Delight Catahoulas Hungary
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The breed
The Leopard Dog up close.
One thing is certain: the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog (LCLD) is a true American, versatile working dog.
History
The exact origin of the Leopard Dog is unknown, but it most likely descends from red wolves living around Native American villages crossed with indigenous American dogs. Molossers and sighthounds brought by Spanish settlers played a big part in shaping the breed, and its bloodline probably also includes the French herding dog that arrived with French settlers.
White settlers in Louisiana noticed that Native Americans used these unusual-looking dogs to hunt big game such as deer, lynx, wild boar and bear. The newcomers quickly grew fond of this versatile breed, equally good at scenting, tracking and flushing game as at gathering cattle.
On 9 July 1979 the Governor of Louisiana officially named it the state dog, and the United Kennel Club recognised it as a breed on 1 January 1995.
Behaviour and temperament
Fairly vehement and full of temperament: it can mobilise all its energy for the task at hand in an instant. In our experience it has two settings, ON and OFF. Love, work, dominance: it reacts to everything VERY strongly, and that is exactly what makes raising one a challenge.
The Leopard Dog is not for everyone! Its striking looks do not come with an easy nature. Early socialisation is essential, and although dominant, it is sensitive: consistency, motivation and firmness get results far sooner than harsh methods, which only provoke stubborn resistance.
Its place in the family is simply a given. Overflowing with affection, it will not let you not love it. Reserved with strangers at first, it soon returns to its playful self.
Work
Because of its beauty many people forget this, yet its primary purpose has always been work. That instinct is still very much alive in every dog and demands an outlet. Hunting, herding, dog sports: the Catahoula happily does it all.
What is it good for? Everything. It is at its best in tasks that satisfy its hunting and herding drive: coursing, boar hunting, treeing, cattle herding. It loves tracking and search work, and has proven itself as a tracking and rescue dog. With a Leopard Dog that is not kept busy, one thing is certain: boredom will kill it.
Wild boar
Finds it, flushes it, bays it up
Herding
A firm style that takes no argument
Track race
From the box, muzzled, against the clock
Louisiana state dog
since 9 July 1979
UKC recognition
1 January 1995
Origin
Louisiana, USA
Two settings
ON and OFF
Logan
The founder · 2010–2023
About us
A childhood dream.
When I first saw one in a book, I thought: this is the dog for me. How many 12-year-olds think that when they see a beautiful dog? Plenty. Back then, without the internet, the search ended there. But no other breed would do, so the idea was parked for a few years, though I never stopped researching.
Around Christmas 2010 I finally felt prepared enough and started looking again. After many American kennels I found a European one. A first-litter kennel, 5 puppies, 4 weeks old, 1 red leopard male. Logan was born for me, I knew it even then.
It was very hard at first; I struggled a lot with my sharp-witted adolescent male. In time, though, he became my best friend and partner, just like in the textbook: obedient, with excellent instincts and a will to work, a classic Leopard. And I am not afraid to use him! He is no garden ornament. He is a working dog.
With Evin it was much the same: to see her, to love her, to feel she was born for me. Logan and Evin could not be more different; she is my other self. Esca joined us at 15 months, and since then she takes part in every sport, job and adventure we come up with for our pack.
Evin · Esca · Egra · Evie · Esh
Logan, 26 November 2010 – 13 November 2023. The first, the reason it all began.
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Delight Catahoulas Hungary · Petra Pásztor · Hungary
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