What Catahoula Bulldog Dog Breed Owners Want to Know?

Heritage and Registry

History

You will be surprised that, unlike other mixed breeds, Catahoula Bulldogs have been around for at least a century. It is a cross between a purebred Catahoula Leopard Dog and an American Bulldog that has become popular in the southern part of the United States because of their hunting skills and their ability as guard dogs.

Purebred parents of Catahoula Bulldogs were believed to have been bred together to improve the hunting capabilities of a Catahoula Leopard Dog.

Given the observed capabilities of Catahoula Bulldogs, the result was a success. This breed even gives you the best combination of dog traits you could ask for. Thus, it is not anymore surprising there is an increasing demand for this mixed breed.

Registry

The mixed-breed Catahoula Bulldog is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, there are still organizations that recognize it such as the following:

• • American Canine Association Inc (ACA)
  • Dog Registry of America Inc (DRA)
  • International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)

Parentage

Catahoula Leopard Dog

The Catahoula Leopard Dog parent of a Catahoula Bulldog is a powerful working dog. It is said to have originally come from Louisiana and is also known as the Catahoula Hog Dog because the breed is also traditionally used to hunt wild hogs.

Catahoula Leopard Dogs are considered rare dog breeds. They have a distinct appearance with their coat that can come in solid, brindle, spotted, or patched combinations of colors. They also have webbed feet. It is the epitome of the working dog group with its muscular body.

Despite its intimidating appearance, a Catahoula Leopard Dog is a protector of those humans that it is loyal to. It is loving and dedicated to those people it treats as its family.

American Bulldog

The Catahoula Bulldog’s other parent, the American Bulldog, is another dog breed with a strong and muscular built. This breed was known to have provided all-around help on the farm especially when it comes to guarding properties against wild animals.

American Bulldogs are naturally intelligent and dependable dogs. They are confident and energetic, and they can be territorial too. American Bulldogs should be trained and socialized at an early age to avoid aggressive behavior as an adult. When this is done correctly, you’d realize that an American Bulldog can be one of the most devoted dogs you would encounter.

Unlike their mixed-breed offspring, the breeds Catahoula Leopard Dog and American Bulldog are recognized by the American Kennel Club.

General Information on a Catahoula Bulldog

Physical Appearance

A Catahoula Bulldog is a mixed breed arising from the combination of its purebred dog parents – the Catahoula Leopard Dog and the American Bulldog. Because of the cross-breeding, there is no way to predict how a Catahoula Bulldog would look like. There are many factors that would affect these and so many combinations available.

There are even instances when those Catahoula Bulldog puppies coming from the same litter possess distinct looks from each other.

Catahoula Bulldogs belong to medium to large size dog breeds. They have an average height of 24 to 26 inches and an average weight of 75 to 100 pounds. They have a muscular physique which many equates to frightening but really, Catahoula Bulldogs are far from it.

The Bulldog mix can have either button ears or rose-type ones. Although there are also cases when said ears are cropped as preferred by their owners. They have eyes that can be in shades of gold, brown, blue, and green.

The coat of a Catahoula Bulldog is short, smooth, and dense with a slightly lustrous appearance. This is normally skin-tight and does not do well during the winter season. Thus, it is best to equip it with a sweater or other types of clothing that would protect its body against the cold.

The coat of a Catahoula Bulldog is usually pure white. But there are also occasions when it is made up of other colors such as merle, and a combination of gray and brown.

Overall, the appearance of a Catahoula Bulldog is dependent on the characteristics and traits that it will acquire from its purebred parents.

Grooming

Brushing

You wouldn’t have anything to be worried about when it comes to the grooming needs of Catahoula Bulldogs. They are light to moderate shedders that only need once to twice a week brushing to remove dead hair and other debris that get stuck in their coats. They are also not likely to develop tangles and matting which makes brushing them an easy task.

It is possible that your Catahoula Bulldog won’t be receptive at first with the brushing. This is normal especially if it is not used to it.

