Catahoula Bulldog - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Mixed breed
The Catahoula Bulldog is a mixed breed, or designer dog breed, or just a crossbreed between two purebred breeds, the Catahoula Leopard Dog and American Bulldog. Just like with all crossbreeds, the temperament and appearance of individual dogs can greatly vary, because mixed breeding does not necessarily mean equal genetic parts of the two breeds and some Catahoula Bulldogs will get more temperament and appearance from one parent and another will look more like the second parent breed.
2) Origin
Today, designer dog breeds are extremely popular and most of them are very young, developed only in few last decades. But that is not the case with Catahoula Bulldog, which has been in existence for at least 100 years. The exact origins are not widely known, but these dogs were very popular in Southern USA for their protective instinct, hunting skills and good working ethic.
3) Versatility
The Catahoula Bulldog is a very versatile breed, that was throughout its history used for many different purposes. Thanks to their loyalty and natural protective instinct, they were used as guards and watchdogs. Thanks to their hunting instincts, courage and strength, they were also used for hunting dangerous and strong animals, such as hogs, or even bears. And the last purpuse of this dog is herding the cattle and even though they were not primarily used for this, they are capable of herding as well. And of course, today, majority of these dogs are also amazing lively companion dogs.
4) Companions
And they make very good companions! The Catahoula Bulldog is known as a loyal and loving family dog, that is quite adaptable, tolerant even with younger kids, very lively and playful and definitely fun to be around. Of course, even though they are typically good partners for kids, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. These dogs also tend to be fiercely protective over its family and they might be reserved with strangers, but they should never be agressive without a reason.
5) Exercise
Even though the Catahoula Bulldog is a good family companion, it is still not a dog for everyone. One of the reason is their exceptionally high energy level, these dogs just must be provided with daily longer outdoor walks, hikes, jogs, swims, lots of vigorous playtime and some fun training sessions to stay healthy and happy, physically but also mentally. These dogs are definitely better suited for living in a house with a big yard, where they can stretch their legs whenever they want. Without enough exercise, these dogs may develop some unwanted behaviour, such as destruction.
6) Size
This is a large, strong and muscular, yet very agile and athletic dog breed with average height between 24-26 inch, which is 60-66 cm and weight is usually between 75-100 pounds, which is 34-45 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.
7) Coat
The Catahoula Bulldogs posses a short, but very dense coat which is described as glossy. The coat is also quite practical and water repellent which is enabling the dog working even in bad weather for long hours. The Catahoula Bulldog comes in many different colors, including black, brown, white, black and brown, black and white, brown and white, black with tan blotches and patches, and white with gray.
8) Name
The name Catahoula Bulldog is derived from the names of its parent breeds, the Catahould Leopard dog and American Bulldog. Sometimes, people call this dog with one other name as well, which is American Mastahoula.
9) Maintenance
Great fact is, that the maintenance and grooming of Catahoula Bulldog is very easy. They are almost non shedding dogs, which can be good fit for people suffering from dog allergies. These dogs are also known to have only little of the typical doggy odor. On the other hand, some Catahoula Bulldogs are known for drooling. The grooming is very simple and even without any grooming, the coat will stay in great shape. If you want to keep the coat as clean as possible, regular brushing is always very beneficial. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.
10) Health
Catahoula Bulldogs are generally considered to be healthy dogs, although the breed can be predisposed to the same health issues as its parent breeds. Those may include hip dysplasia, cherry eye, thyroid, various eye problems or kidney problems. But none of those are very common with this breed and the Catahoula Bulldog is usually very healthy dog. The average lifespan is around 12 or 13 years, which is great for a dog of this size.