Celebrating the Catahoula - September 2010 -

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Weight: 60-75 lbs
Height: 20-26 inches
Coat: short
Litter Size: 8-12
Life Span: 10-14 years

Description

Often called the most versatile of all working dog breeds, the Catahoula Leopard dog is certainly an active canine. From being able to herd cattle and hunt many species of game-deer, bear, boar, raccoon, and squirrel-to being an excellent candidate for Search and Rescue as well as drug detection, needless to say, the Catahoula Leopard dog is a protective breed that is intelligent and adaptable to nearly every situation.

Also known as a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog, this dog breed likes to be as active as possible and requires a fair amount of mental stimulation to keep occupied. Often growing to 20 to 26 inches long and 45 to 95 pounds, this moderate breed stays in shape by being put to work in the fields or in various law enforcement situations.

The Louisiana Catahoula can be a number of different colors, so it can be difficult to identify them just from their coats. Ranging in color from red, blue, yellow, and even tan or white colors, this breed's short coat is easy to maintain and suited perfectly for their active lifestyle.

Coat Colors and Patterns

 

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.


History

There is some speculation that the Catahoula Leopard dog is a descendant of the greyhounds and mastiffs that were brought into Louisiana by Hernando de Soto in the sixteenth century. These original dogs were also known as war dogs and are thought to have interbred with the local red wolves.

In the next century, the French began to arrive in Louisiana as well, bringing the Beauceron dog breed, which then mixed with the interbred dogs that were now in the area, producing the breed as it is seen today.

Governor Edwin Edwards made the Catahoula Leopard dog the official state dog of Louisiana in 1979.

The Catahoula originated in North Central Louisiana in the geographic area around the Catahoula Lake from which it got its name. The word Catahoula is of Choctaw Indian origin and is translated into English as "sacred lake", just as the Choctaw word Choekahoula means "sacred home."


The early settlers around the Catahoula lake region of North Louisiana began to use these Indian dogs and/or crosses of them to pen and catch wild hogs and cows. This practice was soon developed into a method of managing herds of wild cattle and wild hogs. The peculiar way these dogs work stock is what separates them from the rest of dogdom. Their style of working stock is to effectively provide a "canine fence" around wild cows or hogs and hold them for their master. Their masters then provide direction to the movement of these wild cows or hogs while inside this "canine fence."
Catahoulas have been bred by working-oriented breeders since their instincts to work wild hogs and cattle became evident. The ability to handle wild herds is instinct and cannot be taught. A single outcross or crossbreeding so affects the instinct that it eliminates those pups from ever becoming breeding stock. This self governing instinct could easily be lost if bred for pets or show without the trial by fire working aspect being tantamount. Regardless of size, color, or color of eyes, the working instinct is the true acid test of purity in the Catahoula.


Temperament

As with most smart dog breeds, the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard needs to have a fair amount of stimulation in order to stay energized and happy. These dogs are highly intelligent and quick to assess situations, making them perfect helpers in law enforcement. But at the same time, this energy they have can also match perfectly with young children. The Catahoula is gentle and loving with younger children, so unlike other sporting dogs, this breed can be a good addition to a home setting.

Because of their high intelligence, the Catahoula Leopard is often trying to learn new things and will be curious about their environment. This creates a sort of independent manner about them, and they will go off to wander and explore alone if they are compelled to do so.

Spending a lot of time with this dog is imperative for its health and happiness. This is a dog that craves interaction with others and wants to be a part of the family that it belongs to. If you do not have time to interact with this type of dog breed, it may not be a good fit for your home.

What may not work for every family is the Catahoula Leopard's tendency to be very overprotective of their family and of their territory. This can cause problems in some situations.

The Catahoula can also become fierce when they are around other dogs, especially when the dogs are the same sex as they are.

Though the initial protectiveness may not be seen in the first few years of a Catahoula's life, it's at the age of two that this breed begins to feel it has a responsibility to protect its owners.

What's interesting too is that the Catahoula can become mild-mannered and timid around strangers, not from intimidation, but from hesitation. These dogs are intolerant of strangers and that's what makes them seem fearful in the presence of someone they don't know.

With all of these personality features in mind, some more mild-mannered dog owners may not be a good fit for the Catahoula Leopard. The owner needs to be someone that is ready to demonstrate leadership for the dog, as this breed wants to be lead and trained by an authority.

