Catahoula Leopard Dogs Trivia Quiz

Answer: All of these

The dog gets its name from Catahoula Parish and/or Catahoula Lake in Louisiana. This has been a chicken/egg argument and depends on who you ask if the lake is named after the parish (AKC.org) or the parish after the lake (wikipedia.org).

As you'll see below, it's more likely that the lake came first.

Answer: A solid base color with lighter patches, creating a mottled effect

Catahoulas can come in blue merle, red merle, white, solid and patchwork coats.

The patchwork coat has larger patches and is usually lighter-colored than a merle. It is comparable to the harlequin coat pattern seen in some Great Danes.

Answer: They are different colors

Ana has one brown eye and one ice blue eye. Her blue eye can be referred to as "cracked". Some curs have both eyes "cracked". A "cracked" eye is usually light-colored with a spot, streak or even a full half of the eye a different color.

The scientific term for this is heterochromia.

Answer: Hernando de Soto

The "war dogs" were found by the natives and it was thought they were bred with the red wolves of the region. Don Abney, an expert on the breed, forwards this theory in his book and on his website: www.abneycatahoulas.com.

However, recent DNA testing shows that it was more likely that the Catahoula descended from domesticated dogs that the Native Americans possessed rather than a wild species.

Despite the DNA evidence, many still prescribe to Abney's theory.

Answer: Pigs

Another result of the failed de Soto expedition was the introduction of feral pigs into the South. De Soto travelled with swine that were his emergency meals on four legs. He would not slaughter them for food unless in dire need. Consequently, the herd grew into a large size.

When the expedition failed, the survivors could not bring back all that pork, so they slaughtered and cured what they could, gave many of the swine to the natives and released the remainder to the wild.

The area's "razorback" is a descendant of these animals.

Answer: Beauceron

The Beauceron looks like a leaner version of a Rottweiler without a docked tail. Like the Rottweiler, the Beauceron is a ferocious attack dog and a daunting guardian but, at home with its family, is a big mush that loves to play with the children.

Answer: Choctaw

The word Catahoula is a Francophone version of a Choctaw word, Couthaougoula, which is what they called their land. It translates to "sacred lake", thus answering the argument in Q1...hopefully.

Answer: Teddy Roosevelt

There are two reasons you may not have chosen the correct answer.

1) You may have thought that Teddy was TOO obvious an answer since everyone knows he was a big hunter, or

2) You chose Andrew Jackson because you knew of his involvement in the Battle of New Orleans, which means he spent some time in Louisiana and may have come across these dogs.

Either way, I understand.

Answer: True

Governor Edwin Edwards signed a bill making the Catahoula Leopard Dog the state dog of Louisiana in 1979.

Answer: Herding Group

Although the Catahoula is often thought of as a hunter, it gets its prey by hemming it in for its masters. In effect, it herds wild animals. Many Catahoula trials focus on its herding abilities and it is even used in South America to herd cattle.

Oddly enough, its hunting tactics are not dissimilar to that of the Norwegian Elkhound, which is used to hold large prey, like moose and bear, at bay until the hunter arrives. However, the Norwegian Elkhound is placed in the Hound Group. Although the Catahoula is sometimes called a hound, its hunting style is not considered "hounding" and does not fit into that group. Some would argue that the same is true of Norwegians.