10 Best Dog Food for Catahoula Leopard Dogs in 2020

There aren’t many dogs out there as striking as the Catahoula Leopard Dog. 

Their dappled coats and athletic physiques are distinctive and eye-catching and they’re high-energy, spirited pups. 

The Leopard Dog, also known as the Catahoula Cur, is unique to the United States and was bred in the state of Louisiana as working dogs in a variety of disciplines. 

Interesting fact: the word “Catahoula” comes from a Chocktaw word meaning “sacred lake”. 

If you want your Cur to have the happiest, fittest life they can, you should be feeding them the best dog food for Catahoula Leopard Dogs. 

Best Dog Food for Catahoula

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Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation

Criteria 1 – Ingredient Quality

Although the Catahoula Leopard Dog doesn’t tend to suffer from food allergies or sensitivities, the quality of the ingredients in dog foods is still of huge importance. 

These pups are truly working dogs, and aren’t really happy unless they get to expend their energy on a daily basis. Giving them a sub-par dog food might give them the energy they need, but in the long-term, it won’t benefit them. 

You want to choose a dog food that has a premium quality animal protein as the first ingredient, great quality slow-burning carbs (grains are okay too, as long as they’re gluten-free, but starchy veggies are preferred), and natural preservatives. 

Criteria 2 – High Fat Count

Fat is the component of dog food that gives your pooch the energy they need for their day. Carbs provide sustained, long-term energy but fat is the first, most quickly accessed energy source that’s so important for active dogs such as these. 

A fat count of around 20% is super for a Catahoula Leopard Dog, although anything with 15% or more should be adequate. If your fluff is very energetic, he may need a couple of high-fat treats in between meals to see him through. 

We’ve made sure the dog food we’ve reviewed contain high-quality fat sources that are identifiable and easy to digest. 

Criteria 3 – Omega Fatty Acids

While the crude fat count in dog foods is what your pup uses as quick energy, Omega fatty acids do something a little different. Your pup’s body will use these to nourish their skin and coat, so they’re also an essential part of your dog’s diet. 

We’ve reviewed foods that contain great levels of Omega fatty acids. Your Catahoula Leopard Dog’s coat is one of his most striking features, and making sure he has a supply of high-grade Omega fatty acids in his diet will keep that coat shiny, soft, and healthy. 

Criteria 4 – Joint Supplements

Catahoulas are some of the healthiest, hardiest dogs around, but the one thing they are prone to are hip, knee, and elbow dysplasia. 

The best dog food for Catahoula Leopard Dogs should contain supplements that fortify their joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin are fantastic for this purpose and should be on every dog food label on this list. 

If the food you choose happens to have no glucosamine in it, it’s not the biggest deal—you can find separate glucosamine supplements just about anywhere. 

Whichever option you select, these supplements are essential for your dog’s health, and we’ve checked out the glucosamine and chondroitin levels of each food on this list. 

Criteria 5 – Affordability

Part of having a happy dog is being a happy dog parent! Your pup picks up on your stress levels far more easily than you realize, and this criterion is meant to help alleviate the stress of the pet parent just a little. 

There’s something for every budget on this list, and we’ve made sure that all options are of the highest quality, no matter their price. 

Your dog deserves ta premium quality food, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of your financial security. Check out our Best Value For Money option to find the best for less, but if you’re cool to pay a little more, every choice here is going to be a fantastic option for your pooch.

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Questions & Answers

These beautiful guys and girls are some of the healthiest dogs around. They don’t often struggle with allergies or food intolerances, and they’re tough hardy dogs. 

One of the health issues they do deal with, due to their very active lifestyles, is joint dislocation. Hip dysplasia, knees dislocating, and elbows popping out of place can happen when their owner is bouncy and busy, so that’s something you will need to watch out for, as a Catahoula owner. It can be helped by the addition of joint supplements in their diet, though. 

Deafness is another common health condition in Catahoula Curs. It’s an inherited condition, thought to be caused by something called the Merle gene, which also causes those beautiful blue eyes some pups have. 

Hearing loss often sets in within a few weeks of birth, but it can sometimes pop up later in life too. If your pooch suddenly starts ignoring you, it’s worth taking him to get a checkup! 

Lastly, a sneaky culprit in these dappled pups is bloat. This can be a deadly condition, so owners need to take precautions where you can to ensure your dog doesn’t encounter it at all. 

These dogs were bred to do hard work in many disciplines, and have been used as herding dogs, watchdogs, and guard dogs. They’re active, alert, and ready to go at any moment, and as such, need a superior-quality dog food to help them keep up. 

The optimum dog food for Catahoulas should contain all-natural, wholesome ingredients. A named animal protein should be the first ingredient on the list, followed by slow-burning carbohydrates like potatoes, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin. 

Other veggies and fruits are awesome additions and will add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Raw food is a great diet option.

You’ll want to see high levels of Omega fatty acids and a dose of glucosamine and chondroitin to keep your dog’s joints stable and supported. 

It’s easiest to feed your Leopard Dog according to the guidelines on the back of the dog food packaging. You’ll be able to work out how much feed them according to how much they weigh. 

You should keep in mind, though, that these are just guidelines. If you feed your dog these numbers for a couple of weeks and they’re starting to look scrawny and seem to be lacking in energy, start feeding them a bit more. 

If they’re starting to look a little pudgy, you’ll want to decrease the amount of food they’re getting. 

The Catahoula Leopard Dog does well with two meals a day, morning and evening. 

The Catahoula Leopard Dog doesn’t seem to have health issues with any particular ingredients, although this does vary from dog to dog. 

You should take note of how your dog reacts to their food. If they are reluctant to eat, there may be an ingredient that doesn’t agree with them. 

Common food allergens include chicken, beef, lamb, grains, and eggs. Experiment a little until you find something your dog enjoys scoffing! 

Of course, artificial ingredients and chemicals, meat by-products, and ingredients that are vaguely named should always be avoided. Also, have a look at this comprehensive list to make sure you aren’t accidentally feeding your dog something toxic if he gets a human snack every now and then! 

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is super energetic! They need a good bit of exercise every day, and they’ll be far happier getting that energy out in a constructive way. 

Taking your Leopard Dog for a daily run is a good start. It’s advisable to have more than one dog because Curs are super sociable and will be miserable (and possibly destructive) if left alone all day. 

These guys are also amazing swimmers, so playing some swimming games with him will help get rid of that energy and keep him cool at the same time. 

If you’re an avid outdoors person, taking your dog along on hikes and outings will make him the happiest Leopard Dog around! 

It’s also a great idea to take your Curto obedience training. They’re highly intelligent and this combined with their restlessness can be a recipe for disaster unless your dog is well-trained. 

Training will be great physical and mental stimulation and help him or her to become well-socialized as well!