Catahoula Leopard Dog

The Catahoula leopard dog, also called the Louisiana Catahoula or Catahoula cur, is a tough American stock dog developed around Louisiana for catching and moving feral hogs and cattle. It is medium to large, muscular, and short-coated, with a wide range of colors. The famous leopard pattern is a merle pattern, but solid, brindle, patched, and trim-marked dogs also occur, and eye color may be brown, amber, blue, or mixed. The breed is valued for grit, nose, independence, and the ability to work rough country with people.

A Catahoula needs more than ordinary leash walks. Many do best with ranch work, hunting, tracking, search work, or structured sports that give them a job and clear rules. They can be protective of home and intense with other animals, so early socialization and careful introductions matter. The coat requires little grooming, but the dog needs conditioning and mental outlets. Color should never be the main buying point; responsible breeding pays attention to hearing, eyes, hips, temperament, and avoiding risky merle-to-merle pairings.

Colors: Apricot, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Gray, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Leopard Spotted, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow