Labahoula

55-65 lbs
21-24"
United States
Labrador Retriever
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog


One is one of the most popular dog breeds in the USA and the world beyond, while the other is the decidedly lesser-spotted State Dog of Louisiana — the Labrador Retriever and Catahoula Leopard Dog might at first seem like a curious combination, but the resulting hybrid looks to be particularly harmonious mix.

The Labahoula has the gentle, loving nature of the Labrador Retriever along with the fearless spirit and aptitude for hard work of the Catahoula Leopard Dog. This makes them perfect for outdoorsy parents, rural families and those who like their dogs to be full of energy every day.

In this introduction to the Labahoula, you’ll discover that:

  • The hybrid only needs brushing during the shedding season
  • Their appetite is mighty and they might need large breed dog food
  • The Labahoula dog can sometimes be affected by Hip Dysplasia
  • They’re more likely to have two different colored eyes than other dogs

Labahoula Breed Overview

Although each and every dog is different, there are a couple of traits you can be close to certain of seeing in the Labahoula dog.

The first is the distinctive spotted coat which comes from the Catahoula family line. This requires little by the way of grooming, save for some brushing during shedding season.

Having been created from two working dogs, the Labahoula is also highly likely to be adept at learning commands and fiercely loyal to their family members. They’re very confident, which can lead to dominating behavior if allowed to go unchecked. A bit of previous canine experience is necessary if you’re looking at Labahoula puppies.

And finally, we can’t not mention the fact that the Labahoula is normally a highly energetic dog with an equally impressive appetite to match. If you’re more than happy to take them on long excursions and fill up their bowls with top-quality dog food, it could be a match made in heaven.

Every parent wants the best for their dog and a pet insurance policy is an easy way of ensuring this — use Wag!’s online comparison tool to find a suitable option

purpose Purpose
Hunting, Guarding, Herding
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Labrador Retriever and Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog

Labahoula Health

Average Size
Male Labahoula size stats
Height: 22-26 inches Weight: 70-95 lbs
Female Labahoula size stats
Height: 21-24 inches Weight: 55-65 lbs

Labahoula Breed History


Like a lot of hybrids, the exact origin of the Labahoula dog is far from clear. However, it’s likely to have happened in the USA in the past few decades, as this is where and when similar hybrid breeds have emerged — the Labradoodle and Labrottie among them.

We do know a lot more about each of the Labahoula’s parent breeds, however. The Labrador Retriever, for example, takes their name from the Labrador Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean. This is somewhat misleading as the dogs were initially popular in nearby Newfoundland, which is where English nobles visiting Canada in the early 19th century first saw the breed.

So impressed by their skills at helping out on fishing boats (including jumping out of the boat to retrieve fallen fish) that these visitors took some of the dogs home with them, where they would become loyal hunting companions. It became something of an aristocratic past-time to hone this breed, with the resulting dog resembling the faithful companion we know and love today. 

Back in Canada, the original breed came close to extinction due to government restrictions, but the English variety was reintroduced to North America at the turn of the century and the American Kennel Club (AKC) set standards for the Labrador Retriever in 1917.

Since then, the breed has ballooned in popularity and topped the AKC’s list of most popular breeds from 1991 until 31 years later (until the French Bulldog knocked them down to second in 2022).

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is much less populous in numbers, but they have their ardent admirers, too.

The breed is also thought to be a hybrid, a mix between the dogs of Native Americans and those brought along by Spanish explorers. This new crossbreed was then bred with the hounds of French immigrants who arrived in Southern America in the 18th century — educated guesses would put Greyhounds, Bloodhounds and Mastiffs among them.

This imposing canine would prove to be an excellent farm worker, especially when it came to herding feral hogs and cattle on the open plains. They became particularly associated with the State of Louisiana, taking their name from a local freshwater lake and going on to be named the state’s official dog in 1979.

