And now that we know what we have, we can start buying the merchandize!

We rescued a part Cat.Leop. hound from our local humane society. He was abandoned and living on roadkill. Glad he didn't end up road kill!

He seems to have a mix of airdale terrier. (upright but bent ears and curled whiskers) If you like, I can send a picture. Enjoy your hound too!

The Campbell Family

HAHA That's funny... Same kind of thing happened to me... I addopted a dog from the humaine society, and was told that it was a aussie mixed with rotti or great dane (the lady was crazy). Well I met up with some people in a pet store and they saw my dog and was like... "Wow, what kind of dog is that"... of course I told her that he was a great dane, aussie mix... and she looked at me like I was crazy....She told me about these catahoula dogs, and I looked them up... And much to mysuprize.. there was a picture of a puppy that looked like they had jsut taken a picture of mine and stuck it up there. Well nevertheless...it's a great puppy... 4 months and house trained already...sweetest thing ever... I think these are great dogs.. and that is a nice story you have there... Enjoy your puppy.. I'll enjoy mine!

We adopted a catahoula/basett hound mix (now 12 weeks old) just 3 weeks ago. This little girl, Mia, doesn't take after the Bassett - she looks like a Catahoula puppy. Only time will tell what her final appearance will be. Honestly, we don't care! he is sweet and very smart and is gentle with our 7 y.o. and 10 y.o. children as well as our very friendly 4 y.o. Boxer, Susie. These dogs really like each other.

Wow! a Catahoula-Bassett mix -- that sounds crazy! But it's probably a great mix. Mellow out that catahoula a little bit, maybe.

We've now taken puppy kindgergarten, puppy intermediate, and a class called "work-play" at Happy Go Lucky. Pica is doing well in fly-ball -- she's great at the actual fly-ball portion, anyway, but barks so much during the rest of class that I'm thinking of dropping out -- I need more dog management skills!

See more Pica pix at Dogster

We have a Catahoula (mix?) that we got at the Oregon Humane Society here in PDX. We've had him for over 4 years and he is FANTASTIC!

My dad started breeding Catahoulas for a while after meeting our pooch. He and I were talking my dog the other day and he told me that there is some Louisiana saying that bsically says, "If it looks like a Catahoula - it IS a Catahoula."

I adopted a purebred catahoula leopard dog over a year ago and he has been by far the best, most versatile dog I've ever owned or trained. It's true about the breed being difficult train, but I feel that calling them stubborn is misdeserved. It's their unusually high level of intelligence that they inherited from their red wolf ancestors that makes training difficult for the novice. Unlike a lab or border collie, that are only smart enough to follow the leader (their owner), the catahoula (along with wimeraners, dobermans, sarloos wolfhounds, belgian malimois and several others) is the kind of dog that actually think about what is being asked of it to do and whether that command is in the best intrest of the task at hand or for their own well being. They are fearless dogs that have no qualms taking control over situation and becoming the leader if needed. It took a year of convinicing and persistent, firm, positive work to get my adopted Catahoula to accept me as the leader of our "pack". Bowman has evolved into quite the well rounded and obedient individual. Catahoulas are the only dog that can work independently, with a person, or with a pack, and Bowman carries this trait with pride. He is very social with other animals (except for squirrels and birds, which he hunts) and comfortable around people giving them a smile and tail wag, but never wanting to linger with them in true catahoula fashion (not over gregarious with strangers). The only difficulty I have with Bowman is his one leader attitude. If anyone trys to give him a command, he becomes very difficult to have him behave without me. So, I wouldn't recommend getting a Catahoula unless one can really be with that dog for the rest of it's natural life. Otherwise, this is a wonderful dog for an energetic person with a leader/teacher type personality.
As far as identifying catahoulas, be cautious. many people who have seen catahoulas once or twice before and are not familiar with the breed on an intimate level could be quite possibly naming dogs "catahoula mixes" because of the color. I have met a purebred aussi shep that could have looked exactly like a bob-tail catahoula, but was just an unusually tall aussi. Also great danes carry the leopard color and when mixed with a pointer or hound, can look a lot like a catahoula. The best way to tell if the mix you have is indeed catahoula mix, first check size: a male will be somewhere between 60 and 80 lbs; females will be somewhere between 50 and 65. They are also very "leggy" dogs. They have long, powerful bulit legs that give them the appearance of being fast and good runners (which they are!). Another defining characterisitic is extreme webbing on all their paws making them incredible swimmers (I've seen my dog swim for over an hour without touching land and it wasn't until I had to go out and bring him back in that he stopped). The webbing on most dogs' feet extends about halfway, but with cats, their webbing comes to the end of thier toes. Another interesting characteristic they seem to posses is the way they sit, which is flat on their bums with back legs splayed out on wither side. I had a friend comment about the odd way my dog sits by saying "WOW! That dog sits square on his *ahem*! Looks like he'll pinch his tail plumb off!" If one's mix displays any of these qualities, probably have a catahoula parent somewhere in there, but if not, it could still be enhanced by some catahoula ancestory, just very diluted but more than likely if the dog was not from the southern states it's a dane, hound, aussi combination due to the rareness of catahoulas the further away you get from Louisiana or Floridia. From her size and keen intrest in sent in the picture of Pica, I'd say you've got some catahoula on you hands! I hope all is going well and I hope you're enjoying the uniquness and enchantment that comes from owning a Catahoula - Catahoula mix.

