Other names: Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, Catahoula Cur or Catahoula hog dog.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is an American dog breed named after Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. It became the state dog of Louisiana in 1979. It is recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) under the name Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, and Catahoula Leopard Dog in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Foundation Stock Service. Both registries have assigned the breed a herding group designation. It has traditionally been used in hunting feral boars.

History

The Catahoula lineage is unknown. One theory suggests the breed originated in the mid-1700s when French settlers emigrated to what became Louisiana with Beauceron dogs. The settlers crossbreed their dogs with well-adapted swamp hunting wolf dogs owned by Native Americans to develop a better working dog. In the 1800s, breeding intensified to develop a family dog that was well-suited to work, hunt, and guard yet good with children.

The Catahoula was initially used for hunting. Native Americans tended to use the dog for hunting large game. European settlers used the dog for hunting and herding livestock. The first white settlers in Louisiana are believed to have used the dog to hunt feral pigs in the swamps of Louisiana.

Temperament

Catahoulas are highly intelligent and energetic. They are assertive dogs, but can also have issues with inter-dog aggression and intolerance to strangers. Their original purpose of hunting hogs, controlling cattle, etc. has bred in a high prey drive; small animals including cats and chickens may be injured by a Catahoula, even when raised with them. Some do not always make a good family dog and are better suited to a working or active performance home. Aggression, destructive behaviour, and undesirable behaviours all begin when inadequate mental and physical exercise is provided. Most Catahoulas are good with children and will protect them against aggressors, (though some are prone to mistake aggression for other emotions). Most are also good with unknown children and their contact with the dog’s “pack”/family, but they are wary of unknown adults. Socialization and training from a young age may help lessen some undesirable behaviours, but may not completely eliminate them. The majority of Catahoulas are even-tempered.