The Catahoula Leopard and Pitbull mix will bring fire and flair to your life! This medium-sized active dog mixes the best of the Pitbull and Catahoula Leopard Dog to create an adorable (if hyper) little mixed-breed pup. Like most designer dog breeds. The Pitahoula to give it another name will take much of its temperament and physical appearance from each of it’s parent breeds. As both of the parent breeds are very active dogs with terrier-like energy, expect your Pitahoula to be quite a handful!
Image credit: nick.spec
The Catahoula Pitbull mix doesn’t have much of a breed history, but we’re going to dive into the histories of both parent breeds, along with their temperaments and how popular they are – to give you some idea of why anyone would want to crossbreed a Pitbull and Catahoula Leopard Dog, and why they would make a wonderful addition to your active family unit.
Catahoula Leopard and Pitbull mix – At a Glance
| Weight: | 35–80 pounds |
| Height: | 22 inches |
| Lifespan: | 8–13 years |
| Coat colours: | Grey, Merle, Red, White. |
| Temperament: | Active, energetic, intelligent, alert, loving & loyal. |
| Suitable for: | Active families, active single individuals, unsuitable for the elderly or apartment dwellers. |
What does a Catahoula Leopard and Pitbull mix look like?
The Catahoula Pitbull mix will take much of its physical appearance from both parents. The Pitbull parent will be most recognizable in its body shape, size and triangular, folded ears. It will also likely have a wedge-shaped face, like the PItbull.
The Catahoula Leopard Dog will be most present in its eyes (Catahoula Leopard Dogs tend to have brown/blue eye combinations, or ice blue eye colors). Luckily for owners with dander allergies, the Pitbull Catahoula leopard mix will shed lightly throughout the year. However, it will have a double coat, like the Catahoula Leopard Dog.
Image credit: wilkinsonnewman
Its coat colors may vary, and it can inherit any combination of both parents’ coat coloration. All told, you can expect a healthy mixture of the physical features of both parent breeds in the Catahoula Pitbull mix.
The history of the Catahoula Leopard and Pitbull mix
Like many mixed-breed dogs, there’s little available history of the Pitbull Catahoula leopard mix. Most designer breeds that are presently popular in the United States came to be between the 1990s and early 2000s. This is when the concept of ‘designer’ dogs really took off in the U.S.
The Pitbull and Catahoula Leopard Dog were two popular breeds already in the country, so it’s no wonder breeders what would become of crossbreeding the pair. These dogs are roughly the same size, so no IVF would have been necessary to make the mix happen.
The History of the Catahoula
The Catahoula Leopard Dog originated in Louisiana, but their exact origins are unknown. One theory suggests that in the 18th century, early French settlers to Louisiana bred their wolfhounds with established Native American working dog breeds.
Otherwise known as a “Catahoula Hog Dog”, the Catahoula was originally used to hunt pigs and wild boar, although in the 19th century, the Catahoula Leopard Dog was bred with other, more docile (unknown) breeds, in order to temper their aggression and create a more family-friendly pet.
This largely worked! Today, while still not supremely popular across the United States – there are other, similar breeds that are far more popular, the Catahoula Hog Dog remains popular in Louisiana.
How Popular Are Catahoula?
Despite being brought to the United States (if the dominant theory of their arrival in-country is correct) early in the country’s history, the Catahoula has been steadily gaining in popularity nationwide.
It was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996 and became the State Dog of Louisiana in 1979. Famous for their working history and merle coat, Catahoulas make wonderful pets for active or farming families.
Unfortunately, Catahoula Leopard Dogs don’t rank on the AKC’s most-popular dogs of 2021, which ranks up to 197 of America’s most popular dogs. Population statistics on the Catahoula Leopard Dog are generally hard to come by.
Who Are Catahoulas a Good Dog For?
Renowned for their work ethic, exercise levels, and need for physical activities, the Catahoula Leopard Dog would be most at home on a working farm or in a family home with a house and yard.
Due to their size and strength, Catahoula Leopard Dogs aren’t great for apartment living and are unsuitable for the elderly.
How Did Catahoulas Come About?
