The Catahoula Leopard Dog is a unique purebred dog breed even by purebred standards.
The Catahoula is one of those dog breeds that dog lovers call “lifers.”
They say that once you have welcomed a Catahoula into your family, this will always be the dog for you.
If you are considering adding a Catahoula or Catahoula mix to your family, read on to learn about this singular purebred dog breed and other popular Catahoula mixes being bred today.
The Catahoula
The Catahoula Leopard dog is the only purebred dog breed in the world that can trace its birthplace directly to the state of Louisiana in the United States.
Catahoula Leopard dogs are sometimes called Catahoula Hounds, Catahoula Curs, Catahoula Hog dogs or simply Leopard dogs.
Catahoula History
Today’s Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog quite likely has genetic influence from Greyhounds, Bloodhounds, Mastiffs and even native red wolves.
It is thought the word “Catahoula” comes from the Choctaw Indian language and translates to mean “sacred lake.”
Catahoula Appearance
The Catahoula dog has an unmistakably distinctive appearance, with piercing eyes; a very short, close coat with mottled patterning; and a gait that is sometimes likened to a horse’s trot.
A Catahoula dog’s coat can include black, blue, brindle, chocolate, red, white, yellow or tan markings.
This dog does carry the merle pattern gene and the piebald pattern gene, each of which is known to be associated with deafness.
While pale glass blue eyes are the best-known eye color for this breed, a Catahoula dog can also have green, amber, brown or what is called “cracked” eye color, where each eye displays two different colors.
Another distinctive feature for Catahoula Leopard dogs is the prominence of the webbing between each toe.
Having specialized toe webbing helps the Catahoula dog easily navigate the soft, swampy areas located throughout Louisiana.
Some Catahoula Leopard dogs have naturally bobbed tails while others have tails that have been docked by breeders.
Most Catahoula dogs are born with a long, natural tail.
Catahoula Size and Weight
The typical adult female Catahoula dog weighs 50 to 65 pounds. The typical adult male Catahoula dog weighs 65 to 90 pounds.
Catahoula Personality and Temperament
The Catahoula Leopard dog has been bred to be a working dog, herding, hunting and guarding livestock as well as their human families.
These dogs are used to being on the job around the clock, which explains why they can be so destructive when they get bored.
The Catahoula dog is naturally reserved around strangers but affectionate with her owners.
Catahoula Training and Socialization
These dogs may look all grown up early on in life, but this is actually a late-maturing breed.
It can take two years or longer for a Catahoula puppy to be full-grown physically and mentally.
This can make puppyhood an extended challenge, since these dogs are smart, high-energy canines with strong guarding instincts.
Early and ongoing socialization and training with plenty of daily activity and exercise is a Catahoula dog owner’s recipe for success.
Catahoula Health and Longevity
The Catahoula Leopard dog can develop certain breed-specific health issues, including
- congenital deafness
- hip and elbow dysplasia
- eye issues
- panosteitis (bone inflammation)
- liver issues
- diabetes
- thyroid dysfunction
- and jaw abnormalities that lead to underbite.
Otherwise, the Catahoula Leopard dog has a typical life expectancy of 10 to 14 years.
Catahoula Mixes
The Catahoula Leopard dog has wonderful qualities and challenging qualities.
One of the biggest hurdles for dog lovers who want to own a Catahoula dog is that these dogs need so much outdoor space and exercise to stay happy and healthy.
Hybrid breeding brings together two purebred dog breeds to promote strengths from each breed while aiming to minimize weaknesses from temperament and appearance to behavior and health.
This strategy is called “hybrid vigor.”
By crossbreeding the Catahoula Leopard dog with other domestic purebred dog breeds, this opens the door to strengthening the genetic line for each purebred dog and breeding puppies with Catahoula traits that may be better suited for life as a traditional pet dog.
But if you have your heart set on finding a puppy with certain traits, be aware that mixed breed dogs are far less predictable than their purebred counterparts.
That’s because mixed breed dogs can inherit their looks, personality and health in any combination from each parent.
You can read more about the ins and outs of mixed breeding here.
But now, let’s look at some of the most o=popular Catahoula dog mixes.
No. 1 Catahoula Labrador Retriever Mix
The Labahoula, a mix between a Catahoula Leopard dog and a Labrador Retriever, is one of the most popular Catahoula mix dogs being bred today.
