Have you ever thought of having a Catahoula doggy, which is one of the most intelligent dogs in the dog world, as your first doggy pal? Then comes the question, are they good for first-time owners? Let’s look into the facts.
Are Catahoula dogs good for first-time owners? Well, the answer depends on several factors. Catahoula is a good fit for first-time owners who prefer to allocate more time and effort towards exercise sessions, training plans, and socializing methods. But, sometimes due to their highly independent nature and stubbornness, Catahoula might be challenging to a first-time owner.
Let’s analyze the title further with authentic facts while looking into the pros and cons of having a Catahoula as a first-time owner.
Why Are Catahoulas Good For First-time Owners? 5 Amazing Pros!
Catahoula dogs, who are also named Catahoula Leopard dogs and Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dogs are one-of-a-kind doggies. They are enriched with a fascinating history too. Catahoulas are originally bred for hunting and herding purposes and also they are quite famous as good family pets.
Therefore, we’ll look into the reasons why Catahoulas are good for first-time owners if you are willing to put your whole time and effort towards them.
1 . Catahoulas Are Very Loyal:
Catahoula is an expert in forming a strong bond with its owners within a short period. At the same time, their locality remains till death. It suggests that Catahoulas can maintain their loyalty while becoming great companions to their owners. This devoted loyalty of Catahoulas tends to protect their owners with their whole hearts.
2 . High Energy Level:
As mentioned earlier as well. Catahoulas are dog breeds that require daily exercise as their energy level is at a very active phase. Sometimes, this might affect first-time owners badly since it is hectic for them to keep the Catahoulas more occupied. But, at the same time, it can be taken as an opportunity to maintain a healthy routine and to establish a productive bonding time with your Catahoula pal.
Suggested Reading: Are Catahoula Dogs Hard To Train? Read Here!
3 . The Trainability Of Catahoulas:
Catahoulas are indeed strong-willed and independent to a level where their stubbornness can pop up, they are well trainable if you approach them in the right manner.
If you are ready to train your Catahoula with more positive reinforcements and good behaviors, you will understand Catahoulas are perfectly good for first-time owners.
4 . Health Condition:
Generally, Catahoulas are named as one of the healthier breeds that require low maintenance. Their life expectancy is 10-14 years and of course, they might become exposed to some general health issues which are not major in a case like all the other dog breeds.
The good news is you do not have to pay consistently for vet visits if you are having a Catahoula as your doggy pal.
5 . Catahoulas Are Much More Versatile:
One of the most surprising facts about Catahoulas is, they adapt to any living situation without a big drama. They can either live in apartments or large homes with calm backyards.
On one hand, Catahoulas are much more comfortable in working roles such as search and rescue, herding, and hunting too. So, if you are a person with many different dreams about living and adventures, then a Catahoula will be a perfect match for you as a pet.
So, if you are planning to have a Catahoula as your doggy pal and if it is the first time your life is going to be spent as a dog parent, you should consider the above pros of having a Catahoula.
Why Are Catahoula Dogs Aren’t Good For First-time Owners? 3 Cons!
Well, there can be exceptions in every situation. So, while Catahoulas can be a great pet for many dog parents, there can be some reasons why Catahoulas might not be a good choice if you are a first-time owner.
Now, we’ll look into some reasons why Catahoulas aren’t good for first-time owners.
A bit hard to train: Catahoulas might be a bit hard to train if you do not tackle him with the correct and shrewd tips and tricks. As a result, he will become difficult in handling and might also develop stubborn and nasty behaviors.
1 . Strong-Willed Nature:
As you know by now, Catahoulas are strong-willed due to their highly independent nature. Therefore, sometimes he might reject your orders and start behaving the way he wants. So, in such cases, Catahoulas lose marks and fall into the category of not good for first-time owners.
2 . Not Easy To Socialize:
Catahoulas are not easy to socialize with due to their strong protective instinct and as a result, they become fearful and aggressive toward other humans and animals.
3 . High Energy Level:
This fact of high energy has resulted in both positive and negative manners. Since Catahoula dogs are highly energetic and active dog breeds, they need more exercises and activities to spend their energy.
This might be an issue for a first-time dog owner if he is not ready to be more active and allocate time for his Catahoula doggy.
Overall, as a first-time dog owner if you are willing to have a Catahoula you should be able to collect all the required information to handle him. Doing full research about Catahoulas is crucial.
More Things To Consider Owning A Catahoula Dog As A First Dog
Well, before adopting or buying a Catahoula while being a first-time dog owner, you should consider and understand several important factors such as:
- Understanding the needs and the characteristics of Catahoulas
- Difficult to control if not properly trained
- Highly independent dog breed
- Requires a lot of exercises
- You should be able to keep him occupied with many activities to maintain good mental stimulation.
With that being said, you should understand that Catahoulas are good pets for some first-time owners but, there can be exceptions too. If you prefer to have a Catahoula while being a first-time dog owner you should be ready to dedicate your time and energy.
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Conclusion
As we all know every dog has a unique personality and temperament and no dog is perfectly fine. Therefore, owning a Catahoula as your first doggy pal might be challenging. But, trust me you won’t regret the dedication of time and energy you spent to train a Catahoula to behave well.
If you are ready to do that scarification, a Catahoula will be an amazing pet with so much love and protection. So, go for it!