Labahoula Breed Appearance


This breed’s most distinctive feature has to be the leopard-print pattern on the fur, which comes from the Catahoula side of the family. These markings can be seen in a range of colors, including black, dark blue or brown. The fur itself tends to be short, straight and water-repellant, as is the case with most Labrador Retrievers.

The Labahoula dog gives off an aura of strength, thanks to their powerful build and broad wedge-shaped head complete with a long muzzle and ears that flop down to jaw-level. Another interesting thing about the hybrid is that heterochromia — or two differently colored eyes — isn’t unheard of, either.


Similar Breeds to a Labahoula

If you’re drawn to the Labahoula’s energy and straightforward maintenance, here are some other breeds that might be of interest.

Labahoula Breed Maintenance


When it comes to grooming, the Labahoula lies on the low-maintenance end of the spectrum. While they’re not hypoallergenic, they shed seasonally and only need brushing during this period. They also don’t need to be bathed regularly — just as and when they get especially filthy.

Parents will need to spend a bit more time tending to other essential tasks, however. This includes brushing teeth a few times a week to ward off the threat of dental disease, trimming nails every so often, and checking ears every six weeks or so for signs of dirt, wax build-up or infection.

Labahoula Health Risks

Although it’s early days in the history of the Labahoula, the good news is that they look to be a relatively healthy hybrid. Like all dogs, however, there are a couple of diseases to which they're more predisposed, including:

Some of these are hereditary, which underlines the importance of only dealing with responsible breeders who carry out screening on their animals and remove carriers of genetic diseases from the breeding pool.

Hip Dysplasia

The Labrador Retriever is one of the breeds most affected by Hip Dysplasia. This is a condition that occurs when the hip bone fails to develop correctly, leading it to move against the corresponding socket with friction. The main symptoms are limping, limited movement and pain.

There are numerous treatment options available for vets. In minor instances, weight loss or supplements might ease the worst symptoms. However, some dogs might require physiotherapy or surgery to help them recover.


Eye problems

It’s also been noted that the Labahoula can be affected by eye conditions over the course of their lives. One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), in which photoreceptor cells at the back of a dog’s eyes start to die off gradually. This can lead to sight loss, starting with night vision and sometimes leading to complete blindness.

Parents might notice a change in the appearance of their dog’s eyes — this might be a cloudiness or decrease in color. Alternatively, they might witness a change in their dog’s behavior suggesting a loss of vision, be that a newfound caution or bumping into objects.

Sadly, there’s no known cure for PRA and the most a parent can do is to keep their dog’s living environment as safe as possible.

The Labahoula stands a better chance of recovery when it comes to Cataracts, another eye condition to which they’re more prone to developing. These are defined as a cloudiness in a dog’s eyes, which leads to partial or complete vision loss.

Dogs who are otherwise helpful should be able to undergo a low-risk surgical procedure to restore their vision. These have a success rate of more than 90%, but might require some aftercare in the form of eyedrops and medication.

Among the benefits of a wellness plan is 24/7 live chat with vets and annual testing to catch illnesses at an earlier stage — find out more perks here.

What to Feed a Labahoula

As a dog that loves nothing more than to run around, the Labahoula has a pretty mighty appetite and this should be satisfied with top-quality dog food. Look for recipes with high protein content to keep their muscles in good shape, as well as lots of vitamins and minerals, too.

With the Labrador Retriever being a notoriously greedy dog, parents should be wary of overfeeding. This is to avoid obesity, which is extra-important for breeds prone to obesity, such as the Labahoula.

Finally, the Labahoula can either be classified as a medium or large breed depending on who you’re asking. If your Labahoula is particularly big, you might do well to consider a dog food that’s been specifically designed for the nutritional needs of large breeds. This is true for Labahoula puppies too, as some dog foods aren’t suitable for the growth of large-breed puppies.

Searching for a dog’s dinner can often prove difficult, but our partner Dog Food Advisor can offer assistance — here’s their list of the best high-protein dog food.