However, if you make this a routine and you will give your fur baby a treat or two afterwards, trust that it would relax to it eventually. Your Catahoula Bulldog may even find the routine comforting and enjoy the additional attention provided to it by its fur parent.

Bathing

A Catahoula Bulldog won’t need that much bathing unless it gets really dirty from one of its activities. It doesn’t normally develop any foul odor that needs frequent washing.

However, if you wash your fur baby, it is important to use only dog-friendly shampoo and conditioner. Dry it with a soft towel afterwards and take time to check if there is anything unusual on their skin.

It is not recommended to use any human products on your Catahoula Bulldog because these may contain substances that may be harmful to it. If the products you are using are causing an allergic reaction, better stop using them immediately and seek the assistance of your vet.

Other Grooming Needs

Your Catahoula Bulldog may not need frequent bathing but if it takes after its American Bulldog parent, it may have slight wrinkling or folds on its skin that needs frequent cleaning. If this is the case, you should attend to this as often as possible to prevent the propagation of bacteria that may cause infection later on.

You should also not overlook the cleaning of the ear, trimming of the nails, and oral hygiene of your Catahoula Bulldog. These would complete its grooming process and help it look healthy and well at all times.

If you cannot meet these grooming requirements, then you can always bring your Catahoula Bulldog to the nearest groomer in your area. They would gladly help you out in staying up to date with the upkeeping of your fur baby.

Food and Feeding

Your Catahoula Bulldog should be provided with a balanced diet if you want it to grow strong and healthy. It should also be of the right amount that it would replenish the energy consumed by your Catahoula Bulldog daily without causing unnecessary weight gain.

A Catahoula Bulldog’s diet should be composed of a high amount of protein. Carbohydrates should only be a small portion of its daily consumption because while it helps provide energy to your fur baby, too much of it can increase the risk for diabetes and Obesity.

Catahoula Bulldogs would also need different types of diet throughout their life. Their diet in their adulthood should be different from their diet during their puppyhood and when they reached already their senior years. Moreover, there should also be a different diet if they have health conditions such as diabetes and allergies.

There are many options available commercially that would help meet any dietary restrictions of your Catahoula Bulldog. There is even a choice between dry food, wet food, cooked food, and raw food. All you need is to be selective of the ingredients to ensure that you are giving them a good quality source.

Many fur parents opt for high-quality kibble mixed with canned food for their Catahoula Bulldog. Some prefer to give them lean meat. There are no issues with this as long as the food is enough and well-balanced for their needs.

Catahoula Bulldogs’ feeding schedule is ideally twice a day. Although it’s tempting, try not to give in to the temptation of feeding them in between those times.

Training

Training a Catahoula Bulldog is not for the faint of heart. While it is a smart dog breed that would be eager to please and get the approval of its fur parent, there are also instances when it could be stubborn. Thus, it is recommended to start training it as early as possible.

The training of a Catahoula Bulldog can start when it is already 8-weeks old. From the onset, the trainer or the fur parent should be able to establish himself as the alpha or the pack leader because this would play a role in the success of the obedience training.

Even as a pup, you shouldn’t let your Catahoula Bulldog just get its way especially if it is an unfitting behavior. Say no when needed and get it accustomed to what you expected it to do instead. Giving a Catahoula Bulldog rewards for every good behavior would be a motivation for it to behave accordingly.

Negative reinforcement is a type of training that would not be applicable to your Catahoula Bulldog. Not only could this break your dog’s disposition but it can also lead to aggression especially as it grows older.

Exercise and Physical Activity

Hunting is in the blood of a Catahoula Bulldog. Knowing this would give you the understanding that it would need more than the average 1 hour of physical activity daily that other dogs need to stay healthy.

A Catahoula Bulldog is a mixed breed dog that needs an average of 2 to 3 hours of exercise daily to remain in perfect condition at all times.