Their exact origins are unknown. However, one theory is that the Catahoula was bred from French hunting wolfhounds and Native American hunting in the 18th century, as the French began to colonize Louisiana. Since then, Louisiana has been the most popular place for the Catahoula Leopard Dog, whose name comes from the Choctaw word for “Sacred Lake.”
When Did First Cross-Breed The Catahoula?
Despite their fledgling popularity in the United States, Catahoulas have been crossbred plenty throughout their history – though much of it has been undocumented. We do know that crossbreeding became popular in the United States in the 1990s and early 2000s, this is likely when the Catahoula Leopard Dog was first crossbred in the modern era.
Popular Catahoula designer dogs include:
- Catahoula Rottweiler Mix (Catahoula Rottie)
- Catahoula Lab Mix (Labrahoula)
- Catahoula Beagle Mix (Beagahoula)
- Catahoula German Shepherd Mix (German Shepahoula)
- Catahoula Blue Heeler Mix (Cataheeler)
The history of the Pitbull
The American Pitbull has a history that is unfortunately steeped in blood and violence. Despite their status as a much-loved breed, Pitbulls were not always so well cared for by society. Originally bred in England in the 19th century, Pitbulls were the creation of breeding the Black and Tan Terrier and the Old English Bulldog, to produce a medium-sized dog that was muscular and more agile than its ancestors.
Pitbulls’ early name was the “bull and terrier,” and they were bred for blood sports in England. Namely, bull-baiting (a ‘sport’ where the Pitbull would be placed in a field with an angry bull. The bull would chase the Pitbull till either the dog was killed or the bull collapsed from exhaustion.) Thankfully, the cruel practice was shut down in the mid-19th century by British lawmakers and the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835.
After that, Pitbulls were used for dogfighting and as cattle herding dogs in British butcher shops before arriving in the United States between 1845 and 1860. They continued to be used for dogfighting upon their arrival in America, but slowly became companion pets, therapy dogs, and police dogs.
How Popular Are Pitbulls?
American Pitbull Terriers occupy a murky legal area in the United States, this is largely due to their history of violence in England and the aggressive tendencies that they can display. While no state outright bans Pitbulls, certain cities have enacted ordinance that effectively bans or heavily regulates their ownership and breeding.
For this reason, Pitbulls aren’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, therefore no popularity figures for the breed exist from that source. However, the United Kennel Club does recognize the American Pitbull Terrier and other sources suggest that Pitbulls account for 20% of America’s ‘strong dog’ population.
Who Are Pitbulls a Good Dog For?
Pitbulls are strong and powerful animals with muscular bodies. For this reason, they should only be owned by those who are physically capable of walking them properly, and controlling them around other animals and people.
Despite being medium-sized dogs, Pitbulls don’t do well in apartment buildings due to their separation anxiety tendencies, which can lead to destructive behavior.
How Did Pitbulls Come About?
The American Pitbull Terrier came about by crossbreeding the Old English Bulldog and Old English Terriers (sometimes known as the black and tan terriers), but only arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century.
When Did First Cross-Breed The Pitbull?
The Pitbull is often crossbred with other dogs as a method of skirting some American cities’ regulations concerning ownership of the breed. Some crossbreeding is also an attempt to lessen some of the Pitbulls’ aggressive tendencies and high energy levels. While purebred Pitbulls make a fantastic family pet, sometimes a hybrid breed’s genetics help to make an easier fit.
Some of the most popular Pitbull hybrid breeds include:
- Pitbull Beagle Mix (Beaglebull)
- Pitbull Yorkie Mix (Yorkie Pit)
- Pitbull Greyhound Mix (Grey Pit)
- Pitbull Pomeranian Mix (Pom Pit)
How Important Is a Dog’s Temperament to Your Family?
One of the most important parts of adopting or purchasing any dog is understanding its possible temperaments and how that fits in with your family’s habits and temperament. Getting a dog that requires vigorous exercise, like a Siberian Husky, isn’t going to be a great fit if you rent a small apartment in the city and work all the time – unable to provide the active lifestyle that suits the needs of such a dog.
Likewise, if you are a hyperactive family, you’re not going to be happy (and neither will the dog) in getting a dog that’s not going to be able to keep up with your levels of physical activity. You wouldn’t expect a Pug to climb a mountain with you.
