01/08/2016:  Alf was cat tested today and loved hanging out in the Kitty kingdom with our cats.  It was a great site to see.

Alf came from a kill shelter.  From what we see he is very sweet and gets along well with our other dogs..
He is very well behaved and gentle.  As we discover more about him we will update our web page.

We took Alf out for the day, we first picked him up and drove to the South Cross Seminole Trail.  He was very well behaved but he really wanted to climb into the back seat.  When we got to the Trail it was very busy with other dogs, walkers, joggers, and a lot of bikes.  When a walker or jogger passes Alf did not react. With bikes and other dogs when they passed he wanted to stop and watch them pass but did not approach and was very timid.  When we met another dog that was stopped and calm Alf calmly came up and greeted the other dog we did not stay long not knowing how well he would act.  When passing a faimly with young children Alf was very intent on meeting them, we had to stop and let them pass, he seemed like he only wanted to play and was not pulling or acting aggressive.  He was very good on the leash and we had no trouble with him.  We then brought him back to our house, he wanted to stay close to us and stayed in the same room that we were all the time.  He did not explore much when we brought him into our backyard.  When we eat, Alf did try to get food from us at first but learned we wouldn't give and decided to lay down and watch TV.  Alf seems to be a big couch potato and just wanted to snuggle and watch the ​tv.

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.