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Have you been considering adopting an unusual dog? Have you heard of Catahoula Pitbull mixes and have wondered if they would be a great dog for your family? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, then you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve put together information about this unique dog breed and what you can expect from a beautiful Catahoula Pitbull mix! Let’s get started!
What is a Catahoula Pitbull Mix?
The Catahoula Pitbull mix is a relatively new hybrid dog breed. The dogs are becoming more popular with pet parents who are looking for a more unusual dog.
The Catahoula Pitbull is a hybrid dog breed that’s a mix between a purebred American Pitbull Terrier and a Catahoula Leopard Dog! It’s important to bear in mind that this is an intense hybrid dog breed. They’re not the perfect dog for every family; however, for the right pet parents, these dogs are an amazing mix!
They do best with pet parents who are active and experienced at dealing with strong-willed dogs.
Hybrid Dog Breeds
It’s important to understand the Catahoula Pitbull is a hybrid dog breed. These are sometimes called “designer dog breeds,” meaning they are not purebred dog breeds but instead are a mix of two purebred dog breeds.
Designer, or hybrid, dog breeds started to become popular in the 1990s. It was about this time that breeders began to experiment with crossing two purebred parents to create healthier puppies. The breeders wanted the dogs to have positive traits from both parents to produce a “better” dog.
One thing most people don’t always understand is that a hybrid dog is not a 50/50 mix of their parents. Instead, each puppy in a litter is a unique individual. Each puppy randomly inherits genes from both parents. Some of the puppies may look like their Pitbull parent, while others strongly resemble their Catahoula parent. Then there may be puppies that look more like a mix of both parents!
What’s more, the personalities of each puppy may also vary! However, you can tell a lot about how the puppies’ personalities may turn out by meeting their parents. If the parents are laidback and friendly, chances are their puppies will be, too. However, with a hybrid dog, you never really know what it will ultimately be like.
So, it’s important to keep this in mind when considering a hybrid dog, such as a Catahoula Pitbull.
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Ask a Vet Live NowThe Parents of the Catahoula Pitbull Dog
As mentioned earlier, you can gain some insight into how a dog may turn out by knowing something about the parents. Here, we’ll take a look at both the Catahoula Leopard Dog and the Pitbull.
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is also known as Louisiana’s “hog dog.” That’s because the dog has ancestry from native American canines (wild canines in North America), Spanish Mastiffs, and Greyhounds! The dogs were first developed to help track and drive feral hogs and cattle. As a result, you know these dogs had to be courageous and aggressive to work with animals like these!
These tough dogs are beautiful and have a spotted, brindle, solid, or patched coat of many colors. They also have webbed feet, which help the dog to swim and work in soft, marshy areas. Their eyes come in various colors, including green, brown, blue, and amber. Some Catahoulas even have two different colored eyes! What’s more, some dogs have eyes that have two different colors—in the same eye! These are sometimes called “cracked eyes.”
Catahoulas are not friendly with strangers. However, they’re very protective of their families. They are also very choosy about who is worthy or unworthy to be their friends! Yes, you read that correctly. Pet parents who have these dogs say the canines are an excellent judge of character.
These dogs are extremely active and need about an hour of exercise every day. More is better! They also need plenty of training and socialization. These dogs are best for experienced pet parents who understand how to handle this type of dog.
What about the American Pitbull Terrier? What an interesting mix the Catahoula Pitbull is! The American Pitbull Terrier, also called the Pitbull, is another unusual dog breed. These dogs were once used for bear- and bull-baiting sports. Thankfully, these activities were outlawed in 1835. However, after that, breeders began to use Pitbulls to fight other dogs.
However, today, Pitbulls are usually very lovely dogs. While they can be tenacious, they are also excellent at training for obedience and agility activities and other dog sports. These dogs are highly intelligent. This is not the right dog for everyone; Pitbulls do better with pet parents who are experienced and understand how to deal with this dog breed. They require plenty of training and socialization to make them well-behaved and happy dogs.
These dogs tend to be very loving with their families and friends. They may even be welcoming to strangers! For this reason, they don’t make very good watchdogs. Pitbulls are very devoted and loyal to their families and will defend them to the death if necessary.
The main problem with the Pitbull is that they’ve earned a reputation for being aggressive. However, this is an undeserved reputation in most cases. However, there are many people who fear these dogs. Some cities and states have made it illegal to keep Pitbulls. So, if you are interested in a Pitbull or a Catahoula Pitbull mix, be sure the dogs are legal to have where you live.
So, now you have some idea about the parents of the Catahoula Pitbull! Let’s take a closer look at this hybrid dog!
Catahoula Pitbull Temperament
The Catahoula Pitbull is definitely not for first-time or inexperienced pet parents. These dogs need pet parents who understand the dogs and how to handle them. The pet parent must be able to show the dog who is the pack leader. If not, the dog will assume he’s the pack leader and will run the household. We’re not kidding. A dog that believes he is the pack leader will constantly challenge his pet parent and could even develop negative behavioral issues as a result.
