Identification of American Leopard Hound
1. It comes in a leopard or spotted pattern and may be red, blue, merle, brindle, black or another color, with white making up less than a third of the coat. The American Leopard Hound has a dense, short coat, medium-length drop ears and may have yellow, brown, or blue eyes.
2. If variety is the spice of life, the American leopard hound sure likes it hot! The breed typically ranges from 45–70 pounds, but it's not uncommon to find leopard hounds who are smaller or larger. Their low-maintenance double coat feels a little rough on the outside with a fine, wooly undercoat, and it comes in nine official colors, ranging from yellow to red to black.
3. The American leopard hound temperament is one of the things her fans love most about her. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find another treeing dog more eager to please her owners.
4. The American leopard hound is no city slicker. She needs daily exercise (and plenty of it!) to burn off her energy, so her ideal environment is a rural home with a lot of land or a large, securely fenced yard where she can run and play—especially if she's not being worked as a hunter. Homes with shared walls or ceilings can be a problem. "They're going to be loud; they're going to be talkers," Fratt says. As a hound, the leopard has a musical voice, and she's not afraid to use it!
5. Aside from her higher-than-average exercise needs, the American leopard hound is fairly low maintenance. She's not a heavy shedder and, despite her double coat, grooming is pretty easy. Brush her weekly, bathe her when she manages to get herself extra dirty or smelly, and trim her fast-growing nails regularly—if you hear them clicking on the floor when she walks, it's time for a pedicure. Regular teeth brushing is also important for her health.
6. With a lifespan of 12–15 years, the American leopard hound is an overall healthy breed, Weber says. But, as with all dogs, there are certain conditions pup parents need to stay vigilant for.
7. The answer is unclear, but experts do agree that leopards became established in eastern North Carolina by the early 18th century. From there, the hounds bounded west to Tennessee, Kentucky, and eventually into Texas and Oklahoma, where they were recognized as the excellent treeing dogs they were bred to be.
8. Although the exact history and origin of the American Leopard Hound is unknown, there is no doubt about their significance in American history. The early settlers of America were a farming people and would often keep hundreds of cows, pigs and chickens on their settlements. It was quite common for the settlers to build a wooden fence around their homes and to let their animals roam freely around the perimeter of this fence. It is believed that the Leopard Hound was charged with rounding up this livestock and herding back any that escaped.
9. American Leopard Hounds are an intelligent breed of dog and are naturally eager to please their masters. This makes them a pleasure to train. Trainers of this breed often use positive reinforcement based training methods. The Leopard Hound however does have an independent streak and it is important that its handlers provide the dog with loving but firm leadership consistently.
10. A highly intelligent breed of dog, American Leopard Hounds also have extremely strong tracking abilities. They are often able to track prey for miles upon miles. They are also reliable hunters that will never attack their prey and will manage to corner it until their masters are ready to make the kill.
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