Cata-Who?
Pine Gulch Catahoulas
NALC Breeder - TXCAT
HISTORY OF CATAHOULA BREED
Legend says
that the Catahoula breed evolved in the swamps of central Louisiana, around the Catahoula Lakes. It is believed
by some that their ancestors were the results of the Indian dogs, or red wolf found in the area at that time, mating with the
surviving "war dogs" or mastiff used by the Spaniards in battle and then left behind, either wounded or captured by the Indians.
The first white settlers to the Catahoula Lake area found this strange breed of dog with mottled spots and white eyes, and called
them CATAHOULA meaning "beautiful clear water".
APPEARANCE / SIZE OF CATAHOULA BREED
A
Catahoula is a medium to tall dog, the average adult size ranges between 20"-26" at the withers, and has an average
weight between 50-85 lbs. Most Catahoulas are spotted up, with 2 to 5 different colors in their coat, having a base
color of black, white, blue, brown, or liver, with contrasting spots of any, or all, of these colors. Their coat color may also
be solid but have a white spot on the chest and/or trim on the legs and face. Catahoulas typically have a broad
chest, strong legs, and a wide head. The ears may be either crinkled and laid-back or folded-over like a hound, but much
shorter. The webbed toes of these dogs help them walk easily in swampland as well as over snow, and make them excellent
swimmers. A well-known characteristic of the breed are unusual eye colorations. The eyes may both be amber,
brown, green, or light blue (glass); Or, each eye may have a different color or eyes with "cracks" (or spots of another
color) in one or both eyes.