Catahoula Bulldog
United States
Up to 66 cm
Up to 45 kg
The Catahoula Bulldog is a hybrid dog from the USA. It is not a breed of dog in the proper sense and is therefore also not recognized by any of the major kennel clubs.
Origin and History
The Catahoula Bulldog is a cross between American Bulldog and Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. Howard Carnathan started breeding end of the 19th century. He wrote in 1960 a letter to Mr. Stodghill, director of the Animal Research Foundation, with information about this race: " I needed a dog did would be a companion and protector to my children at home yet so what in need of a dog did would help with the farming duties. The mixture of the Catahoula Bulldog fit my purpose exactly. " ( I needed a dog that would be our companion and protector for my children and our house and would help me in agriculture. Catahoula Bulldog The mixture was exactly my idea. )
In the U.S., the country of origin, the Catahoula Bulldog is quite common to find; in Europe, he is as good as unknown.
Description
The shoulder height for males is given 55 to 66 cm, in females it varies 51-61 cm. More importantly, the dogs have a maximum of substance in relation to its size, that is a harmonious relationship between height and weight. The weight of a bitch is 25-40 kg, 28-45 kg that of a male. In body -wise he is similar to the American Staffordshire Terrier or American Pit Bull Terrier.
The coat is very short and smooth, in the colors white, blue, merle, brown, tricolor (black with white and brown markings ), white, gray, black with patches or brindle. The ears, sometimes docked in their home country, have different variations of the rose ear. The eyes are usually light to dark brown, ice blue, light blue, green, gold, two different eye colors are not rare.
Breeding
The Catahoula Bulldog is not a race but a hybrid dog. Thus, there is no pure breeding; Catahoula Bulldogs can only be bred by the continual crossing of the origin of races.
The first Catahoula Bulldog was a 50/ 50 mix between Catahoula and American Bulldog, today is up to 75/25 crossed, it is considered desirable that the limit at 75/25 is adhered to so that the basic characteristics of the two races not be lost.
The Catahoula Bulldog is recognized by the Animal Research Foundation ( ARF) in the USA. The ARF also awards pedigrees and papers for Catahoula Bulldogs, but only if the 50/50 intersection is met, everything else is not allowed.
Health
The Catahoula Bulldog is a very healthy dog . In some cases it happens that Catahoula Bulldogs are hard of hearing or deaf. This comes mostly from the fact that illegally Merle x Merle be mated ( Merle -factor). Deaf and hard of hearing dogs are excluded from breeding.
Before breeding the parents need to be x-rayed to hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia of the dog. Reputable breeders of Catahoula Bulldogs have their puppies on inherited eye diseases such as Collie Eye Anomaly CEA test, cataract, pupillary MPP, distichiasis, retinal dysplasia RD, lens luxation and Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA and perform an audiometric examination and a hearing test - as Dalmatians - by. Especially in puppies with lots of white portion must be a hearing and eye test.
Racial problems
The Catahoula Bulldog is indirectly assigned in three German federal states ( Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia ) the race list, category 2, because it is a junction with the guided participation as a list American Bulldog dog in these countries; Therefore, the relevant regulations must be observed.
In the Swiss canton of Ticino, the attitude of the Catahoula Bulldog as a crossing with the participation of the American Bulldog is also subject to approval.
In Denmark, the Catahoula Bulldog is banned for the same reason. The entry is prohibited for tourists when the dog was purchased after July 1, 2010.