The Catahoula “hog dog” is an American hound specifically used to herd wild pigs into pens during the annual wild hog “raids” in Louisiana. Legend has it that the dogs were originally brought in by DeSoto as attack dogs used against native Indians and then abandoned when the Spanish left. This original strain was probably mastiff.
The breed has traditionally been used as a herding breed, but it also does an admirable job of tracking down and it is believed that local hounds and members of Native American tribes were mixed into the gene pool at some point. The result is a dog with a “coat of many colors”, ranging from leopard spots to merle, black and tan and everything in between, often with each eye a different color. The coat is short and dense, the tail long, the ears are a natural lop. The name Catahoula comes from the parish of Catahoula, a place in northeast Louisiana.
These odd-looking dogs don’t always “arm” in the normal sense of the word. Often times the dog will put a single pig in the way, challenging it to attack. The enraged pig will yell and shout warning to other pigs, who will emerge from the forest to join the fray. When the pigs come after him, the dog will turn around and run to the waiting pens, leading the pigs this way rather than herding them from behind. Modern Catahoula is still used in this way and will work well with livestock as well. It is a tough dog, the largest of the cattle dogs, combining an aggressive nature with persistence and agility. Fearlessness and courage are necessary traits when working with wild cattle and pigs. The Catahoula can also use its ability to scent to search and find wild cattle in the forest. This dog has a strong will and yet is a willing worker when it comes to herding wild cattle and generally helps local people with hunting as well.
There is no record that has accepted this dog as a true “breed”. There are a number of “dogs” bred for specific abilities and used throughout most of the southern United States for herding, hunting, and as family pets. The Catahoula is a member of this particular family of dogs, most of which are descended from cattle brought to this country by the Spanish and French and interbred with local Indian dogs. There is some archaeological data to suggest that there was a native dog that existed with the indigenous tribes long before the arrival of the white man on this continent. This wild native dog is believed to have played an important role in the development of the Catahoula breed.
The Catahoula leopard dog can make a great family pet that combines loyalty and affection with a strong alertness and also a protective instinct. However, it has a mind of its own and is not for everyone. The dog must learn to obey and the owner must be the leader of the pack or the “alpha” member of society. These dogs are not city dogs, they need a job to do to be at their best and when assigned such a job they will be loyal, intelligent and persistent.