There is a very important dog show competition going on over at Mango’s bloggy.  I am working very hard to win my group–Herding.  (Yes, us Catahoulas are in hearding group.  We are not offically recognized in the AKC…and I am a mix anyway.  But, the AKC has already given us herding group status.)

I am standing tall and most handsomest so that I might win.  Here I present to you, dear readers (and oh, so dearer judges) my most handsomest photogrpahs that show me in all my Catahoula glory.  Now remember, Catahoulas are very important and handsome dogs.  We are special and unique.  So keep that in mind when you judge my photos.  I have included a wonderfulest head shot of myself.  Also, a picuture of me hanging at the beach.  And a photo that shows my bestest gait.  In al its glory.  In some close-ups, you will also observe my “cracked eye”.  Not every dog can claim to have both blue and brown eyes.  I can.  Additionally, dear readers, you can observe my wonderful Blue Merele coloring which gives me the look of a true herding doggy.  This is how we get our long doggy name of: Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog.

Baked Beans Make Great Walking Weights

We began by loading the pack with car keys, poop bags (empty), and two cans of baked beans.  The total weight was about 5 pounds (10% of Riley’s total body weight). According to Ruffwear, most dogs can carry up-to 1/3 of their body weight, so we can certainly increase the workload in the future.  But, at this early stage, we just wanted to ease Riley into it. We dutifully and quickly rewarded Riley with lots of treats as we put the pack on, so she thinks it is a fun thing to wear.  We also were plentiful with the treats during the walk.

Every morning that we walk  Riley now wears her pack.  (We sometimes go on runs–she isn’t wearing the pack for those.)  And she’s even getting compliments on how cute she looks.  Success! Also, a quick side benefit: by adding additional weight, our trainer tells us that a 30-minute walk actually feels more like an hour to Riley.  I don’t think that is true.  It seems more like 45 minutes…but who’s counting?  (Me!)

Even though Riley doesn’t pull like she used to, every once in a while she’ll try to sniff something. But she doesn’t pull ahead of me at all.  It’s loose-leash walking the whole way; sometimes I feel like I don’t even have a dog attached to the leash at all!  And I can even see that Riley enjoys the work. She looks forward to her “job” each morning, and I can see the focus in her eyes and body language during walks.

I am beginning to think a training tool is only as good as the owner who wields it (and I am still learning).  But, her behavior is seriously magnificent with it on.  This backpack was so worth it!

Riley’s Opinion
I do lots of things around the house on a daily basis to help my people out.  I bark at the UPS guy: a very important job.  And I spend most of the day looking out the window just in case he’s coming up to our doorstep.  But I just got a brand new job…a promotion!  I’m now the “Chief Baked-Bean Carrier”…can you believe it!! Yup,  I carry those super heavy cans in my new backpack.  People pass me on the street and see how hard I’m working. Usually they want to talk or pet me, but I’m just too busy thinking about my new job for chit-chat.  The best part is that I walk with this pack, I get a ton of treats!  I’ll be carrying the beans for a few steps and bam: a treat.  Wow! I love this job.  Don’t get me wrong though, it’s hard work.  I wouldn’t recommend this job for puppies.  You’ve got to be big and strong like me.  I just hope one of these days I get to eat some of those beans!

To learn how to teach your dog to play fetch like Riley check out our article.

Riley’s Comment
Fetch is for dogs who really know how to move.  I know how to run like the wind and I love my ball! And that tennis racket….mmmm it’s my favorite toy because when it comes out, I get to run super fast.  See ya later!

In fact, when we first got her, Riley would often walk me around neighborhood, dragging me into the street  and into other people’s yards. I’m a small person so maybe this was an easy task. But one time, she even dragged Justin (who is 6 feet tall) around the park and eventually onto his bottom…

Clearly, no one had ever taught Riley to walk properly.

Riley in Autumn wearing her Gentle Leader

The Gentle Leader

So the first thing we did was to buy a Gentle Leader, which is a training lead that allows for greater control of an unruly pooch. But even with the training lead, I had to remain highly alert as the Gentle Leader didn’t always keep Riley from chasing squirrels, bicyclists and runners. Recognizing the dangers of Riley trying to chase after cars in the street, we immediately sought professional dog training.

One trainer suggested that patience and encouragement would help her to walk properly. And every time she pulled on the leash, we were instructed to stop walking; this lack of forward movement is actually a punishment to the dog. And then when Riley loosened up and relaxed, we’d continue walking. With this method, Riley was to associated calm, relaxed energy with a reward–moving forward. It would also teach her that pulling on the leash would bring on a negative consequence–standing still.

This technique was very frustrating for Riley because she has to stop all the time.  But its also frustrating to me (because we have to stop all the time!). With Riley pulling so often, we’d have to stop and wait every few steps…and just wait. Our trainer also taught us how to use treats to keep Riley focused while walking. Riley absolutely adores treats; she is truly food motivated. So, with a treat in hand, whenever I said “heal”, she’d walk perfectly beside me, waiting of course for the yummy reward. But without the treat in my hand, Ms. Riley would be off  to the races.

