| Catahoula Breed Standards |
| Standard and Qualities 22-26 inches for males. Weight can range between 55 to 90 pounds. The medium of the extremes is typically preferred. Colors can be leopard (blue, silver, black, liver, red, white and patched). Trim can be black, white, tan, red or brindle. Solid colors are black, red, brindle, chocolate and yellow. "Glass" Eyes are preferred but the eyes may be any color or color combination. The Catahoula can be described as assertive, intelligent, highly protective, hearty and tireless. They have been used for herding, hunting, agility, detection and companionship to name a few. Their feet are webbed enabling them to walk well in snow, swamp lands and as we've found, desert sand. |
| Brindle |
| Black |
| Coat Colors |
| Blue Leopard |
| Blue Leopard Patchwork |
| Black & White Patchwork |
| Red |
| Red Leopard |
| White |
Blue Leopard - Refers to the blue merle color pattern. Blue leopards are black dogs with the merle
pattern. Blue leopards are some shade of grey with black patches scattered throughout the coat.
Blue leopards may range from mostly grey to mostly black. Sometimes the terms "grey leopard" or
"black leopard" are used.
Glass eyes - Refers to eyes which are blue or blue-white in color. Dogs with two glass eyes are often
referred to as having "double glass eyes". Sometimes a glass eye will have darker colored sections
in it and vice versa. When both colored and glass portions are present in the same eye, the eye is
usually called "cracked glass" or "marbled glass".
Leopard - Refers to the merle color pattern. The merle pattern breaks up the dog's color, so that
some hairs lack pigment. The overall effect is a dilution of color, with some unaffected patches of
dense color scattered throughout the coat.
Patchwork - Refers to leopards with patches of several different shades in their coats. The
background color may be white or very light, and the patches are usually large and scattered in such
a way as to give a more torn or blotchy appearance than that of a typical leopard. This pattern is
similar to the harlequin pattern seen in Great Danes. Patchworks may be blue/black based or red
based.
Red Leopard - Refers to the red merle color pattern. Red leopards are red/liver/chocolate dogs with
the merle pattern. Red leopards are some shade of light reddish-brown with darker red or brown
patches scattered throughout the coat. Sometimes the terms "brown leopard" or "chocolate
leopard" are used.
White - Usually, when a Catahoula is referred to as being "white", it means that the dog is
primarily white with some areas of leopard coloration. White dogs are generally the result of being
"double merle" (carrying two copies of the merle gene). White dogs often have hearing or vision
problems.
pattern. Blue leopards are some shade of grey with black patches scattered throughout the coat.
Blue leopards may range from mostly grey to mostly black. Sometimes the terms "grey leopard" or
"black leopard" are used.
Glass eyes - Refers to eyes which are blue or blue-white in color. Dogs with two glass eyes are often
referred to as having "double glass eyes". Sometimes a glass eye will have darker colored sections
in it and vice versa. When both colored and glass portions are present in the same eye, the eye is
usually called "cracked glass" or "marbled glass".
Leopard - Refers to the merle color pattern. The merle pattern breaks up the dog's color, so that
some hairs lack pigment. The overall effect is a dilution of color, with some unaffected patches of
dense color scattered throughout the coat.
Patchwork - Refers to leopards with patches of several different shades in their coats. The
background color may be white or very light, and the patches are usually large and scattered in such
a way as to give a more torn or blotchy appearance than that of a typical leopard. This pattern is
similar to the harlequin pattern seen in Great Danes. Patchworks may be blue/black based or red
based.
Red Leopard - Refers to the red merle color pattern. Red leopards are red/liver/chocolate dogs with
the merle pattern. Red leopards are some shade of light reddish-brown with darker red or brown
patches scattered throughout the coat. Sometimes the terms "brown leopard" or "chocolate
leopard" are used.
White - Usually, when a Catahoula is referred to as being "white", it means that the dog is
primarily white with some areas of leopard coloration. White dogs are generally the result of being
"double merle" (carrying two copies of the merle gene). White dogs often have hearing or vision
problems.
| Examples of Copper trim on legs and face |
| Example of Double Merle |
It is said that all Catahoulas can be traced back to these three foundation lines:
The Wright line was the largest at 90 to 110 pounds and were developed by Mr. Preston Wright. This
line represented dogs originally produced from Hernando de Soto's dogs.
The Fairbanks line was the next in size at 65 to 75 pounds and were developed by Mr. Lovie Fairbanks.
They were brindle to yellow in color.
The McMillin line was the smallest in size at 50 to 60 pounds and were developed by Mr. T. A. McMillin
of Sandy Lake, Louisiana. These were Blue Leopard dogs with glass eyes.
These three lines were crossed back and forth and created the variations of Catahoulas seen today.
The Wright line was the largest at 90 to 110 pounds and were developed by Mr. Preston Wright. This
line represented dogs originally produced from Hernando de Soto's dogs.
The Fairbanks line was the next in size at 65 to 75 pounds and were developed by Mr. Lovie Fairbanks.
They were brindle to yellow in color.
The McMillin line was the smallest in size at 50 to 60 pounds and were developed by Mr. T. A. McMillin
of Sandy Lake, Louisiana. These were Blue Leopard dogs with glass eyes.
These three lines were crossed back and forth and created the variations of Catahoulas seen today.
| Eye Colors |
| Brown Eyes Chocolate to Amber |
| Cracked Eyes An eye that has 2 or more colors |
| Glass Eyes An eye that has the appearance of being blue but in fact lacks pigment |
| Hazel Eyes Eyes with a green hue |
| The above photos are only examples. There are so many more colors and color variations making the appearance of the Catahoula as versitile as the dog itself! |
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| Crazy Wolf's |
"What is character but the determination of incident? What is
incident but the illistration of character?"
-Henry James (The Art of Fiction)
incident but the illistration of character?"
-Henry James (The Art of Fiction)
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