Editing Catahoula Leopard Dog (section)

==Work==

The Catahoula was initially used for [[hunting]]. Native Americans tended to use the dog for hunting large game. European settlers used the dog for hunting and herding livestock. The first white settlers in Louisiana are believed to have used the dog to hunt feral pigs in the swamps of Louisiana.<ref name= KMR206>{{cite book |last1=Mehus-Roe |first1=K. |title=The Original Dog Bible |url=https://archive.org/details/originaldogbible00mehu |url-access=registration |date=2005 |publisher=BowTie Press |location=Irvine, California |pages=[https://archive.org/details/originaldogbible00mehu/page/206 206]|isbn=9781931993340 }}</ref>

Catahoulas are used as [[bay dog]]s, [[Treeing|tree dogs]], and for hunting a variety of wild game, including [[small game]], such as [[raccoon]]s and [[squirrel]]s, as well as big game, such as [[deer]], [[Cougar|mountain lions]] and [[bear]].<ref name="Outdoor Life 2019">{{cite web | title=The Best Hunting Dogs for Retrieving, Pointing, Flushing or Scent | website=Outdoor Life | date=2019-10-30 | url=https://www.outdoorlife.com/best-sporting-dog-breeds/ | access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>{{better source needed |reason=website, 2 general journalists|date=May 2020}}  They are also used for [[Tracking (hunting)|scent trailing]] game and as a [[search and rescue dog]].<ref name="EALC">{{cite web | title=Working dog Catahoula | website=EALC | url=http://www.ealc.info/en/working-dog-catahoula/ | access-date=2019-11-20 | archive-date=2015-02-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204132414/http://www.ealc.info/en/working-dog-catahoula/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="akcstandard"/><ref name= "ukcstandard" />

Catahoulas have a natural herding instinct and a unique way of working a herd. The AKC describes it as creating a “canine fence” around the herd which allows the dog's master to work the herd within that circle.<ref name="akcstandard"/> Herding ability and a natural working instinct are a top priority to Catahoula breeders, over and above a dog's appearance.<ref name="akcstandard"/><ref name="ukcstandard" /> Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Catahoulas exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in [[Cattle|cow]]/hog dog trials.<ref name="Hartnagle-Taylor and Ty Taylor">{{cite book|first1 = Jeanne Joy | last1 = Hartnagle-Taylor | first2 = Ty | last2 = Taylor |year = 2010|title=Stockdog Savvy|publisher=Alpine Publications|isbn=978-1-57779-106-5}}</ref>