This dog breed is often encouraged in homes that have a lot of room for the dog to roam, but in city or suburbs, they might feel too caged in.

When trying to control your Catahoula Leopard, you will want to make sure they attend obedience classes as well as have a place where they can be locked up when you're not around to monitor their actions.





Health Issues

While generally a healthy dog overall, the Catahoula Leopard can encounter some problems during their active life.

This particular dog breed is prone to hip dysplasia, which can cause pain and problems with mobility as the condition progresses. Those Catahoulas with a white coat or with a white face are also prone to issues with glass eyes. These particular colored dogs can often have an 80% chance of developing Deafness in one or both ears.

Occasionally, this dog breed will have troubles with their eyes, leading to tunnel vision, abnormal pupil dilation, and sometimes problems with the eye opening. This is often seen in particular breeds, like the McMillin line.

Some of the Catahoula Leopard Dog breed can also develop cancer in their older years.


Exercise

The high activity level of the Catahoula Leopard lends itself well to the farm or country setting, but may not work as well in the suburbs or a city dwelling.

The workaholic personality of this dog breed needs to be constantly satisfied, or the dog may become unnecessarily aggressive.

If at all possible, the Catahoula Leopard needs to be working during the day as a herder or in some other capacity. They enjoy being outdoors and playing, rather than sitting around.

This particular dog breed should be allowed to run for a full hour daily, at least to help maintain their health as well as placate their energetic demeanor.

The Catahoula Leopard might be an excellent companion on a jog or a hike, as they can keep up the pace quite easily.

Though they are noisy and playful when they are active, Catahoula Leopards that don't get enough activity can begin to chew, bark, or dig excessively in order to deal with excess energy.

Celebrating the Greyhound - July 2010

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Celebrating the Greyhound - July 2010

by The Fit Dog on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 9:41pm

THE GREYHOUND

Weight Male 27 to 40 kilograms (60 to 88 lb)
Female 27 to 34 kilograms (60 to 75 lb)
Height Male 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 in)
Female 68 to 71 centimetres (27 to 28 in)
Coat Fine, smooth
Litter size 6-8 pups
Life span 10-13 years



*Description

For thousands of years Greyhounds have been bred to hunt by outrunning their prey. They were not intended to be solitary hunters, but to work with other dogs. Switching from hunting to racing has kept this aspect of their personality very much alive. The fastest breed of dog, Greyhounds can reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour, and can average more than 30 miles per hour for distances up to one mile. Selective breeding has given the Greyhound an athlete's body with the grace of a dancer. At the same time, the need to anticipate the evasive maneuvers of their prey has endowed the Greyhound with a high degree of intelligence.

The Greyhound has a long neck and head, with a barely noticeable stop, or bridge to his nose. The ears are small and usually folded flat back against the neck. The ears may stand semi- or fully erect when the Greyhound is attentive. This is called a "rose ear."

The back is long and muscular with an arch over the loin. The deep chest and narrow waist give the Greyhound its distinctive silhouette. The legs are long and powerful. The feet are small and compact, with well knuckled toes. The tail is long and curved.

The coat of a Greyhound is short and smooth, and is the result of crossing Greyhounds with Bulldogs in the mid-1700s. Greyhounds come in an endless variety of colors, including white, fawn (tan), cream, red (rust), black, blue (grey), many shades of brindle, and with patches of these colors on white. There is virtually no body fat. In general, Greyhounds are very clean and do not require a lot of grooming.

A show Greyhound typically stands between 26 and 30 inches and the shoulder, and weighs 60 to 85 pounds. Bitches average around 10 to 15 pounds less than dogs. The average lifespan is twelve to fourteen years. Track Greyhounds are often between 25 and 29 inches and 50 to 80 pounds. The AKC standard specifies 65-70lbs for males, 60-65 for females as ideal.

The Greyhound is a quiet and docile animal when not racing. While they can be somewhat aloof in the presence of strangers, more often they are generally friendly to most people. They are very affectionate toward those they know and trust.

