The Catahoula Border Collie Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Border Collie and the Catahoula. The Border Collie is one of the friendliest dogs you will ever meet and the Catahoula is a friendly dog, but with more of a hunting background. This is obviously going to have a strong herding instinct as well as very similar traits between the two breeds. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the Border Collie or the Akita? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Border Collie Akita Mix. While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Catahoula Border Collie Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Catahoula Border Collie Mix puppies for sale. If you are interested in helping animal rescues raise money, please play our quiz. Each correct answer donates to help feed shelter animals.
All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. Please sign our petition to stop puppy mills. Border Collie History: The Border Collie was bred to gather and control sheep in the hilly border country between Scotland and England. He is known for his intense stare, or “eye,” with which he controls his flock. He’s a dog with unlimited energy, stamina, and working drive, all of which make him a premier herding dog; he’s still used today to herd sheep on farms and ranches around the world. They were bred to literally run 15-20 miles a day for days on end all while moving sheep. They were also bred to withstand harsh weather. You might want to keep this in mind when you are looking for a companion and if you have the stamina to keep up with them. Catahoula History: The Catahoula comes from North Central Louisiana. The area is around the Catahoula Lake from which it got its name. The word Catahoula is of Choctaw Indian origin, many people still think that the dog descends from Native American dogs that were in that area for centuries. The first settlers to that area of Louisiana found the woods full of wild hogs as well as these Indian dogs that were indigenous to the area. In fact there were so many wild hogs in the woods that they were considered to be a nuisance and of little value. The dogs were quickly domesticated to help hunt the hogs.
Border Collie Height: 19 - 22 inches at the shoulder Weight: 30 - 50 lb. Lifespan: 10-17 years Catahoula Height: 20 - 24 inches at the shoulder Weight: 35 - 82 lb. Lifespan: 10 - 14 years
This is going to be a very sweet and good natured dog. They will be a great companion and a great sidekick to have along your side. This is the type of dog that you are going to want to come home to at night as they are very kind, loyal, and gentle. They could have a bit of a little more of an aggressive side as the Catahoula has a hunting background. They are going to need a ton of exercise and to be mentally challenged as they are extremely smart. Sometimes they are almost too smart for their own good. No matter what the mix is, they are going to be bouncing with energy and will not be good for apartment dwellers. In fact, they won’t be good for low energy people. They are going to need to go for very long walks and hikes EVERY DAY to wear them out. If you don’t control their energy it will control you. It is also extremely important to socialize your dog. While they naturally have a very nice temperament, socialization is extremely important to help them learn how to interact with other dogs. They also might have a rather high prey drive due to their wanting to chase small, fast things. It will be a good idea to keep an eye on the cat or any other small creatures until you better understand their personality.
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition. The Australian Shepherd mixed with the Border Collie might be prone to hip dysplasia, various eye diseases, sensitivity to certain drugs, and epilepsy Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.
What are the grooming requirements? The Border Collie and the Catahoula are both pretty moderate shedders. They will need routine grooming and baths as needed, depending on how they feel. What are the exercise requirements? This is a high energy dog that will need that from an owner. As I stated previously, they were bred to work and run all day so they will not be content just laying around. Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. Don’t be surprised if it starts to herd you as the Border Collie has a very strong herding instinct. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him. What are the training requirements? This is an extremely intelligent dog that will be easy to train, however, it might be extremely stubborn. It will need a strong, firm handler that is consistent and won’t let this dog take advantage of them. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.
A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible.
Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.
A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.