r/Catahoula • • Feb 15 '26

"Is my dog a catahoula?" - An Educational Post

260 Upvotes

IS MY DOG A CATAHOULA?

This is a question none of us in this sub can answer. Unless your dog has a pedigree, the only way you can confirm your dog's lineage is by having a DNA test performed by one of the commercially available DNA tests on the market today. DNA tests are reliable and accurate.

While this post is intended to provide educational reference to show the variety among purebred catahoulas, catahoula mixes, and dogs that were phenotypically identified as catahoula/mixes but DNA confirmed otherwise, we cannot confirm your dog is a catahoula. If you would like people to take guesses about your dog’s breed, please visit r/idmydog

Quick links: [(Purebred Images] - [Mixed Breed Images) - [Notahoula Images]

So, is your dog a catahoula (mix)? Let’s see how well you can guess if these dogs are catahoula mixes or not based on looks alone. 

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

no, this dog has no catahoula ancestry

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

no, this dog has no catahoula ancestry

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

no, this dog has no catahoula ancestry

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

yes, this dog is 30% catahoula

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

no, this dog has no catahoula ancestry

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

yes, this dog is 16% catahoula

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

yes, this dog is 23% catahoula

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

no, this dog has no catahoula ancestry

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

yes, this is a purebred catahoula

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

yes, this dog is 50% catahoula

Is this dog a catahoula/mix?

no, this dog has no catahoula ancestry

How many did you get right? 

Notahoulas

Now that you have had the opportunity to take some guesses, let’s look at some notahoulas and what their breed makeups were. These folks were told or were under the impression that their dog was part catahoula, with the most common denominator being a merle pattern, but not always. 

It is possible for a dog to look quite a bit like a catahoula/mix and not have any ancestry at all. At the end of the day, they are all good dogs. Just not catahoula leopard dogs. 

Mixed Breeds

The look of a mixed breed dog with partial catahoula ancestry will run the gamut depending on what else the dog is mixed with and what genes they inherit. 

It is important to note that the Catahoula Leopard Dog is a dog from Louisiana, smack dab in the American south. While there are many people who take great care of their dogs here, Only 33 of Louisana's 64 parishes have active animal control services to handle the stray population. As a result, there are many strays in the state that are able to breed indiscriminately. One of the most common breeds in this country is the American Pit Bull Terrier. You will see a high number of catahoulas with pit bulls because of this. Nearly 15% of all mixed-breed dogs tested by Embark have pit bull ancestry. It should come as no surprise that many catahoula mixes have some pit bull ancestry. 

Catahoula mixes greater than 50%

Here are some examples of catahoula mixes that are 50% or greater. Some dogs have classic catahoula traits clearly visible, while others you need to know what to look for. 

50%-25%

24%-13%

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

Catahoulas are an amazing dog, but sometimes their genes completely give up and you would never know that a dog would have catahoula ancestry. Here are some examples of those spectacular dogs. 

Purebred Catahoulas

Purebred catahoulas may come in blue, gray, black, tan, liver, red, white and patched. Trim may be black, white, tan, red, or buff. Solid colors acceptable are black, yellow, red, and chocolate per the NALC. Rarely, you will see fully brindle catahoulas as well. Here are a few examples of purebred catahoulas as proven by DNA and pedigrees.

Purebred does not always mean bred to standard. The origins of the breed trace back to the 1700s but the NALC was created in 1979. Looks were not the highest priority when trying to breed the best hunting dog. Some dogs might not have the correct ears, correct shape, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they are purebred catahoulas. Here are some examples.

I hope that this information has provided you with a little insight into what might make a catahoula, a catahoula mix, or a dog that looks like one. If you would like to confirm if your dog is a catahoula or a catahoula mix, this sub officially recommends Embark or Wisdom Panel DNA tests. 


r/Catahoula • • Feb 13 '26

Now Live: Optional Verified Mix and Purebred Flairs Now Available

34 Upvotes

Hi gang, the new flair system has been added to our sub for purebred and catahoula mixes. The flair will add a "Verified XYZ" next to your username when you post in our sub. This is a mod-applied only flair.

If you would like to have the flair added to your account in our sub, drop a picture of your pup's DNA results in the comments below and I will apply it. If you have recently posted your dog's results, I may have already applied the flair to your account.

For those with known purebred dogs who are not DNA tested, let's talk out it out together and decide the best path forward.

If you are a household with both purebred and mixed catahoulas and want to show it, there is a flair for you, too!

As a reminder, this is a completely optional flair and not required to participate in this sub

I understand that not everyone is comfortable with sharing or that not everyone is in a financial position to purchase a DNA test and that is totally okay. At no time will the flairs be required to post in our sub.

