Tell me about Houla-dogs

[SpaceMutt]

So for those of you following my saga, I have been looking around my new area (DC metro) for possible rescue dogs to add. I won't get another dog unless it's the perfect fit, and I've passed on a lot of great dogs for one reason or another. I've sort of shelved breeders for the time being, I've more been looking at adolescents 7 months to a year and a half.

I'm meeting a dog next Saturday - an eight month old Catahoula - that I find so physically gorgeous I'm afraid I'll take her home even if she's a monster temperamentally. In the preemptive effort to remind myself to be logical, I'm coming here to ask for Houla experience, because I have a grand total of none.

My main questions are:

Rowdy dog-on-dog play - are they down for it? Frequency of DA?

Are they likely to still destroy my life and my house out of boredom, if frequent hikes and park trips are what they get exercise wise, and not an actual farm related job?

Are they talkers, barkers, screamers, snorters, or singers? (Some of these are fine, others...**** do I hate lots of barking!)

And anything else you want to add about any Houla you've met or owned.

And to recap on what I like in a dog: quirky/oddball/clownish, bouncy, goofy, stubborn, loves to play with other dogs, physical, Velcro in a sense - think Doberman, not herder (too much biddability and handler focus is off to me, but I love dogs who lean on you). Don't have kids now but hopefully in future will.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

We have two regulars at work. Both females. One is pretty nice and low maintenance. Not a big player, loves to be around people.

The other is a nice player when she isn't scrounging for leftover food or being a snarky out of control brat.

We were thinking about them for a while, but I can't do it. Not after that one.

So helpful.

 

[SpaceMutt]

Thanks for the input ! If someone with a young ACD says they couldn't do it...

In all seriousness, I could handle a lot of brattiness potentially. It's tough to explain, it has to be a certain type of brattiness - snarking or aloofness towards other dogs would be much more problematic to me than a dog who is generally incorrigible with people, I like the sort of dog who causes mayhem (sorry world, that's why my dog is the way he is probably...) But the dog needs to be stable on top of that in a larger sense, not likely to bite unnecessarily

Basically I want to stand back and watch my dog and this undecided new dog destroy my condo in a dervish of fun, but I can't have them fighting.

 

[crazedACD]

I knew plenty of Catahoulas in Florida. Based on my own observations, there seemed to be one "type" of Houla that was bigger boned, and they were very fun but down-to-earth dogs. Mostly I knew these dogs in boarding, don't know where they came from, they were a little loud but not too rowdy or over the top. Then there seemed to be another type, maybe true Catahoulas, that were finer boned and were much more energetic. I would describe them as...creative? Tree climbing, fence hopping, counter standing, escape artists. A little more smart than biddable, but pretty agreeable with people and dogs.

 

[SpaceMutt]

I knew plenty of Catahoulas in Florida. Based on my own observations, there seemed to be one "type" of Houla that was bigger boned, and they were very fun but down-to-earth dogs. Mostly I knew these dogs in boarding, don't know where they came from, they were a little loud but not too rowdy or over the top. Then there seemed to be another type, maybe true Catahoulas, that were finer boned and were much more energetic. I would describe them as...creative? Tree climbing, fence hopping, counter standing, escape artists. A little more smart than biddable, but pretty agreeable with people and dogs.

That's interesting about the two types, and it's funny you say that because in one of the pics from the rescue, the dog in question is standing next to what is clearly another Houla, but marked quite differently (much more white), and much more petite in build. She looks like what I think of when I think of a Houla, the other looks like a rangey hound in a Merle coat if that makes any sense (wish I could post the pic but my laptop net is still being cantankerous).

Either way, those types sound doable

 

[Elrohwen]

I train with a woman who owns two houlas - both well bred with many titles to their names. I've met another through her. They are gorgeous dogs. The male is not dog friendly, but the female is much more easy going. Her male will growl at Watson from 50ft away, though he is so well trained that he can stand in a conformation ring right next to him without an issue. He's just not a dog for a beginner owner.