Ideally, the hours do not need to be in one go because you won’t want to overwork also your fur baby. Instead, this can be divided into 2 to 3 sessions daily for optimum results.

The exercise should also be on the high-intensity side. Instead of normal walks around the neighborhood, you could replace this with jogging. Playing fetch or catch is also a good exercise that would stimulate your Catahoula Bulldog’s mind at the same time.

The latter should be done, however, only if you are sure that your Catahoula Bulldog would not stray. Needless to say, choose a safe place such as an enclosed yard or a dog park.

An energetic dog, such as a Catahoula Bulldog, would be prone to misbehavior and boredom whenever it is not provided the right amount of exercise it needs.

Health Concerns

There shouldn’t be a lot of health concerns for a Catahoula Bulldog especially if yours was sourced out from a trusted seller. But it should still be considered that it is susceptible to those health conditions that are innate to both its purebred parents.

Some of the health concerns that a fur parent should be aware of are the following:

• Cancer
• Dry Nose
• Bloat
• Allergies

There is no exact formula to prevent these conditions if they are inherited from the Catahoula Bulldog’s parents. But you can prevent the issue from escalating by bringing your fur baby to the vet for a regular check-up. In that way, your vet can immediately spot any health concern and treat the symptoms before they worsen.

It is also mandatory that you manage the way of life of your Catahoula Bulldog. Provide it a balanced diet and exercise so it won’t be subjected to obesity which can lead to other diseases. Overall, the fur parent of a Catahoula Bulldog holds the key to maintaining the well-being of their fur baby.

Lifespan

Expect a healthy Catahoula Bulldog to have an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years. As such, starting at a young age of puppyhood, fur parents are encouraged to provide a healthy lifestyle already to their Catahoula Bulldogs.

A healthy lifestyle consists of a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and even medical care whenever necessary. Healthy Catahoula Bulldogs are known to live longer than those Catahoula Bulldogs that are not.

Temperament

Being descendants of the working and hunting dog breeds, Catahoula Bulldogs are very energetic crossbreeds. They seem to be fueled by non-stop energy and untiring in their efforts to provide joy to their owners.

They are pretty laid-back too. But this doesn’t mean that they are willing to compromise when it comes to the threats against their family. They are very loyal and protective, and you will find soon enough that nothing gets past their watchful eyes.

The protective instinct of a Catahoula Bulldog shouldn’t be confused with aggression. They are not naturally aggressive especially when trained and socialized well. They may be a bit wary in front of strangers but they tend to assess first before doing any actions.

Catahoula Bulldogs are also very smart. They are easy to please and they are eager to please in return. It is rare when you will find them not trailing after their owners because they are attention-seekers that way. They are loving and very expressive. Their emotions and feelings are normally expressed through the movement of their ears.

Despite all the best characteristics of a Catahoula Bulldog, it is still required for them to be trained and socialized to maximize their potential and to mitigate improper behavior.

Catahoula Bulldog as a Family Dog

Any family would reap the benefits of getting the best of the two worlds with Catahoula Bulldogs. They have the making of a great watchdog and a priceless companion. They also have gentle temperaments that make them easy to get along with.

Whether you are a single fur parent or one with family and small children, Catahoula Bulldogs would be great for you. They are very sociable and patient which bodes well if you have a playful toddler. They are not fragile too which makes playtime with your kids an enjoyable affair.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you can just leave your kids with your Catahoula Bulldog or even with other animals without supervision. It is best to be with them every time they are in the vicinity of each other to prevent any accidents and unfortunate events from happening.

Catahoula Bulldogs can also get along with other dogs and even other pets. But introductions and controlled socialization should be made first before leaving them to their own devices especially if they are not raised together.

Remember that Catahoula Bulldogs still have their hunting tendencies so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Due to the size of Catahoula Bulldogs, it is safe to say that they won’t be happy living in small apartments. They need a bigger house to live in and if possible, one with an enclosed yard.