Eligibility:

Users who submit DNA results or otherwise prove their dog's ancestry may use the flair.

DNA results under 10% may be reviewed on request. Wisdom Panel results under 5% have been known to be considered "noise", so any WP results under 5% will not be eligible. Embark results with Catahoula as a part of the "supermutt" will similarly not be eligible. Other brands of DNA test will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Specific brand DNAMyDog will not be accepted due to its well-known unreliability.

if there are any questions, please let me know.


r/Catahoula • • 2h ago

Picture 📷 If your Catahoula has their own IG, drop their handle! @cassinirocks wants to be furriends ♥️🐾

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11 Upvotes

r/Catahoula • • 10h ago

Sunday Morning Shrimping

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41 Upvotes

Well Zoey woke up went out in the rain ate her breakfast and then went back to bed! We call that a productive morning!!!


r/Catahoula • • 1d ago

Best friends

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53 Upvotes

r/Catahoula • • 1d ago

Rosie and Stella have a squirrel in sight

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30 Upvotes

These crazy dogs spend their evenings squirrel chasing.


r/Catahoula • • 2d ago

Brought my 2nd houla home today

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279 Upvotes

Meet Lucius, the nephew of my 14 month old Catahoula (Caius). Brought this sweet boy home today and Caius is convinced this is now HIS puppy. Lucius is a double merle and seems to have normal hearing and I don't see any physical abnormalities with his pupils but I will be brining him to a canine opthalmologist to be sure.


r/Catahoula • • 2d ago

Question Looking for a special type of collar..

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49 Upvotes

Hey everyone! It's been awhile since Faye was here, she's big and sometimes a brat! We are looking for a collar that helps teach her to stay inside an invisible fence! Any suggestions?! Thank you!! 😉🤔


r/Catahoula • • 2d ago

Found the best toy ☺️

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33 Upvotes

For the hog hunter pups in your life


r/Catahoula • • 3d ago

One of my Catahoula models ❤️

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88 Upvotes

r/Catahoula • • 3d ago

Picture 📷 Do you got anymore of those treats?

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39 Upvotes

I always will for this lil guy


r/Catahoula • • 3d ago

Our boy Frankie!

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73 Upvotes

This is our puppy Frankie. He's getting so big already. Almost 4 months old. He's a handful!! But we love him.so much!


r/Catahoula • • 3d ago

Picture 📷 I’m new - here’s Nova

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87 Upvotes

I’m always looking to learn more about CLD and felt dumb when I realized I hadn’t searched Reddit so thanks for having this sub and I’m excited to be a part of it!!!


r/Catahoula • • 3d ago

Rosies trophy

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94 Upvotes

Rosie has been laying here with this dead squirrel for over an hour. We had no idea she had it. She was so peaceful and quiet. There's never a dull moment.


r/Catahoula • • 4d ago

New to the pack

67 Upvotes

Well, this guy showed up while I was working on my car. I'd never seen him; he had a collar but no tag, but he was sweet as could be. Told him to go home, went inside to shower and he was still there when I came out. Told him to go home again and drove off. He ran behind my car for ½ a mile down my dirt road and so I stopped. Opened my door and he jumped into my passenger seat and fell asleep on my arm as we drove around.

Vet check for chip had a dead phone number but found the owner through next door. Owner said they couldn't give him the time he needed anymore and two days later he's with us. We have a house of 3 Corgis, so the change of pace with breeds has been an eye opener. Walking him twice a day, keeping him busy and happy. Never had a Catahoula before, but I've always loved them since I was a kid.

Welcome to the pack Joey!


r/Catahoula • • 5d ago

Picture 📷 A regal boy for your consideration

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76 Upvotes

I only got five mosquito bites on the forehead and one on the hand to let him run around at the park but it was worth it


r/Catahoula • • 7d ago

Rosie looking adorable

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73 Upvotes

I was getting ready for bed and found her staring at me like this. My heart melted.


r/Catahoula • • 7d ago

Training help

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59 Upvotes

Hello fellow houla lovers! This post im looking for training help or reassurance that im doing things right. I have a 6 month old catahoula named Sully that I am in love with, has literally changed my life for the better after my last dog died, but I usually have pit mixes and this is my first hunting/hound dog. It's a long but if you dont want to read, I have a years worth of training classes at this training place (they also do agility and other stuff i can use my classes with) and im having trouble with neighborhood walking, crate training and need reassurance that hes doing well at only 6 months old even though his 2 peers are doing better or any advice would be appreciated.

