Ben the Beautiful Catahoula's Web Page

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401 South Laurel Avenue Sanford, FL 32771 (407) 302-4497 info@petrescuebyjudy.com

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Labrador Retriever / Catahoula Leopard Dog / Mixed (short coat)

Pet Rescue by Judy

401 S. Laurel Ave
Sanford, FL 32771
407-302-4497
e-mail: info@petrescuebyjudy.com

Ben the Beautiful Catahoula's Web Page

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Name: Ben the Beautiful Catahoula

Status: Adopted!

Adoption Fee: $250

Species: Dog

Breed: Catahoula Leopard Dog / Mastiff (short coat)

Learn more about the Catahoula Leopard Dog.
Learn more about the Mastiff.

Color: Brindle

Pattern: Brindle

Sex: Male (neutered)

Current Size: 57 Pounds

Potential Size: 35 Pounds

General Potential Size: Large

Current Age: 13 Years 4 Months (best estimate)

Activity Level: Highly Active

Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor Only

Good with Dogs: Yes

Good with Kids: Yes

Housetrained: Yes

Microchipped: Yes

Description:
Ben was rescued last minute from a high kill shelter. This sweet adorable dog was diagnosed with demodex and needed some medication and a little time to get better. We couldn't let this sweet amazing dog be put down because of something so minor. We hope to find this big puppy a great furever home!

Leash Manners - Ben walks failry well on leash, although he has a tendency to walk quickly ahead, a quick tug on the leash to correct him works immediately.
Crate/House Training - Ben is crate trained, though he does not like being in his crate. He sleeps in his crate at night because he would play all night long and keep everyone awake if we didn't! He is house trained. He uses the doggy doors along with our other dogs that he has to get through to get outside into the doggie yard.
Socialization - Ben is wonderful with everyone who has met him. He does not jump on anyone upon meeting them, nor does he get overly excited. He is around my 1 year old with no problems - he does not show any anxiety when my son follows him around, he will just kiss him or completely ignore him. Ben met the 5 year old girl next door and just kissed her! My 11-year-old just adores him. He loves human attention and doesn't seem to care who it comes from - big or small! He is also very good with our three dogs. He LOVES to play with our black Lab, and they are constantly playing. We have to crate him at night just to separate them or they would play all night, too!
Energy Level and Exercise - Ben has a lot of energy, but is not hyper. He will play all day with our other dogs, but he is calm around people. He would do very well in a home with another large dog because he loves to play and has lots of energy to burn. I say large dog only because Ben is fairly large, but has no idea that he is!
Daily Structure and Schedule - Ben has slept in my bed with me and has slept in the crate all night - he is good both ways. He gets up in the morning, eats 1-2 cups of Evangers and then plays all day. We take him for a walk in the evening, and then feed him another 1-2 cups of Evangers and then he will play with the other dogs until bedtime.
Confidence Level - Ben is not an alpha dog. The first night we had him, he seemed very nervous - like he was unsure of what he was supposed to do. I get the sense that he has never lived in a home before. Some guidance and lots of reassurance from us helped tremendously, and he quickly fit right in.
Obedience Training - Ben knows Sit, Down and Paw (both paws) and we are working on Roll Over.
Behaviors - Ben has the sweetest disposition I have ever seen in a dog. He is very eager to please. Again, he has no clue how big he is! He is gentle with the kids and has shown no food or toy aggression at all. I put my hand in his food every time I feed him, and he just keeps eating. He has very expressive eyes and always seems to be looking at you trying to figure out what you want him to do. He does not jump on the furniture at all. In fact, the first night that he slept in bed with me, I had to actually pick him up and put him there.
Personality Quirks - One thing that none of our dogs have ever done is actually watch TV, but Ben does! When the TV is on, Ben is fixated on it. If we turn on a show with animals, he barks at the TV until we turn the channel. Ben has not chewed anything other than dog toys and does not dig. He is VERY vocal when he plays, and his voice is VERY deep. It took a little getting used to because it sounded mean, but it's just how he talks - and yes, he talks - he actually moves his mouth while playing so it actually sounds like he is trying to speak! It's hilarious once you get used to how deep and loud his voice is! Oddly enough, he does not bark when someone comes to the door - he leaves that to the other dogs - he only barks or talks when he's watching TV or when he's playing. Otherwise, he is very quiet. Ben also loves water. If you turn on the shower, he will walk right into it! We have a small, shallow pond, and as soon as he realized it was there, he jumped right in!
Ideal Home - I think Ben would do well in a home with or without children, but I do think that he would be happiest if he had another medium to large dog to play with. I don't think a home where he would be the only dog and then confined to a crate most of the day would work. He needs companionship and exercise. He does still need some training as far as commands and such, but he is still a puppy, even if he is a rather large one!

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is believed to have originated from Nordic Wolfhound being introduced some three to five hundred years before the Spanish arrived - However, no one will really know for sure. The state of Louisiana is cited as the point of origin, particularly the area of Catahoula. In 1979, the breed was designated the state dog of Louisiana. The Catahoula was named after a Parish in Northeastern Louisiana and after the mottled spots on its coat. At one time this breed was used to round up feral pigs and cattle -- livestock that had escaped, and was living in woods and swamps. It involved team effort that is highly coordinated and organized, fast paced, dangerous, and a marvel to watch. The ideal dog team usually numbers three, and they must work together. Otherwise, the one pig can kill all three in a matter of minutes. Each dog has to be aware of what the pig and the other two dogs are doing and react accordingly. Hunters sometimes used the Catahoula to trail and tree raccoons, but this dominant breed is more at home acting the thug with obstinate boars. This dog is used particularly on the difficult task of driving and rounding hogs and unruly cattle. The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is independent, protective, and territorial. Loving with their family and all people they know well and reserved with strangers (this would include strange children). They need to make up to a person, not a person make up to them. Of course there are temperaments on both sides of this, but this is for the average dog. They mature right around 2 and it is as if a light goes on and they say to themselves "I am an adult now and I need to act grown up." This breed's reservation with strangers should not be noticed in a pup, but will show as the dog matures. Although affectionate with his master, the Catahoula is not recommended for the casual pet owner who is uninterested in allowing the dog to function in his intended capacity. For the right owner, this is a protective yet dominating canine. Signs of timidly on a leash should not be taken as cowardness, but the intolerance for strangers. This breed needs a dominant owner who shows strong leadership. They have of life expectancy of 12-13 years.

Other Pictures of Ben the Beautiful Catahoula (click to see larger version):

15.3k	24.6k	21.7k	65k
30.4k	19.4k

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