Another trainer suggested the method of being the calm, assertive leader, a la Cesar Milan. The trainer suggested using a slip lead and slightly (but quickly) jerking the lead whenever Riley was out line. This method is much harsher, and I wasn’t always comfortable with it. Nonetheless, that method did quickly teach Riley to not run towards cars. And with our situation at the time, that was perhaps the highest training priority on our minds.

Problem Solved?

So, how exactly did we teach Riley to walk on the leash? Well, actually we combined both methods and then added a large dose of patience. Slowly but surely,  Riley learned how to walk on her leash like a good Catahoula. Eventually we got rid of the gentle leader, stopped using the slip lead, and transitioned into just your standard collar…and for a while, she was doing pretty well.

Until recently.

Because now, it’s return of the crazy dog. She’s pulling me through the neighborhood and lunging every time a UPS truck passes by. Why UPS trucks? I have no clue. Maybe they look like a big brown dog to her.

Time for Something New

So, I’m using this blog as a journal to chronicle our attempts to get Riley walking like the once-walkable dog I know she can be again. To begin, I’m purchasing a Martingale Collar from Classic Hound. It’s a beautifully fashioned accessory yet functional in that it should help with Riley’s pulling. And I’ve also decided to retry the patience, encouragement, discipline strategy once again. I’ll continue adding to this post over the next few weeks and will let you know how it goes.

Riley’s Comment

Walks?! I looooove walks. That’s cuz I get to go wherever I want, whenever I want. I used to be very good and mellow on the leash, but now I like to use my walk time to sniff for cats and chase those big brown delivery trucks…I LOVE those trucks! Other than that, I try to protect my mom cuz she needs a guard and I am very good at my job. But I don’t know why she doesn’t like me to bark. Somebody’s got to do it! Maybe she’ll see things my way soon enough and join me in the fun. We could even chase the truck down the street! Wooohooo!

Riley with her Kong Tennis Stick

A Brief History

In the Southeastern U.S., Native Americans used the Red Wolf to hunt. Among the various tribes that lived in the Mississippi Valley in the 18th-century were Creek, Avoyelle, Tunica, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Caddoes.

When the Spanish first attempted to colonize the Americas and search for gold, they brought with them “war dogs” to help in their looting. Those dogs included Greyhounds and Mastiffs. Through explorations and complex trade networks with Native Americans, these “war dogs” reached the lower Mississippi Valley. The dogs were then bred with the Red Wolf, and the new hybrid was called Wolf Dog. When the French came to colonize lower Louisiana, they brought with them the Beauceron. Wolf Dogs and Beaucerons mixed to form our modern day Catahoula. Throughout the 1700s, Choctaw, Avoyelle and Tunica Indians were experienced herders and traders of livestock, using the Catahoula as a working dog.

Appearance

Catahoulas are fairly large dogs. Females are 50-65 lbs and males are between 65-90 lbs. They come in many colors and shades and are most famous for the merle coloring which can be blue (like Riley), black, gray, liver or red merle. As with their coats, the Catahoula’s eyes vary in color. They can be brown, blue, or even two different colors. Or, like Riley, they might have “cracked” eyes which mean one eye exhibits two different colors at the same time.

Temperament

Catahoulas are not aggressive but they are very assertive. You must be serious to own one of these, and understand how to lead your pack. Otherwise, a Catahoula will do it for you! Catahoulas are working dogs, so they have a lot of energy. The key then for a Catahoula owner is to keep your dog active both physically and mentally. Long walks and runs are important. We vary our long walks with intense “ball playing” sessions—using a racquetball racket and bouncy ball — and with days at doggy day care where Riley is happy to herd and play chase with the other dogs. For mental exercise we rely on IQ games and teaching Riley tricks.

Because of their strength, enthusiasm, protectiveness and high intelligence, it is crucial to train the Catahoula. Riley learns very easily and quickly because she is smart and food motivated. We think this is the hound trait in Riley.

Catahoulas are very good with children and make expert babysitters. Riley loves children because she thinks their sticky hands taste great!

Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog Puppies

Working Dogs

Catahoulas can be used in a wide variety of situations and are one of the most versatile working dogs. They are hunters, herders, search & rescue dogs, and narcotics-sniffing dogs among other things.

Breeding

The genetic flaws in Catahoulas are deafness and blindness. These problems are often intensified with irresponsible breeding. Therefore, it is especially important with Catahoulas that you find the best breeder possible.  Before you begin looking, read our article on how to choose a breeder.

People often ask us if we are breeding Riley. That answer is no; she’s spayed.

But if you are interested in Catahoula Leopard Dogs I urge you to visit Abney Catahoula…tell them Doglirious sent you. Or contact COBRA for a list of breeders near you.

At the end of the day, realize that a Catahoula is not for everyone. I promise that they will drive you crazy, but once you get to know one, you might very well go Doglirious.