The Catahoula Leopard Dog was created in the U.S. in the mid 19th century. It got its name from Catahoula, a county in northeast Louisiana. It is a versatile breed used in herding, tracking and alerting, making an ideal obedience dog.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog blends well with children and is very protective of its owners. It is a strong willed breed that does not take well to strangers. It needs training that consists of patience and firmness. It has a high over all intelligence, excellent problem solving ability, and above average ability to learn and obey commands. It prefers to live outdoors and needs daily exercise.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog has a coat of short, dense fur with colorings of merle and black with tan. It does shed, but requires minimal grooming.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog reaches a height of 20-26 inches and weighs from 40-60 pounds.