Catahoula History

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The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog once known as The Catahoula Cur is a medium to medium-large versatile working dog breed . It originated in a region of the Catahoula Lake in central Louisiana and is the official dog of the State of  Louisiana.  Billed as the world's most versatile dog, the Catahoula Leopard is agile and athletic. An enthusiastic working dogs with a high energy level, territorial, naturally protective of "their property". They are more primitive psychologically than most breeds and need consistent obedience reinforcement

  The Catahoula Leopard dog's history begins in the year 1539 when a Spanish explorer named Hernando De Soto arrivied in what is now the southern United States.  De Soto and his men were accompanied by "war  dogs" believed to be Mastiffs and Greyhounds.   The Mastiffs were used during battles with the  Indian tribes and dogs would be let loose to  attack any Indian that resisted.  These  Mastiffs  had a reputation of being able to  pull down very  large game with ease. The  Greyhound was used  for the hunting of  game which fed De Soto's army.  When the  spanish left the country in a hurry, the Indian tribes took in and cared for the sick and wounded dogs.

At that time, the Red Wolf, which then roamed  Louisiana, was used by the  Indians  to locate  game,  much in the same manner as hunters  use their dogs today.  All these dogs bred  and interbred with  each other along with  the Red Wolf. The offspring of the  subsequent crosses between the  Red Wolf and these  "war dogs" became  known as the "wolf-dog". The Wolf Dog, which  is mentioned in  Louisiana  History, as well as most history books covering this era, was the  name given to  them by Henri Tonti during one of his visits to Louisiana.

In 1700, with almost 150 years of breeding, this odd looking dog with a mottled coat and mysterious glass eyes was discovered by French settlers. Hearing the stories of the abundance of game in Louisiana the French brought with them their Beauceron dog, a herding dog also used for hunting wild boar and, it is the belief of some, that the Beauceron was bred to the" Indian wolf-dog".

There are references to the Catahoula during the 1800's, it is said that the faomous Bowie brothers Jim and Rezin owned some of them, and that they would sleep with a Catahoula at their feet.

Daniel Boone is rumored to have had catahoulas, and pictures exist  of him today in which cur dogs are present.

 In the early 1900's President Theodore Roosevelt was introduced to a pair of Catahoulas while on a hunting trip to Louisiana.

As the years passed  the Catahoula became a closely guarded secret among the Louisiana farmer's and hunter's, and then almost became extinct because so little was known about the breed.

Louisiana's Governor from 1948-1956, Earl K. Long, took an interest in Catahoulas and began collecting them. Govenor Long often gave a catahoula as a gift. In order to care for so many dog's, he sent them to the State Prison farm and the State Police Stock Patrol. After Long's death the dogs were almost forgotten. Two gentlemen named Kline Rushing (a former state trooper) and Vernon Traxler Jr. along with other breeders had a vision to make the breed known and began keeping records of the matings.

 The NALC (National Assoication of Louisiana Catahoulas) was established and incorporated as a regisistry in 1977 by Betty Ann Eaves in memory of her father, Kline Rushing, founder of "Tophand Kennels.

In 1979, the Catahoula Leopard Cur, the only breed of dog native to Louisiana, became the official state dog.  At that time the "Cur" was dropped for "dog", which was considered to be less deragatory.

Today the Catahoula Leopard Dog is recognized and registered by the NALC, UKC, ARBA as well as others.

Why is the Catahoula "cur" different from a hound???

A Catahoula is silent on track, only baying when it’s prey is close by, treed or bayed, where most hounds are open (bark) on track.

A Catahoula is hot-nosed (will only track a recent scent) where most hounds are cold-nosed (tracking a scent that is quite old.)

A Catahoula is short-ranged where many hounds will follow the trail for miles and miles.

While an excellent hunter, a Catahoula will also work or bay cattle, something that most hounds can not do.

A Catahoula is first a herding dog.  Many of the same traits that make the catahoula an excellent herding dog can be seen in it's hunting style.  Unlike "heeling" herding breeds, catahoulas are "headers" choosing to face thier quarry.

A Catahoula is protective of its family, while most hounds do not show this trait.