They are fairly serious dogs. Her male has done Sch and I have no doubt he would be formidable if someone came after her. I know she has worked hard to tone down his defensive drive and willingness to take on people he thinks are a threat. Their personalities remind me very much of some of the working breeds, like rotts - not hyper and crazy, not happy and bouncy, but with a calm dignified manner, and tons of drive when they need it. They are very smart. I have seen her male try to outsmart well known cues, just because he can. In nosework, for example, he spent one class smashing every box, just to see what she would do. This was after more than a year of nosework training, so he knew the game, he just had to see if alerting to every box would work better than actually finding the odor. When he realized it wasn't working, he went right back to task.

They are very cool dogs. Some might require a more advanced owner, but some not, though all seem to be high energy and demanding of work in their way.

I can't say I've ever heard her dogs make any noise, so I can't say much about that.

IME, they are not particularly fun loving, goofy, bouncy, happy dogs at all - quite the opposite actually. Not that they don't have a sense of humor or are serious all the time, but compared to a dog like mine, or a golden or an aussie, no, they aren't bouncy happy dogs. It might be dependent on dog - the third houla I've met was definitely funny and quirky, but still not really what I think of as a happy bouncy dog either.

 

[SpaceMutt]

Hmm, thanks for the input Elrohwen. She looks like a happy soul in the pics (tail going a mile a minute, derpy expression) but she's also a young dog. I thought Astro would be a goofball forever, but recently he's started to realize he's a Shar Pei and is getting protective enough for me to think about where I want the line to lie (I don't mind him being protective of the condo windows at night when I'm asleep, but I do mind him growling at any tall man who walks by).

 

[Elrohwen]

Hmm, thanks for the input Elrohwen. She looks like a happy soul in the pics (tail going a mile a minute, derpy expression) but she's also a young dog. I thought Astro would be a goofball forever, but recently he's started to realize he's a Shar Pei and is getting protective enough for me to think about where I want the line to lie (I don't mind him being protective of the condo windows at night when I'm asleep, but I do mind him growling at any tall man who walks by).

Yeah, I would go by individual dog. I'm sure there are some who are goofy and some who are serious. As a breed I think they definitely lean dignified, but that doesn't mean they all are. They also definitely have a protective streak in the breed, so that's something to consider. On paper I don't think the breed exactly fits your requirements, but the individual dog might be perfect. And the ones I have met are just awesome awesome dogs on many levels.

 

[Elrohwen]

If you're interested in some houla eye candy, this is the breeder's website for the male I know, Buck:
http://www.abneycatahoulas.com/our_champions.php

And here is the breeder for her female, Hope:
http://www.tumblingrun-catahoulas.com/

 

[amberdyan]

It seems like you're going to take the "based on the individual dog" advice, but I just wanted to second (third? fourth?) it. There's a houla at the dog daycare Hugo goes to and he is SO fun. I wouldn't say he's aussie-level goofy, but it's hilarious to watch him play with Hugo. They both bounce and run and tumble like complete nut heads and he's 2. I know his parent takes him to doggie daycare once or twice a week and then goes hiking at the off leash park every once and awhile and he is great about not being destructive in the house. She hasn't mentioned before that he's pretty protective of her, though.

 

[Taqroy]

My parents have a rescue houla. I like her, but I wouldn't own her. She is an escape artist, has separation anxiety, runs away, listens when she wants to, and she only gets along with one dog at a time.

She can scale their six foot privacy fence, get out of a zip tied wire crate, and climb out of an eight foot chain link kennel. She is pissy about other dogs following the rules - she hates anyone playing with my parents' other dog and will attack them if they don't stop.

That said - she is a GORGEOUS dog. And she's super sweet when she's by herself. She's also extremely good with children (admittedly I have a respectful child but I know my parents have other people's kids over that aren't as respectful). She knows basic commands and could probably learn more if my parents were so inclined. She's a pretty serious and calm dog but can be a little goofy.

