Catahoula Leopard Dog Grooming

The Catahoula Leopard Dog has a short, smooth coat that's very easy to care for. The breed sheds a fair amount all year long, so consistent brushing will be needed to reduce the amount of shed hairs--but otherwise, overall Catahoula Leopard Dog grooming is pretty simple.

Brush your Catahoula once or twice per week with a medium bristle brush or a grooming glove. To brush: first wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle. Then starting at the shoulders, go through the coat section by section with the brush or glove, moving in the direction of hair growth.

Baths are only necessary every three months or so--unless, of course, the dog gets especially dirty or stinky and an "emergency bath" is in order. When bathing a Catahoula Leopard Dog, be sure to use canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans has a different pH and can irritate the dog's skin. Also take the time to rinse the shampoo completely from the coat; leftover soap residue will cause skin irritation as well.

And these dogs' coats are too short to sport any hairstyles other than their natural ones--so no haircuts are required. (See the Styling & Haircuts section below to learn why shaving a Catahoula's coat is not a good idea.)

In addition to its coat, your Catahoula will need maintenance in other areas. Brush the dog's teeth 2-3 times per week using a regular toothbrush--but use canine toothpaste, as the human kind makes dogs sick if they swallow it. Trim the nails periodically with standard clippers. And clean the dog's ears once per month with canine ear cleaning solution.

Though owners can easily learn all aspects of Catahoula Leopard Dog grooming themselves, it's a good idea to take the dog to a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Catahoula Leopard Dog at home.

These dogs have short, smooth coats, so Catahoula Leopard Dog haircuts aren't necessary. Even so, some owners might think shaving a Catahoula Leopard Dog will keep the dog cool on hot days, and will reduce shedding.

As any groomer will tell you, shaving these dogs is not recommended. A Catahoula's coat protects the dog's skin from the hot sun--so a shaved Catahoula Leopard Dog will be much more susceptible to heatstroke and sunburn. The dog will also get cold very easily in freezing temps.

Neither will shaving the dog minimize shedding. Unless the Catahoula's coat is shaved bald--which is never a good idea!--some hair remains and the coat will still shed. The only difference is that the shed hairs will be shorter.

So to anyone considering shaving their Catahoula Leopard Dog's coat: put those clippers away!