*History

Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds of dogs, and appear in art and literature throughout history. In ancient Egypt, Greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, and tombs were often decorated with Greyhound figures. A hieroglyph of a dog very much resembling the modern breeds Greyhound, Saluki, and Sloughi can be found in the writings of ancient Egypt. Alexander the Great had a Greyhound named Peritas. The Greyhound is mentioned in the Old Testament (Proverbs 30:29-31), Homer (Odyssey, where the only one to recognize Odysseus upon his return was his Greyhound, Argus), Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), and Shakespeare (Henry V and Merry Wives of Windsor). Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were often portrayed with Greyhounds.

As Clarke, in The Greyhound states:

But, ancient as the Greyhound is, it would be stretching the truth to claim that the Arabian hounds depicted on the ancestral tombs of ancient Egyptians were identical to the Greyhounds we know today. In their conformation, in their grace and pace, in the poetry of their motion, yes -- but not in the style of coat they wore! [...] In fact, there is reason to believe that the Arabian Greyhound may well have resembled a Saluki -- but for all, still a dog of the Greyhound family.

There are many differing explanations for the origin of the term Greyhound. One writer suggests that the original Greyhound stock was mostly grey in color. Another says the term derives from the Old English "grei," meaning "dog," and "hundr," meaning "hunter." Another explanation is that it is derived from "gre" or "gradus," meaning "first rank among dogs." Finally, it has been suggested that the term derives from Greekhound, since the hound reached England through the Greeks.

Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty. In fact, from the 11th to the 14th century, English law decreed that no "mean person" was allowed to keep a Greyhound. Penalty for breaking this law was death!

*Characteristics and Temperament

Greyhounds have a very gentle and quiet disposition. They are very pack oriented dogs and will quickly adopt human masters into their "pack." To allow different Greyhounds to hunt and race together, aggressiveness towards other dogs and people has been nearly eliminated from the breed. Many do retain a strong prey drive (which is a compnent to their racing) and are sometimes unsuitable for houses with other small pets such as cats or rabbits. Their sensitivity and intelligence make them quick learners, and good candidates for obedience training.

Greyhounds are often tolerant of children, especially if they have been raised with them. Being non-aggressive, a Greyhound will generally walk away from a worrisome child, rather than growl or snap. However, even the gentle Greyhound has its limits, and should not be subjected to continuous harassment.

Although Greyhounds are the fastest breed of dog, they achieve their incredible speed in one all out sprint, and do not have a lot of endurance. A Greyhound is quite content to be a "couch potato" and spend most of the day sleeping. Since they don't have a lot of endurance, a Greyhound actually requires less exercise time than most dogs.

Greyhounds are the prototypical sighthound, a group of hounds that pursue their prey by sight rather than scent. As with all sighthounds, Greyhounds have a very strongly developed chase instinct. In spite of this, it is possible for Greyhounds to peacefully coexist with other pets, including cats, dogs, and even rabbits. Cohabitation will be easier if the other pets do not run away. Even after you've trained the Greyhound to not chase the family indoor cat, this does not mean that it won't chase the neighbor's cat, or even the family cat outdoors.


*Racing

Until the early twentieth century, greyhounds were principally bred and trained for coursing. During the 1920s, modern greyhound racing was introduced into the United States and England (Belle Vue, Manchester, July 1926), as well as Northern Ireland (Celtic Park, April 1927) and the Republic of Ireland (Shelbourne Park, Dublin). The greyhound holds the record for fastest recorded dog.

Aside from professional racing, many greyhounds enjoy success on the amateur race track. Organizations like the Large Gazehound Racing Association (LGRA) and the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA) provide opportunities for greyhounds and other sighthound breeds to compete in amateur racing events all over the United States.


* Coursing

The original function of greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe was in the coursing of deer. Much later they specialised as competition hare coursing dogs. Some greyhounds still fulfill their live coursing function, although artificial lure sports like lure coursing and racing are far more common and popular.

However to many purest breeders of racing greyhounds, the sport of coursing is still vitally important.This is the case particularly in Ireland where many of the world’s leading breeders are based. A bloodline that has produced a champion on the live hare coursing field is often crossed with track lines in order to keep the early pace (i.e. speed over first 100 yards) that greyhounds are renowned for prominent in the line. Many of the leading sprinters over 300 yards to 550 yards will have bloodlines that can be traced back through Irish sires within a few generations that won events such as the Irish Coursing Derby or the Irish Cup.