The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular pet dog breed in America for more than 26 years straight.
These friendly, affectionate, playful, smart and lovable dogs make friends wherever they go.
How much your Labahoula sheds will depend entirely on which parent dog your puppy favors.
The Lab can shed quite a bit, while the Catahoula dog sheds lightly.
The Lab can weigh 55 to 80 pounds fully grown, which means your Labahoula will likely fall within this weight range as well.
These dogs have a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years.
No. 2 Catahoula Bulldog Mix
The Catahoula Bulldog, as this hybrid dog breed’s name suggests, is the result of breeding a Catahoula Leopard dog with a purebred Bulldog.
The American Bulldog is one of the most popular purebred dog breeds in the world today.
These dogs are heavyset; low to the ground, weighing 40 to 50 pounds; and have a short, smooth coat.
Crossbreeding bulldogs is particularly good for this breed’s long-term health, since the bulldog has the brachycephalic (flat face with a short muzzle) face shape.
This face shape can create structural health issues such as excessive eye tearing, trouble chewing, breathing challenges and difficulty with overexertion.
A Catahoula Bulldog can weigh anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds, although most dogs will probably weigh 40 to 60 pounds.
The life expectancy is eight to 14 years.
No. 3 Catahoula Great Dane Mix
The Catahoula Great Dane mix breed dog is likely to inherit a caring and devoted temperament toward her dog owners but will probably be somewhat reserved around strangers.
One trait you can expect from your Catahoula Great Dane pup is size.
Great Danes can weigh 110 to 175 pounds, so count on a pup that tops out at 100-plus pounds.
Both dogs are great guard dogs and watchdogs, and are powerhouse defenders when the need arises.
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Overall, both come from a working dog background and love to stay active.
The life expectancy for a Catahoula Great Dane mix will be anywhere from seven to 14 years.
No. 4 Catahoula Beagle Mix
A Catahoula Beagle mix dog is one of the most interesting crossbreed dogs with Catahoula influence.
Beagles are famously friendly when not sniffing out a trail.
Unlike Catahoula Leopard dogs, Beagles don’t make very good guard dogs for precisely this reason.
Beagles weigh around 20 to 30 pounds, so a Catahoula Beagle mix will be a smaller crossbreed dog, probably weighing between 30 and 50 pounds.
Both dogs have short, neat, smooth coats that shed lightly but consistently year-round.
The average life expectancy for a Catahoula Beagle dog is 10 to 15 years.
No. 5 Catahoula Husky Mix
The Catahoula Husky mix dog has one Siberian Husky parent and one Catahoula Leopard dog parent.
You can count on this hybrid dog being a tireless, hard worker with an independent spirit and an intelligent mind.
The Siberian Husky weighs 35 to 60 pounds while the Leopard dog can weigh up to 90 pounds.
So the size of your Catahoula Husky puppy will depend on gender as well as which parent a puppy most favors.
These dogs are both somewhat self-cleaning in terms of their coats, but the Husky sheds more than the Catahoula dog and will “blow coat” twice a year.
A Catahoula Husky mix’s life expectancy is around 10 to 14 years.
No. 6 Catahoula Australian Shepherd Mix
A Catahoula Australian Shepherd puppy will have one Australian Shepherd parent and one Catahoula Leopard dog parent.
First-generation puppies may show quite a bit of variation in appearance and coat type because these two dogs have very different coats.
The Australian Shepherd’s coat is long and lush, double-layer and water-repellent.
In contrast, the Catahoula dog’s coat is very short, single-layer and sheds only mildly.
Weight-wise, this hybrid dog may weigh anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds.
Expect females to weigh between 40 and 55 pounds and males to weigh 60 to 80 pounds.
A typical life expectancy will range from 10 to 15 years.
No. 7 Catahoula German Shepherd Mix
With a Catahoula German Shepherd mix, you will find definite temperament similarities.
Both dogs are bred to work and have laser-sharp focus while on the job.
Both have strong territorial and guarding instincts, especially with the owners.
And both dogs tend to need early and ongoing training and socialization to learn how to behave appropriately in a family and community setting.
If a puppy takes more after the GSD parent, expect the coat to be thicker, water-resistant and to shed seasonally.