Pics!
BV4.26.2014-4270 by taqroy, on Flickr

DogsBV-1299 by taqroy, on Flickr

IMG_7872 by taqroy, on Flickr

 

[LostAndConfused]

My parents dog is a 'houla or 'houla mix. She was an owner surrender to the local dog pound and her previous owners said she was a pure catahoula from a working cattle farm in NW Ohio, but who knows. She isn't anything like what most people think of when they think of one. Now, my mom was going from a Blue Lacy, but in his final year he was a pretty mellow dude. Netti (the catahoula) is the laziest dog you will ever meet. She is around 3 or 4 years old and believes in eating & sleeping. She loves my parents & the veterinarian that lives with them. She has minimal desire to play when Hudson or my sister's dog, but she is getting better. She is very vocal when she plays and she sounds like she is going to eat the other dog. I would not be surprised if she was very heavily corrected for this behavior. She is super sweet, loves people, & is pretty darn smart, but basically the opposite of every catahoula breed description you would ever meet

 

[SpaceMutt]

Dang these guys are all over the place! Such different answers. Makes sense for a multi-purpose farm dog.

I am eager to meet her. Seems like she could be the right fit, she could be laughably wrong, or somewhere in between, depending on which breed traits she has and which she lacks.

 

[houlahoops]

Hey we have some of those! We used to have lots of them!

Our curs are/were almost exclusively hunting dogs, although several of them made the transition to house pet by virtue of being particularly awesome. Since we draw from working lines we get a fair number of the crazy screaming go-go-go blue dogs that a lot of people tend to associate with Catahoulas in general.

That said, I find them to be generally serious dogs, gritty, and fairly eager to please. High prey drive for the most part, but DA is something that occurs outside of our circle fairly often (we hunt with a pack, so being DA-free is imperative). Bite inhibition was a problem with our one rescue 'houla (pure bred but a cull), and it took a fair bit of especially assertive training to get him under control. Now, at 9, he is sweeter than pie but has killed another dog that got into our yard and a couple of cats.

Have fun and let us know what this girl is like!!

 

[Taqroy]

Dang these guys are all over the place! Such different answers. Makes sense for a multi-purpose farm dog.

I am eager to meet her. Seems like she could be the right fit, she could be laughably wrong, or somewhere in between, depending on which breed traits she has and which she lacks.

Just be honest with yourself on what you can and can't deal with (it sounds like you're doing that but it bears repeating ). My parents got suckered into taking Shadow and, while they do like her, I think they regret getting her. I know when she was jumping their fence constantly my mom looked into catahoula rescues. It was/is a very big problem for them.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Just be honest with yourself on what you can and can't deal with (it sounds like you're doing that but it bears repeating ). My parents got suckered into taking Shadow and, while they do like her, I think they regret getting her. I know when she was jumping their fence constantly my mom looked into catahoula rescues. It was/is a very big problem for them.

This. Our lifestyle right now did not accommodate what a houla would need AT ALL.

I read on http://www.tumblingrun-catahoulas.com/ that after they penned up the hogs they would jump the fence out of the area they corralled them into. No wonder they are masters of the climbing.

 

[Taqroy]

I read on http://www.tumblingrun-catahoulas.com/ that after they penned up the hogs they would jump the fence out of the area they corralled them into. No wonder they are masters of the climbing.

Omg that pic with the three houlas baying at the cow... :rofl1: I sent that site to my parents, I bet they'll get a kick out of it. We always joke about how you could fit a whole nother Shadow in her skin with her but it's less funny when you know she'd NEED all that extra skin to keep a hog from tusking her.

I hope Jess (with Boone the handsome!) sees this thread.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Omg that pic with the three houlas baying at the cow... :rofl1: I sent that site to my parents, I bet they'll get a kick out of it. We always joke about how you could fit a whole nother Shadow in her skin with her but it's less funny when you know she'd NEED all that extra skin to keep a hog from tusking her.

I hope Jess (with Boone the handsome!) sees this thread.

I found it pretty interesting! Learned some things I didn't know previously, that's for sure!

I hope Jess chimes in as well. Boone is such a neat boy.

 

[SpaceMutt]

I'm starting to feel...I don't know, nervous? The dog is being brought from out of state, I didn't realize this but it makes sense (the rescue helps military families place dogs). I'll be meeting her at an adoption event and they said they like to bring only dogs that have potential adopters lined up because of limited transport space, so now I'm starting to worry that I'll feel guilty if I don't mesh with her in person. They didn't say I HAVE to take her, it's me laying this preemptive guilt trip on myself.

