The US currently has 11 breeds considered to be “State Dogs” with 4 more for future considerations. One of those would be the #catahoulaleoparddog
Considered a great #huntingdog the Catahoula has a long and rich history with the #people of the south, especially the #state where it originates from #Louisiana The origin of its name and how the breed came about remains uncertain however there are various theories.
One theory is that Native Americans bred their own #dogs to #wardogs known as #Alanos (extinct) brought over by Hernando de Soto from #Spain in the 16th century. These dogs were bred to the natives dogs that some believe were crossed with #redwolves a wild canid that roamed freely in the south.
A second theory suggests that the breed originated in the early 1700’s after French settlers arrived in Louisiana and introduced the #Beauceron a large French hunting dog. It is believed that the #French bred their dogs with the Natives as well (Wolf Dogs) and together contributed to the inception of what we know today as the Catahoula leopard dog.
*A key point to mention is it was once believed that the #nativeamericans wolf dogs were bred from the native #redwolves of that region but this idea is not supported by modern DNA analysis.
They’re three distinct versions of the Catahoula which varied in size and color. These lines of dogs were known as the Wright, McMillin and Fairbanks lines.
Mr. Preston Wright’s line was the largest of the three and represented the dogs originally produced by the dogs of DeSoto. His dogs ranged between 90 and 110 pounds.
Mr. T. A. McMillin, who lived on Sandy Lake, raised mostly Blue Leopard dogs with glass eyes. These dogs ranged between 50 and 60 pounds.
Mr. Lovie Fairbanks’ lines were the Brindle to Yellow colored dogs. His line was not as large as the Wright dogs, but larger than the McMillin line. They ranged between 65 and 75 pounds.
The breed today is very much the same as it was 100 years ago, if it don't work or perform some function in day to day farm life, it's not kept for very long. This is a #workingdog a dog of #purpose and exactly how that was produced in the past to create the genetics it has is breeding the best to the best by the method called "Culling" What is culling, to cull pups from a #litter is to put the inferior #pups to sleep, to remove from the pack as to not pass on the negative trait that said breeder deems not worthy. Many of today's #breeders don't do this today it's more about making #money off a litter, besides the public outcry from #animal rights group would bring negative attention.
Not many know about the Catahoula dogs and another breed the #alapahabluebloodbulldog that come from the same region and that I personally believe is a cross with the Catahoula (I will do a write up soon) but those that do know of the breed knows it's one heck of a dog.