Once the question of who runs the house is established, you’ll find the Catahoula Pitbull is very accepting and obedient to the pack leader. They will also love the entire family. Keep in mind these dogs have a ton of mental and physical energy. For this reason, they need a lot of exercise. They also need an active family that will spend plenty of time playing and interacting with them.
What’s more, these dogs are excellent working dogs. They love to work and make wonderful ranch dogs. They need to work off all their mental and physical energy. If so, these dogs will be quite happy and calm at home.
Catahoula Pitbulls are also very loving. They want nothing more than to be with their family and get plenty of attention. This is an intense dog and is best suited for pet parents that understand these dogs.
Size & Appearance of the Catahoula Pitbull Hybrid
The Catahoula Pitbull can weigh between 40 to 85 lbs and stand between 18 to 23 tall.
Because these dogs are large, they need plenty of room to run and play. Remember, these are intense dogs that can be forceful and strong. Pet parents must know this and understand how to deal with these dogs.
Coat & Colors of the Catahoula Pitbull Dog
These hybrid dogs come in a wide variety of striking colors and patterns! They’re most unusual and unique!
Pitbulls usually come in red, blue, white, and other colors. But they usually don’t have merle coats. So, there’s a good chance a Catahoula Pitbull will have some of these colors in his coat.
When it comes to the Catahoula Leopard Dog, they usually come in different shades of merle. These dogs can have any color and pattern/marking! They may even have spots.
So, a Catahoula Pitbull can be any combination of colors, merle, and other patterns! You just never know how the dogs will turn out when they’re hybrids from two such unusual purebred parents!
Exercise Requirements of the Catahoula Pitbull Mix
The Catahoula Pitbull mix has a ton of energy. For this reason, the dogs need at least between 60 to 90 minutes of strenuous exercise every day! We’re not kidding. If the dog doesn’t receive enough exercise, he will have excess energy and be bored. That’s not a good combination in any dog, including the Catahoula Pitbull mix.
If you aren’t able to commit to at least this amount of exercise every day, then you may want to check out other dog breeds. The Catahoula Pitbull mix is not the best dog breed for you and your family.
In addition, these dogs are a bit large, so they do best in larger homes. They also need a large backyard with a reinforced dog-proof fence. They need plenty of room to run and take in the fresh air. Your backyard must be reinforced because these dogs will protect your yard, home, and your family. The dogs are wonderful escape artists and will go out to protect his home and family if he feels there’s danger nearby.
Training a Catahoula Pitbull Mix
What about training a Catahoula Pitbull mix? Training can be a challenge with these hybrid dogs. The reason is they can be aggressive toward other dogs, like their Pitbull parent. So, socialization and training are imperative for these dogs.
These dogs must be trained and socialized from a young age. If you adopt a puppy, experts strongly suggest enrolling the dog in a puppy obedience class with other dogs. This way, your fur baby becomes used to other dogs and learns how to behave at the same time.
As a pet parent to a Catahoula Pitbull, you must be strong and committed to training your dog. You must be able to set the record on who is in charge. If you show any weakness with a dog like this, he will take charge.
In addition, these dogs are very strong. So, you must be strong enough to handle the Catahoula Pitbull mix. The dog should be leashed trained from a young age.
These dogs respond best to positive reinforcement training methods. If a Catahoula Pitbull feels he’s been mistreated, he will defend himself. So, be sure to offer plenty of praise and treats to let your dog know he’s doing a great job. The dogs are eager to please and learn cues quickly.
Catahoula Pitbull Mix Health
Catahoula Pitbull mixes are usually very healthy dogs. They have a life expectancy between 10 to 16 years; however, they can be prone to some of the same health issues as their purebred parents. Catahoula Pitbulls can develop the following health issues:
- Hip dysplasia
- Deafness
- Skin allergies
Not every Catahoula Pitbull will develop these conditions. And there are things you can do to keep your dog healthy! Be sure to feed him high-quality dog food, provide him plenty of exercise, and make sure he sees the vet for regular checkups. Regular vet checkups are key to any dog’s health.
Catahoula Pitbull Mix’s Diet
When it comes to their diet, these are active dogs that need high-quality dog food made for active, large dogs. These dogs usually need between 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups of food a day, divided between 2-3 smaller meals throughout the day.
If your dog is helping on the ranch, then he may require even more food to match his activity levels.
Summing It Up
The Catahoula Pitbull mix is a dog that has a lively personality. They’re extremely intelligent and have tons of energy! These dogs love to work and can be very helpful on the ranch.
These hybrid dogs are best for active families, with a pet parent who is strong and knows how to show who’s in charge without being cruel to the dog.
If you’re looking for a loving companion who can help you with chores on the ranch, this is the right dog for you!
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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