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Texas Leopard Dog

HISTORY

Other names *Catahoula Hog Dog, Texas Leopard Cowdog, Blue Leopard Dog.*** Country *Date Of orugin *United States The ancestor of this breed with the haunting glass blue eyes may have been brought to the US by Spanish explorers. Legend has it that the Indians in the area took dogs left behind when the Conquistadors left and bred them with the red wolf (though this is conjecture). At any rate, the breeding activity has always been centered around the Catahoula Lakes in the parish of the same name in Louisiana. Both a hunting dog and a herder, the Catahoula is tough enough to herd semi-wild cattle or wild boar into a capture pen and a good enough tracker to hunt down deer or raccoon. It is categorized as a Herding dog by the associations where it is recognized. In 1979 it was named the state dog of Louisiana

GENERAL APPEARANCE The Texas leopard Dog is a medium to medium-large, short-coated dog with a broad head, small-to-medium drop ears, and an undocked tail set on as a natural extension of the top line. The Texas leopard Dog is well muscled and powerful but not bulky, giving the impression of agility and endurance. The Texas leopard Dog is a moderate breed and should not resemble either a sight hound or a bulldog in appearance. The body is just slightly longer than tall and the distance from the elbow to the ground should equal 50-60% of the dog's height from the withers to the ground. The Texas leopard Dog should be evaluated as a multi-purpose working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work

HEAD The head is powerfully built without appearing exaggerated. Viewed from the side, the length of skull and muzzle are approximately equal in length, and joined by a well-defined stop of moderate length. The planes of the top skull and the bridge of the muzzle are roughly parallel to one another. There may be a slight median furrow between the eyes and running back to the occipital bone. Gender differences should be apparent in the characteristics of the head.

SKULL * The skull is broad and flat. The cheeks are well developed.

Fault * Excessively broad skull; narrow skull.

MUZZLE The muzzle should be strong and deep and almost equal in length to the top-skull as measured from the stop to the occiput bone. The muzzle should be broad at the base and taper toward the nose when viewed from the top.

Faults* Muzzles either too long and snipey or too short and heavy shall be

BITE The Texas leopard Dog has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth. A scissors bite is preferred but a level bite is acceptable. Full dentition is greatly desired but dogs are not to be penalized for worn or broken teeth.

Serious Faults* Overshot or undershot bite.

NOSE * Nose pigment may be any color or combination of colors.

EYES Eyes are set moderately well apart, medium in size, somewhat rounded in appearance, and are set well into the skull. Eyes may be any color or combination of colors without preference. Eye rims are tight and may be any color or combination of colors.

Serious faults* Malformed pupils; pupils not centered; sagging eyelids making haw visible; functional abnormality of eyelids or eyelashes.

EARS Ears are drop, short to medium in length, moderate in size, and proportionally wide at the base, gradually tapering to the slightly rounded tip. They should fold over and be generally triangular in shape. The top of the ear fold is level or just slightly below the top line of the skull. When the dog is at attention, the inner edge of the ear lies close to the cheek. Laid-back ears are acceptable but not preferred.

Fauls * Any ear type other than described above.

Disqualification* Cropped ears.

NECK The neck is muscular and of good length, without being overdone. The circumference of the neck widens from the nape to where the neck blends smoothly into the shoulders.

Faults * Neck too short and thick or too thin and weak; excess skin forming dewlap.

FOREQUARTERS The shoulders are strong and smoothly muscled. The shoulder blades are long, wide, flat and well laid back. The upper arm is roughly equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an angle sufficient to ensure that the foot falls under the withers. The elbows are close to the body and do not turn out. The forelegs are straight, and of medium bone, indicating strength without excessive thickness. Pasterns are strong, short, and slightly sloping. The length of the forelegs should roughly equal 50-60% of the dog's height at the withers. A dog with legs shorter than the ideal is to be more heavily penalized than a dog with longer legs.

Faults* Forequarters significantly heavier than hindquarters; bone too heavy or too fine; straight shoulders; out at elbows; weak pasterns.

BODY A properly proportioned Texas leopard Dog is slightly longer than tall. The top line inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a level back. The back is broad and well muscled with a short, strong, slightly arched loin. A slightly longer loin is acceptable in females. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine. The chest is deep, reaching at least to the elbows, and moderately broad. When viewed from the side, the forechest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs. Tuck-up is apparent but not exaggerated. Croup is medium to long and slightly sloping. A slightly elevated rear resulting from slightly straighter rear angulation should not be penalized too severely.

Faults * Chest too broad, too narrow or too shallow; soft top line; exaggerated or absent tuck-up; loin too long.

HINDQUARTERS Hindquarters are strong and smoothly muscled. Width and angulation of hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel to one another. The tail is a natural extension of the topline. It is thicker at the base and tapers to the tip. A tail of the correct length extends to the hock. When the dog is relaxed, the tail hangs down naturally. When the dog is moving or alert, the tail may be carried upright with the tip curving forward. Catahoulas should be allowed to carry their tails naturally when being shown. Exhibitors should not hold the tails upright.

Faults * Ring tail; tail that forms a hook at the end; natural bobtail; docked tail.

Faults* Thin, weak hindquarters; cow-hocked; open-hocked.

FEET The feet should be strong and of moderated length. The toes of the rear feet should be slightly longer and less knuckled-up than those of the front. Webbing should be present between the toes. Dewclaws may be present or removed.

FAULTS * Dogs that are cat-footed (up on tip-toes) or coon-footed (standing on heels) shall be penalized.

COAT The Texas leopard Dog has a single coat, short to medium in length that lies flat and close to the body. Texture ranges from smooth to coarse, without preference. The Texas leopard Dog come in an endless variety of coat colors and patterns. All color combinations and patterns can have color points or trim, which may be located on the chest, cheeks, above the eyes, on the legs, underbody or under the tail. The Leopard pattern has a base color with contrasting spots of one or more other colors. Solids have a single coat color. Brindles may have a light or dark base coat color with contrasting stripes. The Patchwork pattern may or may not have one predominant solid color with one or more different size patches of different colors and shades placed randomly on the body. Colors must be rich and deep. No coat color or pattern is preferred.

Fault* Washed out colors.

Serious fault* 70 percent or more white.

Disqualification * 90 percent or more white coat color; solid white head; albinism.

Disqualification * Long coat; fuzzy coat that obscures the outline of the dog

GAIT When trotting, the gait is smooth, fluid and effortless, showing good but not exaggerated reach in front and powerful drive behind. The top line remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance. Poor movement should be penalized to the degree to which it reduces the Texas leopard Dog ability to perform the tasks it was bred

SIZE Ideal height at maturity for males is 24 inches and for females, 22 inches, with a variation of two inches either way acceptable. Weight may range from 50 to 95 pounds, in proportion to the dog's height. The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Catahoulas should always be presented in hard, working condition. Any deviation from the ideal must be judged by the extent of the deviation, and the effect it has on the dog's ability to work.

Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousnes with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.