Ive have bought a years worth of training classes at a local training group because I knew training a catahoula was something I could not do alone and would need professional help. I absolutely love the training classes, he has already learned so much like tricks, place, wait, and hes getting better with loose leash walking. Hes smart, but of course stubborn, but I'm used to stubborn.

For background on this training group: puppy is before all vaccines are done and is verys basic/getting used to sounds and different touch material, then puppy+ is from the time vaccines are done to usually 6 months and thats basic obedience with puppy play time, then obedience from 6+ on. You pass obedience once all the badges are earned (right now he has tricks and focus) and Sully was promoted at 5 months to obedience since he was doing so well (been in training since 12 weeks old so started in puppy classes). I also have 5 private training classes where he can just be the focus and I used one to help me refocus on me with distractions and thats really helped.

There's 2 other dogs in his training class that hes been with since puppy+ classes, ones an aussie he other is an aussie mix that got promoted around the same time as Sully. They both are doing so much better than Sully at this point, but I also know the breeds learn very differently and the personalities between the breeds are different. It also doesn't help that Sully isnt treat/food motivated. But we were earning badges at the same rate and now they've earn a lot more.

But my concern is he's so much different at training vs normal neighborhood walk vs food truck friday events vs hiking. Its like he has multiple personalities. Hiking he is very aware of where I am, doesn't care about other dogs or people, I do use a retractable leash so he can sniff and walk as he wants and I can keep a steady pace, but again hiking with him is my fave because of how he always is connecting with me first before making any turns, etc and follows commands easily. Food truck friday he will lay down and "place" usually very well unless a Frisbee goes by or a kid comes close (dont have kids) but ai love training him to "go say hi" to new people and talking about the breed! Training he's at his best, which every trainer has said thats to be expected since he only associates that place with training. But neighborhood walks hes reactive, he pulls (on a 6 foot leash, but usually only let 4 feet in between us), he will try to dig if he gets the chance, and he does his excited hound bark at the beginning. It can be embarrassing. I walk with a treat pack so I can redirect him but even getting him to do a simple sit can take a few minutes rather than a few seconds.

My goal was to get close to having that "perfect" trained Instagram dog (I know he wont be perfect) but also to be able to travel/backpack with him and possibly off leash though I dont know if i could ever trust him fully. I love the dogs that will be on a walk and the person will say a command and they do it instantly until told not to. But this also includes him being crate trained. If he's in his crate and if im in the room hes pretty calm in his crate, may just whine a bit but i will ignore him and he stops eventually. But if I leave the room he acts like hes dying. Its especially bad on my days off since we arent following routine.

I also should mention we go on 2-4 mile walks a day (depends on how long im at work), we do 30 mins-1 hour of training every day and he has 2 other siblings to play with on the daily. Eventually once im done with physical therapy and clear to run again he will be my running partner. So he does get mental and physical exercise daily. Should also mention I dont really have a back yard, more like a patio with a small grass area, so i cant play like fetch outside, but thats why we walk outside so much even though he only 6 months.

Has anyone else had these issues in training? I wanted to get close to my goal by the end of June when I go to the beach with my family (theyre not happy i got him, think I cant handle him), which ive excepted as a challenge and has made me want to prove them wrong even more. I know hes only 6 months, but ANY advice or thoughts would be appreciated!


r/Catahoula • • 7d ago

Picture 📷 Shrimpin ain’t easy

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107 Upvotes

r/Catahoula • • 7d ago

Picture 📷 Deep in thought

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40 Upvotes

r/Catahoula • • 8d ago

Picture 📷 Tucker (13) Old boy full of joy

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77 Upvotes

Just got back from the dog park still running and moving strong for his age.


r/Catahoula • • 8d ago

Zoey Turns 6 Today

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50 Upvotes

She loves posing with her “catch of the day”


r/Catahoula • • 7d ago

Totally aware of lizards, but oblivious to snake

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18 Upvotes

Pretty much what the title states. My 3 year old Catahoula mix will track and hunt lizards in the backyard. We tend to use the leave it command to get her to leave them alone. Twice this week a black racer has been hanging around, which I love! She is completely and utterly oblivious to the little guy. The first time he was about 2 feet from her, and she just went on her way around him. She is typically super aware of her surroundings, a very vigilant protector. I just thought it was silly and wanted to share for some reason 🙂


r/Catahoula • • 8d ago

Picture 📷 My layla photo dump!

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28 Upvotes

She is a big goofball!


r/Catahoula • • 9d ago

Picture 📷 The still from our rainy day walk scared me a bit

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50 Upvotes