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Pastoral · United States

Catahoula Leopard Dog

A walker's guide to the Catahoula Leopard Dog: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Large, 23 to 43 kgHigh driveLouisiana curHigh driveGlass eyesHerding and hunting
Exercise a day2 hours plus
Energy5 of 5
Walk styleFast, driven, independent
With other dogsCan be dominant

Overview

The Catahoula Leopard Dog comes from the Catahoula Parish area of Louisiana, where it was bred to herd semi-wild cattle and hogs out of swamp and forest and to tree game. It is a large, muscular, short-coated dog with a striking merle or leopard-spotted coat and often pale blue, cracked or odd-coloured eyes. It is recognised as a herding breed in the United States.

Catahoulas are intense. They are loyal and protective of their family, wary of strangers, dominant with other dogs if allowed, and bred to work independently in rough country. They need a confident handler and a great deal of exercise, and they are rare in Britain for good reason.

Exercise and walking needs

Two hours a day is a fair starting point for a fit adult, and it needs substance: running, scent work, retrieving or long hikes. A lead walk round the park is a warm-up.

Give the brain as much work as the legs. Catahoulas think for themselves and get into trouble when bored. Training, problems to solve and tasks on the walk all help.

Daily minimum120 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeWith proven recall

On the walk

  • Recall: Good with a trusted handler, unreliable with someone new, and prey drive is strong. Prove it on a long line before unclipping.
  • Other dogs: Often dominant, especially with large dogs of the same sex. Group walks are a bad idea until the owner has proved otherwise.
  • Strangers: Protective and watchful. Keep greetings low-key and do not let people rush up to the dog.
  • Pace: Fast and tireless. Plan a route where you can move at speed and the dog can work.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Spend a couple of short sessions with the dog and owner before a long solo walk; the dog needs to rate you.
  2. Carry a tug toy or ball; hard play burns energy a lead walk cannot.
  3. Stay on lead through farmland; the herding drive is strong and livestock will be a problem.
  4. Look at the pads after a hard run on stony ground.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • What has the dog been trained to do, and which commands does it reliably obey?
  • How does it behave with other dogs and with strangers who approach you?
  • Has it ever chased or caught livestock or wildlife?
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