The majority of pure-bred greyhounds are whelped in the Republic of Ireland. Also any sample check on the back breeding on the greyhound data website will show coursing champions within a few generations in the pedigree of track racing champions. Just to give a few examples, 2005 Irish Oaks winner, Grayslands Pixie, is a granddaughter of Lady Tico, the dam of 1992 Irish Coursing Derby winner Newry Hill. The 2005 Irish Derby winner, He Said So, 2007 Irish Derby winner, Razldazl Billy, and 2009 Irish Derby winner, College Causeway, all have 1983 English Derby Winner, I'm Slippy, in their immediate pedigree, whose dam was coursing bitch Glenroe Bess. The current number one United States sire of greyhounds running between 0 and 503 meters is Dodgem By Design, who is descended from coursing bitch Ballyhenry Black in the fourth generation of his back breeding. The current top sires in Ireland and the UK, Top Honcho and Brett Lee, have the fully coursing-bred Supreme Fun (by Newdown Heather ex Top Note) in the 4th and 5th generations of their respective pedigrees.

In Ireland the ICC (Irish Coursing Club) oversees about 80 live hare coursing meetings per year. Both the American Kennel Club and the American Sighthound Field Association sponsor lure coursing events in North America.

*Famous Greyhounds/Greyhound Owners

(J.K. Rowling and Sapphire)

Cleopatra VII - Royalty

Diana - Roman Goddess - Grey's name Lelaps

Odysseus - Greek God - Grey's name Argus

Pharaoh Amenhotep II - Royalty

Pharaoh Tutankhamen - Royalty

Queen Hatshepsut - Royalty

Thutmose III - Royalty

King Canute - Royalty - creator of the "Forest Laws"

King Howel of Wales - Royalty

Alexander the Great - Royalty - Grey's name Peritas

Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn - Royalty - Grey's name Urian (after her brother)

Elizabeth I - Royalty

Frederick the Great - Royalty

James II of England - Royalty

Louis XV of France - Royalty

Prince Albert & Queen Victoria - Royalty - Grey's name EOS

Richard II - Royalty - Grey's name Mathe/Gift Of The Lord

Sir Joseph Banks - Explorer

Sir Walter Scott - Author - Greys' names Percy & Hamlet

General George Custer - Military - Greys names Byron & Blucher

General Von Stuben - Colonial Military - Grey's name Azure/Azor

Alfonso Faustino - Actor/Model - Grey's name Miles

Annette Crosbie - UK Actress

Bart Simpson - Cartoon - Grey's name Santa's Little Helper

Billy The Kid - "The Wild West Show"

Buffalo Bill (W F Cody) -"The Wild West Show"

Bo Derek - Actress

Catherine Bell & Adam Beeson - Actress/Actor

Charlie Watts - Drummer

Charlotte Cornwell - UK Actress

David Boreanez - Actor - Grey's name Bertha Blue

David & Kathy (Kirkpatrick) Life - Jivamukti Yoga Schools & Life Cafe

Don Mattingly - NY Yankees

Duane Black - Actor - Grey's name Phillip

Gale Sayers - Pro Football Player

Gary Dornhoefer - former Philadelphia Flyers - Greys' names Troon, Pebbles, Miss Ellie, Medina and Goofy

George Pennachio - Entertainment Reporter - Greys' names Billy, Viv, Bronco & Desilu

Germain Greer - Author - Grey's name Magpie

Hamish & Andy - Aussie Comedy Duo - Grey's name Fred Basset

Jane Wiedlin - Bassist - Grey's name Georie Laforge

Jeanette Walls - Author

Jef Mallett - Creator Comic Strip Frazz - Grey's name Schuyler

Jimmy Cefalo - NFL WR Miami Dolphins/Sports TV, Radio Commentator/Restauranteur - Grey's name Max

JK Rawlings - Author - Grey's name Sapphire

John Barrymore - Actor

John Tyler - 10th US President

Lasse Kukkonen - Philadelphia Flyers - Grey's name Beyond The Sun

LaTroy Hawkins - Pro Baseball Player - Grey's name Magic

Laura Lippman - Author - Grey's name Dulcie

Mari Hulman George - Indianapolis Speedway Owner

Matt Groening - Creator - The Simpsons

Maxine Feldman - Singer

Roger Caras & Family - Author/Broadcaster - Greys' names Rowen, Tiger & Jane

Ron Gardenhire - Minnesota Twins Manager

Rutherford B Hayes - 19th US President - Grey's name Grim

Stan R Young - Country Western Singer

Steve Stone - Pro Baseball Player/TV Commentatory - Grey's name Tex

Tea Leoni - Actress

Texas Rangers Captain - (mascot aka Walter Dootson)