Labahoula Activity Requirements


The most time-intensive part of looking after a Labahoula is exercise. As the offspring of two working breeds, this is a particularly high-energy dog and they need at least 90 minutes of activity a day to tire them out.

This could include long runs, hikes, swimming, agility course training, playing at dog parks, or even some good old fashioned work if you live on a farm. Due to their size and their activity needs, these breeds are best suited to a rural or suburban lifestyle where they will have plenty of space in which to roam and expend energy.

Ideally, parents would have a large garden in which their Labahoula can burn off some steam during the day when parents are otherwise occupied.

Labahoula Owner Experiences

Herbie
1 Year
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
It’s been an amazing journey watching Herbie turn one. Great companion and adores everyone ❤️
7 years ago
Nola
3 Months
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
So trainable, super lovable, needs tons of exercise, can be very stuborn
6 years, 11 months ago
Kennedy
9 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing Ball
Tug-of-war
Going to the dog park
going on walks
We got her at 3 months from the pound. She was easy to train and knows both verbal commands and hand signs. We did have to switch her food because Iams was giving her stomach issues. Even though she knows her commands and what to do she still has a mind of her own and will attempt to ignore you because she does not want to follow directions. Love having her. Vet things she will be 80-90 pounds
6 years, 11 months ago
nova
4 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
walking and playing fetch outside
shes is a little prankster, she loves playing with her toys and hiding them for you to look for when she wants you to play fetch with her. She learned how to sit pretty quickly, the rest is in the works! Stubborn when she wants to be. Overall she is extremely loving and affectionate to her dad and I and everyone else she comes in contact with!
6 years, 10 months ago
Kokomo
12 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Kokomo was a rescue puppy, I had originally gotten one of her sisters and she became ill and didn't make it and the person that had adopted Kokomo couldnt handle her so we adopted her, she has been a joy, easy to train.
6 years, 9 months ago
Ms. Piggy
8 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Ms. Piggy is FULL of energy. She loves playing with the kids but does have a problem of jumping on them. We have to be careful when there are smaller kids around.
6 years, 9 months ago
Apollo
1 Year
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
going on walks
Such an amazing little boy. He loves to learn and loves to play. He goes on walks daily and that tends to relax him for the evenings. We socialized him early so he is great with people and he loves kids. He is a voracious eater and has been that way since he was a pup. Had problems feeding him Purina as it gave him stomach issues, switched him to Taste of the Wild and has been great ever since. Love every minute of having this boy in our lives!!
6 years, 9 months ago
Sirimo
3 Months
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Sirimo was 8 weeks old when I got her. She was used to other dogs and chickens. She is now 3months. She sits on command. She has never barked or chased my wild birds on my feeders or the squirrels or deer. She loves hanging out with me doing yard work. She is great with my grandkids but still working on her not jumping on them when they first get here since she is so happy to see them. Looking forward to long hikes when she is older
6 years, 9 months ago
Loki
10 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I got Loki 2 weeks ago, and have a 3 1\2 year old Rhodesian ridgeback mix that he loves to play with. He learned sit quickly, for his age I have minimal accidents with potty training, but he is stubborn. The first week I had him he would run away when I wanted to bring him outside. He hates his leash. But he loves to snuggle or at least be in sight, and to be by his sister
6 years, 9 months ago
Bianca
5 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She has been a joy since the day we adopted her from the local shelter. We were told she was a chocolate lab mix but they didn't know what the other mix was. We live in New England and she was what we refer to as a Dixie dog, a dog from the south. We have since been told by several people that she is a mix of Lab and Catahoula hound. She has the beautiful amber eyes and the question mark tail of the Catahoula hound. Her coloring is dark brown like a lab but her sisters at the shelter were brindle. She is so sweet, just loves people and other dogs. She has been very trainable. She rings the bells to go outside, sits, and stays. But, she is pretty stubborn and has a mind of her own. Walking her is a challenge. She pulls like crazy. Starting formal dog training tomorrow.