Wow! thanks for all the good Catahoula feedback and stories! Well, the older Pica gets, the less sure I am she's a catahoula physically and the more I suspect she is one mentally. She's probably at her full size now at 17 months old, and she's only 38 pounds. Actually, a great size for a dog, but not really Catahoula sized. So I've been calling her a minature Catahoula. If they can make mini-aussies, why not?

But she is, from what I understand, very Catahoula in terms of temprement. Suspicious, smart ("it's not paranoioa if they're out to get you" might be her motto), very fast and incredibly athletic. Now that she's a little older I'm thinking I'll do some agility training with her.

The same thing happened with my husband and I. We thought our recently adopted dog Bodhi was an aussie/lab mix...but when we went into a local pet store they thought he was a catahoula. Looks a lot like Pica, actually! I'd be interested in sharing a photo to see what you think.

When I read about catahoulas (after we suspected he might be a mix of one), I freaked out a bit..."who ARE you?" The info out there doesn't exactly paint the best picture of this breed--if you're an average family looking for a companion! But so far, at 7 months, we couldn't be happier with his personality.

One question: Does anyone out there know if the characteristic shyness with strangers comes out at a certain age? Do you need to be worried about aggression with dogs or humans? I highly doubt our dog will be aggressive, though I have noticed he is becoming more shy with strangers.

Thanks!

Amen! I adopted Codi from the Boise Humane Society at about three months old and was told he was a aussie/border collie mix. Fine by me. Those ice blue eyes had me from the get. Boise is the most dog friendly town I have ever lived in and most people take their dogs along on their daily ventures much as they do their kids. After the third person asked me where I got my Loisiana Catahoula, I started to get curious. I went online and sure enough, every site Catahoula site I went to Codi. Blue Merle, ice blue eyes, and describing that 'sixth sense'
only catahoula owners can relate to. Codi is incredibly smart, loving, agile, and amazes me more every day. He could climb a tree if he wanted. He wraps his legs with webbed feet around legs not allowing one to move if he choses. His scent is sooooo incredibly keen.He is the most amazing animal I have ever seen and I can't ever imagine owning any other breed. He is definately a herder even trying to herd families together as one at local parks. He is definately territorial. Energy plus. He is waiting for me at this minute for some good play time. Louisiana Catahoulas are amazing. Enjoy yours. How can you not?

h

merle
i saw c
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We also adopted our Mocha (we call him Mochie) from a rescue who got him from the pound about to be put down. He's now about 6 months and so sweet. We haven't had him long, but could use some helpful tips on training if anybody could share!!! :) Thanks! He's crate training for housebreaking and it's going super. Someone before we came along taught him to sit and fetch. Smart cookie this one is! Thanks for any help you can give me. There just isn't a lot of info out there that I can find!!!
Kerstin

