About us
"Heart is hard to define, but easily recognized" - Randy Wright
Our Operation
Cross Check Catahoulas is based out of Leitir Mhòr Cattle Co. in the heart of Ontario's cattle country. At Leitir Mhòr we maintain a herd of purebred Simmental cows and a commercial cow herd on top of custom grazing yearling steers and heifers.
We got interested in Catahoulas for their "out-of-the-box" instincts and abilities. We have been running cattle for 3 generations at Leitir Mhòr, but in 2006, we were new to cow dogs and wanted a breed that required a minimal amount of training. We were not disappointed. We have branched out from just using our dogs at home, to custom penning for the public, to coon hunting, to conformation showing, and finally to instinct and performance trialing.
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Showing
We show and trial our dogs because we enjoy it. Though we are immensely proud of the fact that our dogs have the titles they do, we do not hang our hat on titles. We learned quickly that the "trial pen" and the "real world" bare little resemblance to each other. Our breeding decisions are based on everyday work in the fields and the woods. The trial pen and show ring are just for fun. "We show our working dogs, we do not work our show dogs".
Our Goals
At Cross Check Catahoulas we focus on the instincts and drives that make an exceptional working Catahoula cow dog. We breed only proven working stock with the right amount of grit and stock sense for our needs, with secondary consideration going to temperament and conformation in an effort to produce a versatile working Catahoula.
Our goal is to have dogs that can be used in any situation and will adjust their style and pressure according to the cattle they are working that day. We expect tremendous heart, grit and ability in all our dogs, but we also require that package to come with the sense and intelligence to make them a truly versatile dog.
We also place a fair bit of emphasis on conformation. A dog that is not functionally correct will not have the speed, agility and stamina that are required to get through the amount of work they are expected to handle on any given day. In our opinion a dog that can’t finish a job is just as useless as a dog that won’t start it. Correct conformation and functional conformation are two different things in our minds. A thick muscled, heavy style Catahoula may have all the drive and want-to in the world but it is just not a functional package for a dog expected to stick with you working cattle all day long. The best way I have ever heard it phrased is that a weight lifter may have the desire to be a marathon runner but he'll never have the build for it. A moderately sized dog with lean, athletic muscling and a deep chest with good spring of rib, without being overdone, is essential to the stamina and recovery time of the dog. A good amount of leg under them with good angulation and proper footing combined with slight flow over a back of proper length results in a fluid, easy gait that adds to the speed and agility of the dog. Together that results in the all-day stay we require. A nice clean, wide head that's not too broad with a good amount of cheek without being "bulldoggie", and a proper drop ear set is our personal preference.
Easy-handling, user friendly personalities are also necessary to us. Aggression and drive are not the same thing, and should never be confused with each other. In our opinion, a dog should be capable of laying it all on the line when it's called for, and still be able to maintain a laid back and easy going demeanor when at home in the yard.
We expect our dogs to have a good hot to medium nose and a strong ability to track and wind scent. We coon hunt our Catahoulas in the fall/winter kill season, and do some ground den work and training during the spring/summer months. Because we hunt the dogs, we very much appreciate a loud mouthed dog, but we do not expect them to be open on track. We do not claim to breed hog dogs, but we do enjoy trialing and expect our dogs to go into the trial pen with the same determination and style that they have when working cattle. We do occasionally hog hunt our dogs, when time and circumstances allow.
Our good friend and mentor at J Cross Catahoulas has been known to say that she can't afford a pack of dogs for every different thing she likes to do with them, and we subscribe to that school of thought. Overall we expect a Cross Check Catahoula to be able to go from the fields with the cattle, to the woods to hunt, to the trial pen to compete, and then clean up and head to the show ring to strut their stuff.
Health Testing
We test all of our dogs using the PennHIP and OFA tests to gather as much information as possible about a prosepective breeding pair. Our goal is to produce a sound, long lasting working dog, but we do not believe a good health test makes a good dog, a good health test adds to a good dog. At the end of the day we are breeding for work.
Our Opinion
Catahoulas can make excellent companions for the experienced and dedicated dog owner, but too many fall into the trap that their "pretty colouring" leads them to. They need a great deal of exercise and human interaction to become the best possible dog they can be. If you have never owned a Catahoula before, do your research, and make sure that the high drive and boundless energy of a Catahoula will really fit in with your lifestyle. We believe that aspiring dog owners should pick a breed that fits their life, not pick apart a breed to get what they want.
Every Catahoula needs a job, not everyone needs a Catahoula.