6 years, 8 months ago
Molly
4 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Love her she trains fast and loves to be next to me all times...
6 years, 6 months ago
Milo
6 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Pulls and tugs
Running
Playing with toys
Potty training took some time but he finally learned. He likes to jump a lot and loves our other dog Buddy who is 9 years old.
6 years, 5 months ago
Ell
6 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hiking
Exploring
Lovable and sweet natured, very high strung/energetic. Spends most time roaming outdoors. Not a house dog. Needs a lot of space. Chases wild birds and animals also runs laps in the yard. This breed requires a large yard to run in and a lot of exercise and stimulation all the time. Jumpy and a climber.
6 years, 5 months ago
Domer
4 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play
Walk
Got Domer at approx 6 weeks. The owner fibbed on how old he was. Full.of worms and parasites and then a skin rash. Now very healthy, plays..but having a hard time with potty training. He was not loving at all in beginning, but now starting to want to sit and play with us. Love him. Hes beautiful. Hope training goes a little quicker.
6 years, 4 months ago
Fynnigan
5 Months
3 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hiking
Walks
Very trainable, she loves everyone she meets, can be stubborn, snaps out of of it easily
6 years, 3 months ago
Asher
14 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My Labahoula loves to swim. He needs lots of affection and exercise. He gets over excited when people come to visit. Always wants to be near me or my son, his Alpha.
6 years, 2 months ago
Man
4 Months
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I got him as a 5 week old from a shelter. I had not owned a puppy in years and felt quite unprepared for the puppy biting and chewing. He is extremely intelligent but somewhat resistant to (my) training. I have been on the fence about whether to keep him or find a more suitable home for him. We are scheduled to begin obedience shortly and I am optimistic this will help.
6 years, 1 month ago
Aloy
10 Weeks
5 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug
Treat balls
Walks
We adopted at 10 weeks. I have three kids and she was very loving and friendly. Only issue we had was getting her dandruff under control. Very territorial with other dogs on her property. We have tried socializing but we just think she is a only pet type and we are okay with this!
6 years, 1 month ago
Lucie
8 Months
6 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Lucie sire was a Golden Labrador and her dam was a Catahoula. She has a 'polar bear' coat and amber eyes. She's aggressively affectionate and loves everyone. She is the most athletic dog I've ever seen. She runs literal circles around our other two dogs while they run around the back yard. She displays herding tendencies as well as Alpha behavior with the other two, even though they are two other females. Potty training has been slow, but that's due more to us than her. She's a counter surfer and I believe she could eat until she popped. It's a problem that we've had to adjust to. I'm looking at her now as she's curled around my feet. She is beautiful, strong, smart and charismatic. I'm here because I want to get another Labahoula down the road. Lucie is the best dog I've ever had in my family, and I'm hooked on the breed.
5 years, 11 months ago
Twinkle
5 Months
6 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
puppy training
Love our newest rescue. We got her at 3 months old. We are struggling with potty training as she still has a weak bladder. She still only makes it about 4 hours during the day without an accident and her crate training has been difficult, because she does not like being away from us. We have another dog pug/pit mix that has been a wonderful source of exercise, and maternal figure for twinkle. They are great playmates. I did mess up and get too big a crate for Twinkles upgrade on crate size a couple weeks ago. I think we digressed with that and that may be part of our problem. At night she makes it through the night up to 7 or 8 hours. That's pretty good. We will get there. Her obedience training is going very well. If I can continue to afford it, we will keep going to keep her brain learning. We even started our 4 year old pup with adult training. Pricey, but I love it. We have been using Petco. She is a bit nippy and has a quick bite. Still very puppy like though so it will fade I think. We have done pretty well with routine walks 4 times a day (short very short) and 4 times outside in a 8x8 round kennel area to go potty. We don't have a fenced yard so getting her out in the winter takes the village. OUr large family of boys have to help. Would love to take her to learn to fetch for hunting skills, but since none of us know how...that's a bummer. Great experience so far and she makes us all very happy.