They did answer a few more questions I had on her as well, apparently she is relatively quiet (she alarm barks, which I'm fine with and expect in protective breeds - my dog sounds like a demon when someone is at the door! - but otherwise she's a quiet gal). And she is apparently great with kids.

I guess I'm just freaking myself out going on other forums and seeing how many "my Houla killed another dog" and "my Houla is insanely leash reactive" posts there are.

 

[TuffStuff]

I hope Jess (with Boone the handsome!) sees this thread.

I hope Jess chimes in as well. Boone is such a neat boy.

Ask and ye shall receive!

My main questions are:

Rowdy dog-on-dog play - are they down for it? Frequency of DA?

Are they likely to still destroy my life and my house out of boredom, if frequent hikes and park trips are what they get exercise wise, and not an actual farm related job?

Are they talkers, barkers, screamers, snorters, or singers? (Some of these are fine, others...**** do I hate lots of barking!)

And anything else you want to add about any Houla you've met or owned.

And to recap on what I like in a dog: quirky/oddball/clownish, bouncy, goofy, stubborn, loves to play with other dogs, physical, Velcro in a sense - think Doberman, not herder (too much biddability and handler focus is off to me, but I love dogs who lean on you). Don't have kids now but hopefully in future will.

I'll start with DA since that seems to be pretty important to you. DA is pretty common in the breed. And the main problem is that these dogs are pretty darn serious overall. Boone, for instance... He can be a total clown, just ask Linds. Complete goofball. And I see that side of him all the time. But in a heartbeat, he is back to being completely serious. And if a dog tries to start something with him, he will finish it. Period. With my other two, he is great and handles roughhousing like a champ with Raja and takes a gentle approach with Tempie, which she loves. BUT I have to be extremely careful with introductions to other dogs. And I never stop monitoring, even with dogs he's known long-term, when those dogs are outside of the family. Because the minute that switch is flipped, he's seeing red. And he does not forgive. A cat scratched me once. I could never trust Boone around him again. Properly introduced and monitored, he is fine with other dogs. But I don't do that very much because, honestly, it's just not worth the risk. When he's working, he is right next to other dogs and completely ignores them. But that doesn't sound like what you want. We had six 'houlas on my SAR team at one time, and I've worked with more. I've seen mostly the same thing with all of them. Even if you can avoid DA, you still have to be careful. Because they are serious and they are powerful. And it wouldn't be fair to the other dog for you to not be prepared. I'm stressing this because, like Taq said, you need to decide what you can and can't live with. And I don't want you to feel pressured into taking this dog only to have this pop up down the road when it sounds like a dealbreaker for you.

Now, on to the rest of the questions!

As far as an off switch, this is partly a case-by-case basis and partly how much effort you will put into training one. They are not couch potatoes. They need a lot of physical and mental exercise. That being said, no, you don't have to be working them on a farm for you and them to be happy. But I would recommend doing a lot of training, a lot of shaping behaviors, to save your house and your sanity. They are, however, extremely agile and clever and prone to climbing things like fences or trees. Be advised. lol I love it and harnessed it to use for my entertainment and the entertainment of others, among all the more practical reasons. Here, for example...

Generally, they are not quiet dogs. They're hounds. Again, this is case-by-case to some extent. I LOATHE barking. I really do. And I can live with Boone after a great deal of training. But he does still sound the alarm if he thinks the situation requires it like someone coming too close to the house or, like the middle of the night last night, some unknown monster that only he can sense......but he totally saved us from it. They do tend to talk in general, too. Kind of like a husky but more grunts and groans if that makes sense? I would say about 3/4 of the other 'houlas I've dealt with are pretty vocal. But one handler has a female that is super, super quiet and not due to any effort on the handler's part.

As far as the other things you're looking for, they are stubborn and more hound than herder. Definitely quirky and can be clownish. But they're not typically velcro dogs. Boone is a momma's boy and definitely down to snuggle. But, unless there's something wrong, he's not clingy when out and about. He's more likely to roam and keep me in sight than he is to keep close and lean on me. There is a very clingy male that I've worked with, but most tend to be more like Boone in my experience.

Take all this with a grain of salt, especially since most of the 'houlas I've worked with have been from the same breeder or lines. Just giving you my experience.