October Dog of The Month: Ollie and the Catahoula Leopard
Congratulations, Oliver (Ollie)!
Ollie is our first official Dog of the Month!! He has won a gift basket of two All-Natural dog treats, and a locally-handcrafted scented candle from AURUM Creations for his Pet Parent!
(Pet Parents can receive 10% OFF a deliciously scented AURUM Creations candle by using discount code: PACKPAWS)
About Ollie!
Ollie is an energetic and very loving young pup. He has three equally awesome pups with whom he lives. They are Izzy, Julius, and Rio. He’s super smart, and is learning quickly with his entertaining puppy curiosity. He also has serious FOMO, fear of missing out!
Every Month we are nominating one of our happy pups as the Dog of The Month, and highlighting their breed by giving you some info on where the breed came from and some fun facts about the breed that you might not already know.
If you’d like your dog to be highlighted next month post a picture of your dog on instagram and tag us for a chance to be November’s Dog of The Month!! @PackLeadersATL
About the Catahoula Leopard
Catahoula Leopard Dogs are a multi-purpose working dog know for their muscle and power, but have a great sense of agility and endurance too. This is why they are popular work hounds. Yet while they are serious while working, they display a playful and family-friendly demeanor at home.
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is a medium to large sized dog, that can range anywhere from 50-90 pounds. They have a short-coat that displays many variations and patterns, and they have eye colors just as unique as their coats.
The word catahoula is of Choctaw origin and is translated to mean “sacred lake.” Catahoulas are the only breed of dog to have historically originated in the state of Louisiana.
The breed requires firm guidance and early socialization, as they can be independent, territorial, and protective. For the same reasons, they do not allow mistreatment and will assert themselves in self-defense. Once they know their place in the family unit, they are affectionate, loyal, and gentle. Also called the Catahoula Hog Dog, they are used as stock dogs, bay dogs, tree dogs, watchdogs, guard dogs, and of course as loyal companions.
History of the Breed
In 1539, when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Florida and began his expedition through the Southeastern United States, his scribes noted there was only one species of domestic animal in North America: the Native American’s dog, who looked like a wolf but barked like a dog.
These native dogs were crossed with the “bloodhounds, mastiffs, and greyhounds” brought by the Spanish explorers. In Northern Louisiana, the Native Americans called these new dogs “Wolf Dogs.” Once the French arrived with their hounds, they were crossbred again, resulting in today’s Catahoula Leopard Dog.
Fun Facts:
In 1979, the Catahoula Leopard Dog was named the State Dog of Louisiana.
In Canada, Catahoulas have competed successfully in the sled dog racing.
The Catahoula Leopard Dog has been assigned to the Herding Group designation in the American Kennel Club.
All Info provided by the American Kennel Club