5 years, 9 months ago
Millie Ann
10 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Tug-of-war
Bath time
For the love of all nature, she loves baths. If you are in the shower and the door is open, she is jumping in there with you. She’s a heavy drooler and loves playing with the other dogs. We struggled around 5 months with weight gain, she got very fat, but hit a growth spurt at 7 months and measured back out to where she should be. She love rawhide and will growl to protect it. We had trouble potty training in the beginning, but she was a rescue so that could play a big part in it. She loves being outside with someone (forget about it if it’s just her and the other dogs) and she loves belly rubs and biscuits.
5 years, 9 months ago
Bundy
4 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Belly rubs
Playing
training
Fetch
We got Bun as a rescue about a month and a half ago and he is the best dog I’ve ever had! I grew up with purebred Labs so I thought I knew what I was getting into but boy was I wrong. He has much more energy than I ever imagined! While we are in an apartment we are right next to the dog run so on nice days we go out there and work on fetch and get his energy out. He was great with leash training and doesn’t pull at all, and we mastered sit and lay down in about 4 days! He is a highly intelligent boy and my husband and I are hooked on him. Our only 2 issues have been that he loves to play with our cats but is a bit too rough for them and he is a chewer so we have to keep plenty of toys around!
5 years, 8 months ago
Stormi
2 Years
6 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I found my doggo on Valentines Day in a storm. The vet estimated him around 1.5 years old. I never found his owners so I took him in as my own and have now had him one full year. It was hard not knowing where he came from, and trying to work with everything. But, he is the BEST dog there is. Like I mentioned, I am not sure where he came from so it is hard telling how he was raised, he does well with certain dogs and not others- with bigger ones he doesn't seem to like (we had a little encounter with a pit bull and he started to growl but loves many other dogs.. I think it is the fact he is so calm so if a dog is super hyper it is a little over whelming for him). Other than the hit or miss being dog friendly- he NEVER barks and is smarter than any other dog I have met, he picks up on tricks rapidly. He likes to sleep a lot so the activity level is a little different from the page. Very timid at first as well-but could be due to how he was raised. Overall, best dog I could of ended up with!
5 years, 7 months ago
Chile, like the pepper. 🌶
4 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
We got Chile from a friend of a friend that had 9 puppies. I’m Chile’s grandma. My 20yr old surprised me. Chile is having a hard time with potty training. She will go outside most of the time but will forget and go inside. She’s energetic and can eat like an adult dog. She loves treats and rawhide. She loves to jump and play. Chews everything she sees. Very friendly and but still cautious to unfamiliar people. She rarely keeps still unless she is in her kennel. We need a back yard for her in the near future. Sweet girl Chile pepper 🌶
5 years, 4 months ago
Seamus
6 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Swim
Tug-of-war
Run
We got Seamus when he was just under 3 months old. He came from a litter of 14 puppies. Mom was a golden lab and dad was a black and white catahoula. We began training on day two of I'm being in our house and he picked up very quickly. Potty training did take a little longer than everything else but he finally stopped having accidents in the house after he turned 5 months old. Seamus is already 22" tall and getting ready to grow more based on his currently wrinkly coat. He is great with kids and small dogs. While he tends to get overexcited and jump on new people when they come to our house, im mediately goes down on the ground when he sees a little kid or small dog. Training has been very easy with the exception of teaching him not to jump on people. Leash training is also taking a little longer simply because he rarely uses one. Definitely needs tough love when it comes to being told what to do. He gets so excited sometimes that he ignores commands and then needs correction. He's very obedient and has needed correction less and less every month. Super.friendly and lovable dog. We have had few issues with chewing and all of our furniture has survived. Based on our experience with Seamus, labahoulas are very trainable, loving and loyal dogs.