With the energy it is carrying, you’ll find something breaking if you let it loose in a small space with a lot of furniture and other breakables.

The Cost of Getting a Catahoula Bulldog

Purchase Price

If you are thinking of getting a Catahoula Bulldog pup, then be prepared to have at least USD400 to USD700 if you want it to be sourced from a trusted and reputable breeder.

It is paramount to consider buying only from a trusted source because this guarantees the good quality of a Catahoula Bulldog you are going to get. They conduct strict vetting on purebred parents before crossing them to produce a litter because they want to only produce good quality puppies for every fur parent.

Even after the birth of the Catahoula Bulldog pups, they go through a series of health testing and are supplemented by vitamins to ensure that they are in perfect condition before being released to their would-be owners. Unlike backyard breeders and puppy mills, reputable breeders do not compromise the quality of the pups they breed for any amount.

This would save you a lot of bucks in the long run because you won’t have to deal with a Catahoula Bulldog pup with a poor health condition that may need costly medical care in the future.

If you want to get a Catahoula Bulldog without the costly purchase price, you may also want to check the dog shelters near your area. A designer dog it may be, but there are instances when its kind lands on shelters due to various reasons.

Other Costs for a Catahoula Bulldog Puppy 

Before adopting a Catahoula Bulldog puppy, you may want to think about first the cost it would entail.

One of the biggest costs perhaps would be meeting its nutritional requirements such as food and vitamins throughout the different stages of its life. There is also the medical and emergency care it will need whenever it gets sick. Not to mention, the dog accessories such as the dog bowl, bed, toys, leash, dog-friendly toiletries, and the likes.

Not considering these costs would be a recipe for heartbreak and a disaster. The last thing you’d want is to be separated from your fur baby just because you realize later on that you cannot afford its upbringing.

Conclusion

With enough training and socialization, there is no reason why a Catahoula Bulldog won’t be a great addition to your family. It is friendly and laid-back. It is also loyal and protective. It is also not aggressive which is a great trait for a family pet. It’s like getting a companion and a guard dog in one with a Catahoula Bulldog!

However, before you rush to get one, be sure that you are only sourcing it from a reputable breeder. Further, you should consider first all the costs that it would entail to get a Catahoula Bulldog as a new pet.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Are Catahoula Bulldogs aggressive?

A: Catahoula Bulldogs are generally gentle dogs. However, like most other dog breeds, they tend to act aggressively if their humans or themselves are threatened. They can be aggressive in the face of other same-sex Catahoula Bulldogs also. Moreover, they can be aggressive when they grow up in a home full of violence, and they are not trained and socialized from puppyhood.

Needless to say, Catahoula Bulldogs should get the appropriate training and socialization they need at an early age. This would help them adapt easily to different environments and correctly assess the dangers that are in front of them.

Q: How much does a Catahoula Bulldog cost?

A: A Catahoula Bulldog pup would cost you between USD400 to USD700. This is already a good price to pay for the said pup that will be sourced from a reputable breeder.

It should be noted that getting a Catahoula Bulldog pup from a backyard breeder or puppy mill is not recommended because the quality of a pup is not guaranteed. It may even have pre-existing health conditions that they might not tell you about and may cost you more in the long run.

Q: Are Catahoulas good family dogs?

A: There is everything to love with a Catahoula Bulldog. They are very good family pets because of their good temperament especially when trained and socialized well. They are not that fragile too like small dog breeds that can easily get hurt which suits well those families with playful small children.

Catahoula Bulldogs are easy to get along with. Thus, they are not only great for those fur parents with their own families, but for single fur parents as well.

Q: What is the lifespan of a Catahoula Bulldog?

A: Catahoula Bulldogs have an average life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. They can reach this age if they would receive the right amount of care from their fur parents that would allow them to grow strong and healthy throughout the different stages of their lives.

High-quality food sources, sufficient exercise, and medical care are among the factors that enable Catahoula Bulldogs to have a healthy lifestyle.