Doing your research on the possible temperaments of a mixed-breed dog is even more important, as the dog will likely inherit different parts of each parent’s temperament. Failure to do this could result in behavioral issues that may need proper training to resolve, which takes time and money. Or, you could be forced to find another home for your new dog – which is a traumatic experience for both yourself and the dog.
What is the Temperament of the Pitbull Catahoula Leopard Mix?
The Catahoula Pit is a hugely active dog with a livewire temperament! There’s usually never a dull moment with this hyper-active, hyper-energetic breed. Luckily for some owners, the Pitbull’s energy is somewhat tempered by the Catahoula’s genes – although that’s not always the case.
Aside from their energy, the Catahoula Pit is generally a very loyal dog, and will provide you with many years of love and affection.
Is The Pitbull Catahoula Leopard Mix Friendly?
Yes! You can expect your Catahoula Pit to be a very friendly dog, though they may be standoffish with strangers and other dogs.
Is The Pitbull Catahoula Leopard Mix Easy to Train?
The Catahoula Pitbull mix might be a bit of a challenge to train. This is because the Catahoula Pit is such an energetic breed that it doesn’t often stop to listen to commands. Pitbulls are also notoriously naughty, so you may experience that in your Catahoula Pit.
To make training easier, take your Catahoula Pitbull to puppy obedience class early and train them regularly, using positive reinforcement training rather than admonishment. You can also try using a reward system.
Leash training is a great way to control your Catahoula Pit while out walking and temper their terrier nature. Start walking your Catahoula Pit on a leash early in life, and you will have fewer issues as it ages.
How Much Can A Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix Weigh?
The average weight of a Catahoula Pitbull mix is between 35 and 80 pounds.
How Tall Can A Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix Get?
The average height of a Catahoula Pitbull mix is around 22 inches tall.
Similar-Sized Breeds
There are a few similar-sized breeds to this medium-sized dog. They include:
- Doberman Pinscher
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
Does the Pitbull Catahoula leopard Mix Shed?
Despite having a double coat, the Catahoula Pit is a short-haired dog that sheds minimally throughout the year. This is great news for those who want a low-hassle, low-maintenance dog. Despite this, you should always keep it’s often merle coat well washed.
How Much Exercise Does A Catahoula Pitbull mix Require?
Given that both Pitbulls and Catahoula Leopard Dogs are very energetic breeds, you can expect your Catahoula Pit to require daily exercise. Roughly 45 minutes of daily walks is a good place to start.
Your Catahoula Pit will also require mental stimulation. This can be achieved through active games, such as fetch, but also in the home, by using KONG toys like this one.
How Long Can a Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix Live?
The average lifespan of a Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix is between 8 and 13 years.
What Health Conditions Could the Pitbull Catahoula leopard Mix Have?
- Hip Dysplasia (Hip joint inflammation, could lead to painful arthritis)
- Elbow Dysplasia (Elbow joint inflammation)
- Skin Allergies (Common among Pitbulls)
- Food Allergies
How Can You Find a Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix Puppy For Sale?
Before you search for a Catahoula Pit for sale, we recommend you start by checking into the possibility of adopting a Catahoula Pitbull mix.
Often times, a Catahoula Pit will wind up in a local animal shelter or vet clinic and be placed up for adoption there. Alternatively, you can check out AdoptAPet.com, an online source for dogs that up for adoption in your area.
How Much Does a Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix Puppy Cost?
The average cost of a Catahoula Pitbull mix is between $600 and $1500! That whopping price tag alone should be enough to persuade you to seek out adoption options first
However, should you strike out on the adoption front and still want to buy a Catahoula Pit, you need to make sure that you buy your Pitbull Catahoula from a reputable breeder. In order to help you sort the wheat from the chaff, we have written a handy guide to finding a reputable breeder.
Is the Catahoula leopard and Pitbull mix the Right Breed For You?
The Pitbull Catahoula leopard mix might be the breed for you if you’ve been searching for an active, energetic puppy that you can train to be a loyal and fierce family guardian, but also an avid playmate for your children.
If you’re certain that the Catahoula Pitbull mix isn’t for you, then consider reading more about other mixed-breed dogs, with our comprehensive guide to other mixes here.