4 years, 11 months ago
Otto
2 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Otto was a rescue pup, about 8 weeks when we got him. He was potty trained in a day and a half with only a couple accidents after when he had problems with his food. Learned sit & stay the first day. He tends to herd my small grandson (gently), so he requires constant correction on that. Definitely an alpha personality. He’s friendly to our cat, trying to share his toys, but unfortunately my cat is really mean to him. His favorite play is to push one of his balls all around the house with his nose while holding another ball in his mouth. We have hardwood floors, so he really gets a lot of speed going. We have a zip line outside for him and play kick ball. There is a bungee with a ball tied to it that he loves to jump and pull on. When he gets a treat he hides it for (sometimes weeks) later. He can be really destructive when left alone, even for a short while. He’ll get into things that he would never dream of if we were home. We provided him with LOTS of suitable chew toys so he never chewed things he shouldn’t. He’s great at communicating his wants, though at times can be demanding, so sometimes I make him wait. He loves EVERYBODY. I think if someone broke into our house Otto would invite them in for a beer! Scary bark, but nothing to back it up.
4 years, 11 months ago
Buddy Junior
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
He won’t jump and catch a frisbee but he’ll go after it before he picks it up he will PEE then pick it up running around the yard try to make me angry and to chase him. Which I won’t I’m 65. When I attempt to go in the doors he rushes over to me and finally brings the frisbee to me.
4 years, 9 months ago
Dude
2 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is the best dog I've ever had very people pleasing but also very protective
4 years, 9 months ago
Luna
7 Weeks
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running
Very sweet but stubborn
4 years, 6 months ago
Jazmine
4 Months
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I've had her a month,but shes 4 months. We are doing a lot of training, along with plenty of time to play.
4 years, 6 months ago
Lola
5 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
playing tag
Running
hide and seek
very very very friendly and highly trainable at times.very goofy and playful
4 years, 2 months ago
Bolton
4 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Stubborn, needs to be reminded who is in charge. Great loyal friend. Very territorial. Training him to walk by without his leash.
4 years ago
Sandy
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Bike ride
Boat ride
Walk
Swim
Sandy is very loving and a vocal dog. Guess Catahoulas are known for the grunting and making weird noises trying to talk to you. She can be very stubborn when it comes to training so you definitely have to show her who's boss. She absolutely loves other dogs and especially kids! Will retrieve and swim all day if you can keep throwing something for her. But when it comes to squirrels, armadillos or possums they better be quick because if she catches them its over with. Also I can attest that if you don't keep them active they absolutely will destroy stuff (lost 2 couches now). There's not a bone or chew toy around that she can't destroy either. But wouldn't trade her for any other breed of dog!
4 years ago
Camo
7 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Bike ride
barking
Playing with toys
Catch treats
Running
Laying down
He is protective and highly energetic. He also sheds and eats a lot. He dislikes fighting and breaks them up. He is a very loving dog but sometimes he makes questionable choices.
3 years, 11 months ago
Shadow
4 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
only have her for less than a week so far things are good. Training in progress. cuddly and Sweet
3 years, 9 months ago
Ezzie
10 Weeks
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chasing balls
cuddle
Play
Tug-of-war
Ezzie is about 10 weeks old. She’s super sweet, so so smart and is almost potty trained. We got her at 7 1/2 weeks old. She loves to cuddle and I call her my Pareot dog because right now she loves to cuddle up on my shoulder and sleep. She’s already sleeping through the night. Super energetic, she loves chasing balls but is working on bringing them back. Her temperament is amazing, she craves human contact. Most of the time she’s curled up under my desk or right beside me while I work during the day. She loves playing with our other pups also. She’s the perfect pup.
3 years, 9 months ago
Kobe
8 Months
9+ People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Lovable, excitable,Good with children got Kobe at 8weeks has grown with the children.Loves to run and chase a ball odor frisbe.
3 years, 9 months ago
Daisy Mae
