Article: A Cat Called Sky Dawg

by Tonja Osborn

9 years ago, I was searching for a puppy, for a breed that I had never owned, or knew anyone else in my area that I had helped train; that would be difficult in attitude. Difficult/stubborn towards humans, dogs, small critters, education, in public, with other naughty dogs, etc. I studied breeds for months, reading all I could. Talked endlessly on the phone to dozens of breeders representing purebred AKC dogs, and mix breed dogs (not recognized by AKC) breeds.

I heard that Catahoulas were the up and coming "pit bull" dog in the U.S. Even semi truck drivers had stories about horrible incidents involving Catahoulas in the southern states. Running in packs, killing anything they wanted: horses, cattle, small critters, etc. Even a lady in her own horse stable, with her small poodle, was attacked; right there on her own property! The poodle was torn to shreds by a pack of Catahoulas. The lady required hundreds of stitches. She probably shouldn't have tried to save her poodle. Her heart told her to, so she followed her heart.

8 years ago I found Vicki. Seemed like a Breeder who was well informed, answered my questions, visited with me plenty about what the breed could be. And, visited with me about what I wanted a Catahoula "to be". When Vicki's next litter was 7 weeks old, she brought them to my home, put them in an exercise pen in my front yard, and helped me test the pups. Seemed like normal pups to me. Boy! Was I wrong. Each time I took a super confident pup out of the pen, tested for several things, and put that confident pup back in the pen, the other pups attacked it. Yes, I used the word “attacked”. The litter, in no uncertain terms, treated that pup like it was a new pup they needed to put in it's place immediately. There's a pecking order here, and that pup was put at the bottom of the pecking. There was no blood drawn, but it was definitely not what you see when you put a lab, collie, beagle, golden puppy, etc. back into the litter.

When Vicki couldn't hear, my husband say "NO WAY, you can't have one of those". My friend said if I got one of these pups she would never travel with me to dog shows again. I did pick a pup, a blue male. Vicki loaded up the rest and drove back to her home.

I treat all dogs/pups the same, with an open mind - if it has 4 legs, a tail and barks, it's a dog. Sky was raised the same as my Borzoi, GSD, Dalmatian, Ibizan, etc. Obedience with lots of praise, and socialization with expectations of respect for humans and all animals alike. Lots of yes, never a no, and yes I did correct him. Life is full of consequences, whether it's the leash, collar, my disappointed tone of voice, not getting a "good boy", etc. And yes, sometimes it is a much louder voice, with a tone of "who is leader here!", and a correction that is just enough for the dog to change it’s mind, and change the unwanted behavior.

Sky was shown in Confirmation, and won. The Judges said "he is exactly what a good Catahoula should be". At the dog shows, Sky did not mark my hotel room (where he smelled other dogs), the dog show trash cans where other Cataloulas had marked, my leg, the Judges table (where I saw other Catahoulas mark), etc. Sky did not growl at other Catahoulas when they growled at him as we passed by. He did not posture as males postured at him while we were all in the ring together. He was raised just like any other dog - manners for all other living beings, and respect for the environment, whether it was in my home, hotel, or at a dog show watching other Catahoulas exhibit unacceptable behavior.

Sky Dawg is now 8 years old. He is expected to play with strangers’ pups nicely while they are boarded here, no matter how obnoxious the pup is. He goes into the homes of my clients who have dog aggressive dogs, and is expected to sit stay or drop stay about 20 steps away. I work on the clients' dog's aggression. Once that dog is in a better state of mind, I ask Sky to "come forward, lie down", he will approach the aggressive dog 2 or 3 more steps, and "lie down". I work with the aggressive dog till a calmer stay of mind is achieved. Then, again, Sky moves up 2 to 3 steps and will "lie down". It isn't his job to react, he just has to trust his mama, do as he is told, and wag that tail. He sets an example for the dog aggressive dog. And, shows the client how to work through these issues.

I have a GSD trained, and certified successful, for protection bite work. I wanted to retire my GSD, and work a Catahoula in bite work. Guess what? Sky will not bite. Anyone. Ever. He will retrieve anything I point at, so it isn't a mouth, or teeth, issue. It's an attitude issue. He was raised to be a great pet, and, then a great demo dog, and then a great Catahoula. He was raised with a firm loving hand (not an E collar, or a pronge collar) to respect all living things.

Sky currently lives with my intact Borzoi, my intact Ibizan, an Alpha GSD, and a bitch of a Dalmatian. Never an angry word, no raised hair, no food issues, no toy issues, no kennel issues, no marking issues, no pushing or shoving for a better spot on the pecking order. Everyone is equal, so be respectful of my wishes. If you do, you will have a long very happy life here on my leather couch.

You "get the dog you deserve". If you don't like "the dog you have", maybe you should look in the mirror. I created the Catahoula I deserve, and you can too.

Yes, there may be Catahoulas that are exceptions, BUT they are few and far between. Too often I hear that their dog behaves badly because “he was abused, or he is a rescue, or he is just being a Catahoula. That this is what Catahoulas do; or, the owners don’t have time to get to a Class”. My absolute favorite for an excuse that a dog behaves badly is “But, we love him”. If you love a badly behaved Catahoula, get help, find a teacher, go to a class, read the free info about dog training on the internet, open a dog training book, educate yourself. Move away from excuses, and be a great Catahoula owner.

A respectful Catahoula is a good thing.

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Canine Training by Mystic Moon, Inc.
Des Moines Dog Training, and surrounding areas
Tonja Osborn, Owner/Trainer

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