Catahoula Leopard Dog

An American canine breed called the Catahoula Leopard Dog is named after Catahoula Parish in Louisiana. In 1979, it was designated as Louisiana's mascot. The American Kennel Club (AKC) Foundation Stock Service refers to it as Catahoula Leopard Dog, whereas the United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes it as Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. Although the breed has historically been employed to hunt feral boars, both registries have given it a herding group status.

Catahoulas can be found in a wide range of hues, such as blue merle, red merle, brindle, and solid hues. Catahoulas with solid coats frequently have tiny flecks of different colors, such as white, on their face, legs, or chest. The merle gene gives most Catahoulas their leopard-like coats. The merle gene often only affects a small portion of the dog's coat, fading the color solely in spots where the gene's trait shows up at random. White coats are discouraged, and darker hues are desired. The coat color of the Catahoula is not the main factor because it is a working dog.

There are still a few stock ranches where these dogs are raised, but they are now primarily employed as circus and performance animals.