Our catahola was the saddest rescue dog at our pound. She had been badly abused and she was soo shy that people ignored her when looking for a new pet. It took us four times to get her to come out from under a chair at the pet visiting center at the pound. She climbs trees and she is the boss of the back yard, we have an aussie and a retreiver. She is in total control all the time. She can jump to the top of the fence and then walk along the top with no problem. She is bizarre and beautiful at the same time.
s

hello all congrats on your wonderful finds. I rescuded a wonderful dog about 10 yrs ago had no clue what he was just thought he was a mutt to my my surprise I found out from his vet he was a catahoula we lost him about in 01 ( total broken heart for our whole family ). we made up our minds we could never go throught that again and would never have anymore dogs. Until my husband meet a man that had catahoula puppy's needless to say my husband got a cat puppy for christmas 2yrs ago. he is a full blooded (registered) catahoula leapored hound. his name is cayene and he is just as playfull today as he was the day we brought him home. these are wonderful dogs and will make a great addition to your family's. they are however very protective and will not hestate to BITE if they feel you are in danger. they seem to sence feeling in people good or bad. But there love and devotion is totaly unmatched. enjoy your puppy's I have spent alot of time getting my self educated about the breed and will gladly share and info I have if anyone has questions about them.

The Scarbrough (Kande)

I rescued an abandoned pregnant Beagle a a few weeks ago. She had six puppies 4 days ago. A friend said they looked like Leopard hounds. After searching the web for info on this breed , well ........ "oh my". I checked their toes but I don't see any webbing. Maybe they are to young? Right now they look more like small piglets dressed up in Leopard dog suits.

Waiting in Florida

Hi! About three months ago in the middle of the night I heard something in the front yard. It was a puppy (about the size of a toaster, still with that chubby puppy-belly look). I tried to find out who she belonged to, but nobody claimed her. Tried to find out what kind of dog she was, (or mix). I knew she was a hound because of the loose fur, and body type. Lo and behold, she's a Catahoula. The vet estimated her at 6-8 weeks old. Now at 4.5 months she's at 50 lbs. She's SMART, strong, and incredibly willful. I'm looking at getting her socialization classes at someplace like PetSmart because right now she's a little too wild for her own good. I have cats, and she LOVES them, but she plays a little too rough. She can do a standing jump to the height of my chest, and I have to thank God for a fenced back yard, 'cause baby has LEGS. She doesn't walk, she RUNS. What a beautiful, wonderful, dog! But OY, she is a handful.

Hi - I saw your blog and wanted to share my own Catahoula story.
About 8 months ago I went to the Humane Society and found this chocolate mottled, goofy looking dog. At first I thought he was a giant Aussie mix, a breed I'd had before, and one of loveliest dogs I'd ever known (unfortunately lost in a divorce), but I was informed he was a Catahoula mix. Intrigued, I took him for a walk around the parking lot. He seemed far more interested in sniffing every square inch of tarmac than getting to know me, so finally out of frustration, I said to him "hey, we're supposed to be bonding here." With that, he jumped up, (the only time he's ever done that) put his paws on my arm, looked me straight in the eye (he's very tall, and I am not) and basically gave me a "get me out of here" gaze. That was it. He had me. It was obviously my fate to liberate this pooch from the pound. So, I adopted him.
But when I got home, I did some research on the web and came to the conclusion that I had made a HUGE mistake. I live in a one bedroom apartment in L.A. without a yard - completely unsuited for such a physical dog. Plus, with a breed that possess an IQ somewhat above my own, the risk of him becoming bored and destructive loomed large. How could they have let me adopt him?
But then I thought of that look he gave me, and I became determined to make it work. I read up on wolf pack behavior and the whole "Alpha" dynamic and have stuck to it. I walk him a minimum of 3 miles a day, and give him tasks to perform throughout the day (I work at home.) And as a result, I have the most incredible dog I have ever known. He is the sweetest, loyalest, most intelligent, patient, loving, canine friend a man can have. He has become the envy, and the darling of the neighborhood. And he has the most extraordinary personality - he plays wonderfully with other dogs, is affectionate with strangers - yet sometimes is a little aristocratically aloof. He doesn't bark when strangers come to the door, (apparently that's my job being the alpha), lies at my feet all day (I believe he's a Catahoula crossed with a bathmat), and communicates his wants in the subtlest, and sometimes confusingest of ways - that never fails to make me laugh. And every morning he seems to think my waking is the greatest thing that's ever happened on the planet, showering me with a symphony of tail wags and licks.
The only difficulty is his independence on walks. But once I figured out that "walking" meant "hunting" to him, and that he wasn't being disobedient, but rather simply taking the initiative on the hunt - we managed to work out a compromise that saves my arm from being jolted out of its socket at the sight of a squirrel.
I've had dogs my whole life - but I have never had a dog like this. His name is Bob, and meeting him was one of the luckiest things that has ever happened to me.

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