For Catahoula-influenced puppies, the coat will be shorter, thinner and shed more lightly.
The typical life expectancy for a Catahoula GSD is seven to 14 years.
No. 8 Catahoula Pit Bull Terrier Mix
The Catahoula Pit Bull Terrier hybrid dog will be a strong, well-muscled and powerful dog.
There are some complementary temperament traits between the two purebred parent dogs.
Both dogs are fiercely loyal and protective of their owners while being somewhat reserved around strangers.
The Perfect Companion For Life With A New Puppy
Both parent dogs have short, clean-cut, wash-and-wear coats that shed lightly.
Pit Bulls are smaller than Catahoulas, so your hybrid puppy may grow up to weigh between 35 and 90 pounds depending on gender and parent influence.
You can expect the Catahoula Pit Bull Terrier mix dog to live between eight and 15 years.
No. 9 Catahoula Australian Cattle Dog Mix
Catahoula Australian Cattle dog (Blue Heeler) puppies are likely to be some of the most energetic of all the Catahoula hybrid mixes on this list.
Both purebred dog breeds are unstoppable, and nearly tireless in work and play.
The Catahoula dog has a short, single-layer coat while the Australian Cattle dog has a short, double-layer, water-resistant coat.
Both shed somewhat year-round, and Blue Heelers will have seasonal sheds as well.
The typical weight for this mix breed dog is 40 to 70 pounds, and the life expectancy can range from 10 to 16 years.
No. 10 Catahoula Basset Hound Mix
A Catahoula Basset Hound hybrid dog may be one of the most visually appealing of the Catahoula mixes.
Who can resist the Basset Hound’s endearing droopy face, long ears and big liquid eyes?
Basset Hounds have a form of congenital dwarfism that causes shorter legs, and this will likely influence all of the puppies to some degree.
Expect a Catahoula Basset hound to weigh between 40 and 70 pounds and live 10 to 14 years.
Is a Catahoula Mix Right for Me?
We hope you have enjoyed learning more about the singular Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog and some of the most popular Catahoula mix dogs bred today.
Are you already head over heels for a Catahoula mix pup?
Tell us all about them in the comments box!
References and Further Reading:
Abney, D., “Catahoula Info/Facts & Issues,” Abney Catahoulas Kennel
“Breed History/Breed Standard,” Catahoula Owners, Breeders & Research Association
“Catahoula Leopard Dog,” State Symbols USA
“Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog,” United Kennel Club
Westfall, S., 2011, “The Creature Formerly Known as ‘The Red Wolf,’” Natural History
White, C., 2014, “Catahoula Leopard Dog: Not Your Average Stock Dog,” The Fence Post
Keri says
I just found out my 1year old puppy is a 50/50 Catahoula/Pyrenees. She has every characteristic listed here that’s for sure. She likes to move everyone around with her back end. Destructive when left alone. Pee’s every time I walk in the door. please tell me she will grow out of this phase!!!
Jackelynn Hall says
I have purchased a fantastic dog. His mother is a Purebred Merle pit bull, his father a champion German Shorthair Pointer. Hemingway has all the traits for a Catahoula. Would he be considered a mix Catahoula? He is medium in size, unnaturally powerful and fast. Beautiful blue merle markings with striking Amber eyes.
Katy says
Just adopted a catahoula mix I think beagle, he is so smart easy to potty train. Loves to play I work from home so neither of us get bored. He loves his realistic animal toys, especially the ducks. You do have to tire them out before you sleep, or they will literally bounce/ parkour of your walls and doors.
Diane Ragan says
I have a Catahoula/Lab mix. I’ve had him since he was a wee pup and now my big boy is turning 5. We moved to Ohio so we could buy a large property for him to run. He LOVES the woods (40 acres). I can’t imaging having any other dog. He’s a highly intelligent, loving mush ball that makes us all laugh every day with his puppy antics.
Best dog ever says
Border collie Catahoula… Smartest, fastest learning pup, our 3rd Catahoula leopard. Great family dog, perfect around livestock/human communication, wanted to earn her keep at 6 months… Full brother heck of a super star in the agility ring. Both endless endurance and desire to please. At 9 months she’s 22 inches 52 lbs. Our full 3 year old Houla male is 96lbs 26 inches tall.
Montana Ray Brownell says
I actually have a cane corso catahoula mix