22 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We love to walk all around our house
My labahoula is super energetic, and loves people!
3 years, 7 months ago
Grace
19 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing with her owners
playing with her toy
playing with other dogs
She’s just amazing She friendly with other dogs and good with cats just curious she A little timid with humans at first but she’ll warm up and the biggest baby in the world!!!!
3 years, 7 months ago
Bella
4 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
We got bella at 8 weeks old, shes very smart, strong willed and easy to train.Shee does herd our cat, still working on,that... She loves to swim,fetch, and is very active
3 years, 5 months ago
Lola
1 Year
7 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She really overprotective and she always with me
3 years, 4 months ago
Maikoh
3 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks
Car rides
Cuddling
Frisbee
Hiking
Napping
Maikoh has been an absolute joy in our lives and frankly is irreplaceable. He is the friendliest guy, and biggest love bug. He loves sleeping on his back with his legs spread and light snoring. He is a big mamas boy and has to be touching me in particular, or one of us whenever he can. Maikoh loves our 7 year old and 4 year old fiercely. If he thinks my husband is being too rough with them while playing and wrestling he’ll bark at my husband until he stops and then wedge himself between my husband and kids while covering the kiddos in kisses. He loves to incorporate himself into their play time and is often seen following my daughter around from game to game. He loves frisbee above anything else, so much as if he hears the back door open and he bolts up from a dead sleep and thunders through the house until he’s outside with his frisbee in mouth. We generally play about 5, 30 minute games a day. He’s actually super skilled at it! He is phenomenal with our 13 year old bichon-schnauzer mix. He lets the older guy be dominant and always lets Rossi have first crack at things and waits for him to finish before grabbing a snack or a drink. He is also really good with our friends dogs and is a generally happy guy. He was a breeze to train—we did basics of potty training—took him around 2 weeks to train, 1 month to crate train—but we didn’t push it— and then we went through a personal training service for the rest. Through them he can do sit, down, leash trained, and can be told to sit and stay in a particular spot and he’ll stay for up to 30 minutes. He was a bit stubborn but liked the work of training. He loves car rides, and isn’t aggressive about food or toys with humans or dogs—we worked on that from day 1 religiously. But also isn’t food driven, is 100% play driven. Up until 1 he had a bit of a chewing problem, still likes napkins a lot, but now doesn’t chew much. Is fanatical about bringing presents to people. If he sees a toy or sock that takes his fancy as a desirable present he’ll pick it up and hold it in his mouth until someone notices it and tells him to drop it. Which he does with a happy look and no human intervention beyond the command. Seriously he’s so smart that training him has been easier than previous dogs. We love him beyond words and as first time labahoula owners have definitely found our breed of choice.
3 years, 3 months ago
Esperanza
1 Year
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug-of-war
Swim
Fetch
She is the funniest dog I have ever owned and very intelligent. She will sometimes watch me and then try to mimic what I do (example: I was moving canned food into a new pantry and after watching several minutes, went and found a ball, brought it to the shelf, nosed it back between jars, and left it there). She also watches tv and will look behind the tv if someone repeatedly walks behind something. We often go to my parents ranch and she loves when we feed cows. Our cows are very friendly so they often stick their heads in the ATV and Esper and the cow will sniff and lick each other.
2 years, 11 months ago
Basil
4 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Run
Walk
Tracking
Play
Brilliant dog - lots of fun - excitable and energetic - but loyal and responsive
2 years, 9 months ago
Johnny Scarp Cash
4 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Car rides
swimming in the lake
tugging on a rope
Fetch
Play keep away
Treat training
Playing at the park
Walking
He is still a puppy, so he bites some. We're still training a lot and getting adjusted, and he's such a sweet dog. He has a loud bark already. Overall, he is so loving, and he is still learning too. He can already sit, stay, and shake my hand. I love my little menace.
2 years, 7 months ago
Hammie
7 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Catch treats
Bath time
Walk
Tracking
Chase
