American Leopard Hound

The American Leopard Hound is a treeing cur from the American south, often mottled in the merle pattern that gives it the name.

History

It descends from dogs brought to North America by Spanish settlers and developed by American hunters into a treeing dog for raccoon, bear and big cats. It is one of the older cur types in the country and was bred for the work rather than for the registry.

Temperament

The breed is known for being intelligent, eager and companionable, friendly with its own household and businesslike in the field, with a strong instinct to tree and to stay put once it has.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and hunting or equivalent work. It trains well and enjoys it. The short coat is easy to keep.

Health

Generally sound; as in any merle-patterned breed, breeding two merles together carries the well-known risk of deafness and eye defects. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.