The Catahoula Pitbull mix is a new and unique breed of designer dog, and its popularity is just beginning to grow. It is also fondly referred to as the Pitahoula. Recently, several dog owners prefer dogs that are a little different from the typical family favourites, such as Labradors.

The popularity of lesser-known breeds including the Pitahoula is on the rise. Because the American Pitbull Terrier and Catahoula are such wonderful breeds, the resulting cross may be more lovable and adaptive than the original. Consequently, the Pitahoula mixed-breed puppy has an appeal that makes him ideal for not every family household.

Breed Overview

Parent Breeds

It is important to ensure that you are comfortable with every gene and attribute that the Pitahoula may inherit.

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Throughout the past ten years, the Catahoula have grown in popularity. The Pitbull is a more popular dog than this one. That is, unless you are in Louisiana, the state dog of that breed.

Actually, the state’s largest natural freshwater lake inspired the naming of this breed. Most breeders believe the Catahoula is a cross between a Spanish Mastiff, a Bloodhound, and a Greyhound. Moreover, Spanish explorers introduced the breed to the region in the sixteenth century.

Originally from South Eastern America, Catahoulas hunted wild boar in the swamps. Furthermore, they were also referred to as the hog dog. Their skill as cattle herders won over farmers, becoming a popular choice for cattle rearers.

They can form a protective and defensive barrier around cattle in packs so their master can guide them. Most breeders assert that the diligent Catahoula Leopard Dog is attentive, independent, and loyal. Furthermore, the Catahoula is an industrious dog partner for most ranch owners.

This breed is an excellent family pet. However, they require a rigorous, authoritative figurehead who is aware of the pack mentality. Unless that is the case, this breed tends to become undisciplined.

American Pitbull Terrier

For many years, Pitbulls have served as working dogs in a variety of tasks. The Catahoula is not as well-known as the Pitbull Terrier. That carries with it his unjustified reputation as a violent person. A trained Pitbull, on the other hand, is the total reverse of this misconception.

It is his forced involvement in blood sports that has earned him this unjust image. Fortunately, he also found work as a ranch hand and became the Cowboy’s favourite coworker after these brutal sports were banned.

Because of his affection for people and his caring temperament, this popular breed has gained more and more of our love and education. As a result, he is frequently used as a therapy dog.

Pitbull Terriers are said to be intelligent, self-assured, and amiable. The breed is referred to as the nanny dog since he is a great addition to any family, even those with young children.

He must be put with an active family that can spend most of the day with him to give him an outlet for his energy. Pitbulls dislike being left alone for extended periods.

Catahoula Pitbull Mix

The Catahoula Pitbull mix is the result of crossbreeding a Catahoula Leopard dog and an American pitbull terrier. Pitahoulas are among the more well-liked Catahoula mixes. As a designer dog, the Catahoula Pitbull is exempt from breed standards.

This article concentrates on what owners should expect from this mix; nonetheless, it is crucial to comprehend and investigate each parent breed fully. As with most hybrids, assuming that your Catahoula Pitbull will acquire traits from both parents would be best.

Temperament

Pitahoulas require pet owners with prior experience training stubborn breeds. Consequently, the Pitahoula is not the best breed for a timid dog owner or a first-time owner.

This breed must be adopted by a family that values dogs and is prepared to instil a sense of belonging among the family. It is important as the Catahoula Pitbull hybrid will not do well if this is not established.

They are known to test their owner’s authority as a leader which may result in behavioural problems. However, this breed adores its owner and the whole family and will stop at nothing to get their approval.

Catahoula Pitbull hybrids have a lot of energy to expend, both emotional and physical. They are best suited for a family that is willing to give them lots of attention, fun, and snuggles.

This dog would make an excellent ranch worker since he would be happiest if he had work to do with his owner. After he has used up all of his energy, he is known to appreciate quiet time at home. This mixture will lie contentedly in front of the fire by your feet.

He is incredibly loving and often begs for your attention and praise because of his Pitbull parent. He can be a highly intense dog as a result. This puppy is the only one to look at if you like strong dogs.

Size & Appearance

The quantity and appearance of this mixture might vary greatly. The weight of the Catahoula Pitbull varies from 40 to 85 pounds, depending on the size of his parents.

His height will be between eighteen and twenty-three inches. The heterochromia gene, which causes the Catahoula’s eyes to be different hues or even mix together, is also carried by this breed.

He can be fairly forceful and strong when playing outside the house because of his great energy and noisy temperament. His owners should have this ready. Because of his size, tiny children should always be supervised, even if he is calm and kind to them inside the home.

Coat & Colors

Pitahoulas are known for their wide range of coat colour combinations. This mixed breed has breathtaking beauty. His colours alone are sure to draw attention!

Any combination of his parents’ colours will be inherited by him. Even though they are from the same litter, most Pitahoulas have very diverse appearances from one another!

The Pitbull is available in nearly every colour except merle, including red, blue, and white. This implies that there is a strong possibility your dog will have some combination of these colours in their coat pattern when they arrive. It is conceivable to have a Pitahoula that is entirely blue or white, or you may have a dog that is strictly red-coated.

Exercise & Living Conditions

You should budget a significant amount of time to work out this combination. The combo of Pitbull and Catahoula will require a lot of workout.

You have to be able to dedicate yourself to doing strenuous exercise for at least 60 to 90 minutes each day. If not, he will get extremely agitated and destructive. To put it plainly, he is not the breed for you if you cannot dedicate yourself to this.

He will be the greatest four-legged companion you will ever have if you can help him in return. Despite his stature, he is also ideal for households with smaller children. He almost always prefers to cuddle with the younger ones on the couch.

Pitahoulas are better suited to a larger home with access to a reinforced backyard due to their potentially large size and vigour. He will quickly develop cabin fever, therefore he will require access to fresh air.

These puppies detest spending hours alone in a cage. You will need to make sure your backyard is fortified because he can be very protective of his family. If not, you run the chance of him running away if he senses danger around the edge.

Training

Due to their high level of activity, this mixed breed requires a strict trainer with expertise working with tough breeds. One of the key areas on which you should concentrate is this one. This combo might be difficult to train. First, socializing should begin early.

As many dogs and other animals of all kinds and sizes as you can, along with other people, should be introduced to him. All day-long walks on the sidewalk will help him become used to the sounds of passing cars and other leashed dogs.

A puppy obedience class would be a great place to start him. Your dog will then adjust to other puppies and you will be able to establish ground rules from the start.

The Catahoula Pitbull requires a master with a strong will and dedication to his training. This calls for extreme consistency since he will exploit any flaw he detects. You need to be physically strong in addition to having a strong will. Because this combination is also powerful, it is best to start leash training him at a young age.

He will defend himself against any mistreatment, which is another reason why positive enforcement training is crucial. Giving him lots of verbal praise and little rewards will keep him motivated.

His intellect will make him eager to please and capable of swiftly learning simple commands. If you intend to train your dog in a crate, be sure the crate is designed for Pitbull breeds. The same is true for training using a harness.

Health

The Catahoula Pitbull mix is a relatively healthy dog. It’s estimated that he will live for a healthy 10 to 16 years. As with any dog, the Catahoula Pitbull mix can be prone to any canine health concerns, particularly the ones that affect his parents. Here’s a list of the following concerns to be aware of:

Hip Dysplasia

It’s caused by an abnormal formation of the hip joints. Over time the continuous grinding of the poorly fitting joint socket will result in painful arthritis as he grows older.

For this reason, it is important to feed him the size and age-appropriate food, for these will have the correct levels of calcium and phosphorus, which affects his bone growth.

Deafness

Merle-coated dogs are more prone to deafness, be that unilateral or bilateral. The Pitahoula inherits this health risk from his Catahoula parent, who is more prone to deafness than other dogs.

Even if his coat is not merle, he could still be a carrier of the gene. It’s important to ask breeders for relevant health certificates when possible.

Skin Allergies

The Pitbull parent is prone to skin allergies. This means it’s likely that the Catahoula Pitbull mix could experience skin problems at some point during his lifetime.

Common allergens are grass, mites, and nutritional ingredients such as chicken or grains. If he has dry, itchy, or hot spots, then be sure to take him to your Veterinarian to investigate the root cause.

Nutrition

Regarding nutrition, we recommend going with high-quality dry kibble, regardless of breed.
Nutrition is unique to every dog. It depends on the dog’s size and energy levels. A good estimate for most Pitahoulas is that they will consume between 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups of food every day.

Of course, if the dog is being utilized to hunt wild boars or herd cattle, he will be at the higher end of this scale. If your pup prefers the comfort of the sofa then they’ll need much less.

Additionally, because of his lean and muscular body, he will require high-quality kibble that is high in protein. He will need enough energy to keep him sustained throughout the day.

Be sure to feed him age-appropriate food. It’s possible his kibble might affect his potential skin allergies. Be sure to ask your veterinarian if you have any questions about tailored advice regarding his nutritional needs.

Grooming

This Catahoula Pitbull is low maintenance when it comes to grooming and upkeep. The Catahoula Pitbull mix has a double coat but is very short and smooth.

This mix sheds slightly less compared to other dogs. He will require a brush once a week, but this is more to keep his hair shiny and looking healthy. His coat is not long enough to tangle.

He will require a bath once every few months as he is a relatively clean dog. Of course, if he is a working dog or he likes to roll in muck or mud, then you may need to bathe him more frequently.

Overall though, this mix has lower maintenance grooming requirements, so if that’s important to you, just know that the Pitahoula’s shedding, nail trimming, and bathing needs are all easy to handle compared to other dogs.

Conclusion

The Catahoula Pitbull mix is a feisty pup who adores his family very much. Pitahoulas are content to work until dusk and then cuddle until dawn.

Although this mix requires firm handling, once the pack hierarchy is established, this gorgeous pup is playful, protective of his family, and a lot of fun to be around. You will quickly find yourself wondering why you did not bring him into your life sooner!