I adopted Hammie at six weeks old from a shelter. He is extremely easy to train, but he needs a strong voice to really get through sometimes. As he has grown in the past six months, his confidence is oftentimes met with defiance, especially around two rowdy children. However, most of his barks are playful and he shows affection by sitting at their door every morning for playtime. His appetite is massive and his excitement to see those he misses is hyperactive. While sometimes too much for guests, most of us just find it endearing. He is incredibly intelligent, knowing a number of commands and tricks. He understands the tonal differences between varying emotions and the proper reaction towards them, but is prone to remaining distracted amidst all of the youthful chaos at home. Hammie is also incredibly mischievous- my son is seven and he acts just like a canine version of him. They like to actively get into things they know they aren't supposed to get into together and wrestle like boys. Always keeping the nails trimmed! Much like a hound is to their hunter, he is incredibly loyal to me- Of all who attempt to command Hammie, his distractions are far fewer when I am present in the room. I'm not prideful, but proud that he adores me as I do him! His nightly routine began when he was a puppy. I would coo him to sleep by holding his muzzle and neck in the palm of my hand. It gave him so much comfort only a day after we brought him home from the shelter that he almost always wanted his head in my hand. But his curiosity grew alongside the children's, and they went to venture outside together one day— now they only seem to come back for meals and game time. :) But due to the high demand at work, I've unfortunately seen my pup develop more aggravated behaviors— growling and barks. His favorite person has been away. This is why I feel it is so important to emphasize- for those with a frantic family lifestyles or busy, elongated occupations- for those considering a Labahoula to understand the amount of time they have to offer once taking this dog into their homes. I'm lucky to have a job that is now slowing down so that I can focus on my pet once more, but these dogs require an adamant, consistent level of attention and training. It takes a great deal of patience, some sacrificed sleep, a bold voice— a leader without aggression, and a lot of genuine love. This breed of dog is easily the most loyal companion I've ever experienced in my life— but he has a stone will and a domineering presence upon his territory. I believe Labahoula's are a breed of dog which could be more susceptible to aggressive behaviors than most family dog breeds if their respected owner is not consistent and present. These dogs could make for excellent herding companions with their high energy levels, territorialism and protectivity, and a modest/regal like dominance. Equally, these are wonderful pets for people who can cater to their playful, curious, active and nurturing souls.
1 year, 11 months ago
Mosa
3 Years
2 People
Studio
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Never a dull moment with Mosa around! He commands a presence and has the worst "FOMO." Incredibly smart, loving, but very protective.
1 year, 6 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - Nutrition
Question

Can I feed my dogs eggs and bananas? Is it healthy for them

Answer
Yes, foods like this as part of a balanced diet (which consists mainly of a complete dog food) are fine. Just be sure the dog isn't refusing their regular food in preference for these human foods. Meat, fish, eggs, most fruits and vegetables are ok to give. Avoid dairy as many dogs are lactose intolerant. Also, do not give grapes, raisins, avocado or garlic/onion as these are toxic.
3 years, 9 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - Behavior
Question

I have a labahoula who has been in my home since the time he was seven weeks old. He is approaching a year and most recently decided he was going to be naughty and try to eat his way outta the house. Recommendations for destructive behavior and kenneling when away from home? I’m worried he will hurt himself in a kennel. He’s had free range, has been destructive before but took it to a whole new level with this damage. Thank you.

Answer
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - New pet
Question

My boyfriend and I had gotten a Lab and Catahoula mix, she is now 4 months old. I have been working with her to make sure that she is not food aggressive towards our 2 small children. Our youngest daughter will just walk past our puppy while eating and she will growl and snap at her not making contact. Well today our oldest daughter was picking up our puppy's water bowl and the puppy bit her arm. She growled then barked then bite her. She has never made contact with either one of our children and we are not sure what to do now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd