The American Leopard Hound is a sociable dog with a lot of energy. Adding one to your family would be an excellent idea if you are looking for a dog who loves his people. This breed of dog has lots of love and affection to offer. If you have children, your new pet will be very protective as well.
The breed came from Mexico and was brought to America by Spanish conquistadors. The breed is also called American Leopard, Leopard Cur, and American Leopard Cur. They are hunting dogs who have a lot of energy. They form powerful bonds with people and will be a great protector.
Everything you need to know about the American Leopard Hound:
1. Size of Dog
The American Leopard Hound measures anywhere from 21-27 inches and weighs in at 45-70 pounds.
2. Exercise Requirements
The American Leopard Hound is a high energy dog who needs lots of time and space to run. He is best suited for a home with a large back yard or a farm or acreage. He likes to run on his own or play with his human companions.
Because this dog is a working breed, he does need at least an hour a day to run and play.
3. Feeding your American Leopard Hound
The American Leopard Hound is not a fussy eater. He will do well with either a wet or dry high-quality food. He does need quality food to ensure he has the calories to burn during his playtime.
Make sure you get food that will help him to maintain a healthy weight.
4. Treats
All dogs love the occasional treat, and the American Leopard Hound is no exception. Soft, chewy treats are great for training. It is a good idea to find some treats made with real meat. Ideally, there would also be no artificial colors or flavors. When you use treats for training, it is also good to look for something low in calories since you may go through a few of them in one session.
You can also get treats that will help with the oral care of your dog. Veterinaries recommend Greenies to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and his breath fresh.
Your American Leopard Hound will also do well with interactive treat dispensers. It will keep his mind and body active while he tries to get his treats.
5. Temperament
The American Leopard Hound is very affectionate with family members and people who are a regular part of his life. Because he is a little bit protective, he may not be as friendly with strangers. As long as your dog is well socialized, he should not create a problem unless he senses danger.
Because this breed is so loving, he is very well behaved if appropriately trained. He is a pleaser and will aim to do as you ask of him. The American Leopard Hound is intelligent, and he has strong tracking abilities.
6. Your American Leopard Hound with other Pets
Your American Leopard Hound is friendly with other dogs. He will also be friendly with other pets if properly trained. It is essential to correct inappropriate behavior because this breed does have a strong prey drive. He will need to be taught that he can’t chase other pets.
7. Training your American Leopard Hound
The American Leopard Hound is extremely intelligent, but he also has an independent streak in him. As the owner, you must establish yourself as the pack leader. If you are not the leader, he may think that he is. Allowing him to be dominant can cause behavioral issues down the road.
This breed of dog will catch onto commands easily, especially if they start their training as puppies. This is a time when their brains are most capable of learning.
Since American Leopard Hounds are tracking dogs with very sensitive sniffers, make sure that training takes place in a secure, enclosed area. He will have a habit of following his nose and may sneak away to track if given the opportunity.
Your dog should be leash trained early on. Since he tends to follow his nose, he may also wander if you walk him off-leash. Keep him on a leash to ensure his safety.
8. Grooming
Fortunately, this breed is pretty low maintenance in terms of grooming. His coat has a double layer and only needs occasional brushing. He will shed seasonally, so during this time, a weekly brushing would be a good idea to keep the hair around the house at a minimum.
Start the grooming by wiping him down with a damp cloth, or you can brush him with a brush with natural bristles. He will only need a bath if he gets extremely dirty.
9. Socializing your American Leopard Hound
This is a bit of a reserved breed, so you should start socializing him early. Make sure he is introduced to people and other dogs and knows how to behave.
In a Nutshell
If you want a good family dog and you can provide him with ample space to run off some energy, this would be a great breed! You need to have the energy and patience to do some training through the puppy stages, but he will want to please you and is a quick learner. He is affectionate, friendly, and can be taught to be tolerant of strangers. He bonds strongly with his family and particularly loves children. This friend will stick around for 12-15 years and become a faithful member of your family.
The American Leopard Hound is a beautiful dog. His nose can be black, brown, or liver depending on the color of his coat. He has round, wide-set eyes that may be a shade of yellow or brown. It is also possible to have blue eyes. Another bonus to this breed is that health problems are minimal. There are no significant concerns when it comes to disease, and the breed has overall good health.
So if you have time to train, energy to exercise him lots, and a place where he can roam and play safely, this breed could be your new best friend.