Trent Reznor - Musician

Uri Geller - UK Entertainer - Greys' names Jon Jon & Barney


ADOPTING A RETIRED RACER

Find out all about adopting a greyhound and the agencies involved at:
http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/

Celebrating the Presa - August 2010

THE PRESA CANARIO

Weight: 80-130 pounds (36-59 kg.)
Height: 21-25 inches (55-65 cm.)
Coat: short (flat) with no undercoating
Litter Size: 7-9 puppies
Life span: 10-12 years



Description:

The Perro de Presa Canario, A.K.A the "Presa Canario", "Canary Dog", "Canary Mastiff" or "Dogo Canario", is a large sized dog with dense bones, powerful muscles, and thick, elastic skin which is loose in and around the neck. The head is broad, massive, and square. Proper head and good expression are part of the breed standard, and are manifest in the best breed specimens. The ears are normally cropped both to create a more formidable expression, and to prevent damage while working with cattle. If the ears are left un cropped, they are close fitting to the head, hang down and should be pendant or "rose" shaped. The lips are thick and hang in an inverted V where they join; the flews may be slightly loose. The interior lips are dark. Fairly easy to groom, the harsh coat of this breed does not shed too much and just needs the occasional brushing and bathing.

The breed is also characterized by a sloping topline (with the rear being slightly higher than the shoulders). Another characteristic of the breed is the shape of the paws (cat foot) and the catlike movement of the animal. The body is mesomorphic, that is, slightly longer than the dog is tall, contributing to the feline movement. The Presa should be powerful, balanced, and imposing in appearance. It is heavily built, but able to move with great athleticism. Presas need a good, daily walk to stay mentally and physically fit.

History:

Documentation of the original, holding dogs date back to the XV and XVI centuries. Following the conquest of the Canary Islands it is theorized dogs of great size may have existed or were brought there by the Spanish Conquistadors or possibly both. The Presa Canario is known to be a cross between the Olde English Bulldog, English Mastiff and the fiery Bordino Majerro Cattle Dog. This breed belongs to the Mastiff group and was developed for guarding farms, struggling with cattle and the extermination of wild or stray dogs.

The breed became nearly extinct after dog fighting was outlawed in the 1940's, and was revived in the 1970's with the help of several crosses by various breeders. This period is generally known as the reconstruction of the breed, with atypical specimens becoming less common. Reputable breeders bred strong Presas that were rustic, massive, vigorous, and functional, who had acute watchdog instincts, a strong temperament, calm yet confident and were extremely territorial with unlimited courage.
Full recovery of the Presa Canario heritage started in the year 1982, when a group of breeders from the island of Tenerife formed an association with the goal to propagate the resurgence of the Presa Canario as started in the previous decades. The Club Espanol de Presa Canario ( CEPRC ) was formed incorporating breeders from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma. In January 1983, the club was recognized by the REAL CANINE SOCIETY CENTRAL of SPAIN (RSCFRCE). This club's efforts and successes were duly instrumental in bringing forth the many new "Champions of Breed" as judged at the ongoing annual Monographic events, held in the islands and mainland. And now, a renewed interest in the breed has extended into the European continent and the Americas.

Characteristics and Temperament:

The Presa Canario is calm, always alert, balanced and self-confident dog; they require early socialization and obedience training. They are a friend and protector which demand your love and attention. Presas are gentle and extremely loyal to their family, but can be distrustful of strangers. Always keeping a careful eye on potential danger, they are famous for their natural instinct for guarding. A significant requirement is a dominant owner who can understand the alpha nature of these canines. Famous as the “Gentlest Giant” this dog alone is enough to make you feel safe and secure.

Health Issues:

The Presa Canario is a relatively healthy breed. Most common health disorder: hip dysplasia (joint problem), demodicosis, entropion.

Events:

Presa Canarios can now participate in agility trials, weight pulls, and personal protection events.