LOUISIANA CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG (CATAHOULA CUR)

Apartment Living

Good for 1st Time Owners

Tolerance Levels

Affection for Family

Kid Friendliness

Stranger Friendliness

Ease of Grooming

General Health

Trainability

Prey Drive

Exercise Needs

Energy Level

History

The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is named after Catahoula Parish in Louisiana, United States. The dog was considered as the state dog in 1979 when the governor, Edwin Edwards signed a bill. From then onwards its name changed to Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. The Louisiana Catahoula Cur Association was started in 1976, and in 1977 the American Catahoula Association and the National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas began.

Temperament and Personality

Catahoula hound is loving and protective towards its members of the family and can be aggressive and assertive when at work. They are wary of strangers, so socialization at an early stage is essential for them to react to appropriate situations. It forms an excellent watchdog as they will bark to alert its owner if they see something unusual. Also, it does not like to be left alone for a long period and wants a lot of interacting sessions. When they are pooch, they are very curious and playful, but eventually as it grows, it becomes territorial and independent.

Exercise

Catahoula cur puppies are energetic and require a vigorous amount of activity to channelize their energy level. At least one hour of long leash walk or jogging every day is necessary to keep them fit both mentally and physically. The dog is not compatible with apartment life and they require a yard or a fenced area to run freely.

Grooming

According to the type of coat the dog has, it does not require much of maintenance and care. Brush its fur weekly to maintain its shine and bathe them only when necessary to avoid dirt. Other grooming sessions include cleaning of teeth frequently, trimming of nails monthly and checking and wiping its ears now and then.

Health Problems

The most common problem of catahoula leopard puppies is that it suffers from is bilateral or unilateral genetic disease. Otherwise, it is a healthy breed but can inherit some of the health issues like hip dysplasia, cancer, etc.

Training

The pooch must be taught from early days. They require a stiff and consistent master to command specific behavior issue otherwise they will act as a pack leader. Strap training is vital to control their hostile nature and also train them to socialize during their puppy hood. They also require training to manage their aggressiveness towards other pets and strangers.

Feeding

Feed the pet with 3.5 to 5.5 cups of high-quality dry dog food split into two to three meals every day. Also, give them food according to their size, metabolism, weight, and energy level.