extensive obedience training and socialization

With everything we’ve said up until now, it ought to be clear that the Catahoula leopard dog requires a bit of work. Training such a dog should start early and it should be thorough, firm, and fair. This doesn’t mean that you should be harsh with the dog or that you should use negative reinforcement, however.

On the contrary, a Catahoula dog will respond best to a strict and firm training regime that **substitutes negative reinforcement with persistence, rules, and lots of positive reinforcement **for awarding success and good behavior. These dogs need to learn to obey early but they also need to learn to love and appreciate you as their owner – that’s where their protective instincts and loyalty are going to come from.

Socialization is similarly crucial – with both other dogs and other people. You should start the socialization process as early as possible. It also needs to be thorough – your Catahoula will always be wary of strangers even with good socialization, but it at least won’t be aggressive if you’ve done your job well.

5. These dogs can get along with other dogs and pets but are generally recommended for single-pet households

A Catahoula leopard dog can get along with other dogs and even with non-canine pets. However, that largely hinges on whether or not the dog has been raised together with those other animals.

If you’ve raised your Catahoula from the earliest possible age with your other dog or cat, the Catahoula cur will accept it as a pack member. However, if you suddenly introduce a new pet to your home, chances are that your Catahoula will perceive it as either prey or an enemy.

6. Catahoula curs are pretty healthy overall

A breed not being overly popular with pet owners has its benefits. The lack of over breeding and inbreeding in this dog’s history means that it’s quite healthy and doesn’t have that many hereditary diseases and conditions.

Of course, no breed is immune to health problems and you should still watch out for things such as Hip and Elbow Dysplasia and deafness. However, if you take good care of your pup, it should have little trouble reaching and surpassing the average lifespan of 10 to 14 years for this breed.

And, to make sure that you’ve got a healthy pup in the first place, always be careful where you’re taking the dog from. If you’re buying, make sure that you avoid puppy mills at all costs. Instead, only shop from reputable breeders who breed their dogs responsibly and offer health certificates for all their pups. If you’re adopting, make sure to ask for detailed medical information and history.

7. These dogs are highly intelligent but not necessarily easy to train

People often conflate intelligence with trainability. The two are connected but not as much as you might think. There are plenty of highly intelligent breeds that are difficult to train and vice versa. The Catahoula leopard dog belongs to the former. These dogs are smart, impressively so. However, their strong character and willful nature mean that they are difficult to train.

8. Catahoulas get along with kids of all ages but still need supervision

The loyal and protective nature of the Catahoula leopard dog makes this breed a good children’s guardian. However, this doesn’t mean that leaving a toddler unsupervised with a Catahoula cur is a good idea. These dogs are so large and powerful, and small kids can act so illogical at times, that constant supervision is strongly recommended at all times.

This goes double when your child has guests and playdates. Because of its hyperactive protective nature, a Catahoula dog is very likely to perceive the playtime of your child’s friends as aggression toward your kid. And you don’t want to see a Catahoula’s response to such perceived “aggression”.

9. The Catahoula leopard dog tends to drool but doesn’t shed much and is overall easy to groom

Last but not least – grooming. Catahoulas have short and uniquely colored coats that don’t shed that much. They are also easy to brush and groom which makes that aspect of the Catahoula care pretty low-maintenance. Be mindful of drooling, however – Catahoulas don’t drool quite as much as a Newfie or a Bernese mountain dog but they do drool.

In conclusion, the Catahoula leopard dog is one of those breeds that not all people would do well but that special few will love to the bottom of their hearts. Catahoulas are faithful, strong, loving, and very protective. They require a firm and fair hand in training but they can repay that with a decade and a half of love.

Just make sure that you take care of this dog well, train it properly, you give it plenty of exercise, as well as lots of mental stimulation, and everything should work out just fine. If either of those points sounds like it’d be a problem, however, you’d do well to consider a different breed instead.