American Leopard Hound Dog Breed Facts: History, Health Traits, and Characteristics
Table of Contents
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American Leopard Hound Breed Card
American Leopard Hound Breed Overview
Group
Hound Group
Height
21-27 inches tall
Breed Recognition
No
Weight
35-75 pounds
Country of Origin
Spain
Personality
Intelligent, Sociable, Energetic
Lifespan
12-15 years
Shedding
Moderate
American Leopard Hound History
The origin of the American Leopard Hound dog breed is largely unknown with stories of their arrival to the Americas dating back to the Spanish Conquistadors’ arrival in the new world. Some opinions state they were bred with a mixture of Spanish, French, English, Irish, and Scottish hound and herding breeds. Others suggest that the Conquistadors’ dogs were mixed with Mexican dogs and were later brought to the United States by settlers, where they continued to develop into the breed known today.
By the early 1700s, American Leopard Hounds had become established in eastern North Carolina. From there, it made its way west into Tennessee and Kentucky and, later, south into Texas and Oklahoma.
These days the dog is bred as an all-purpose tree dog breed more eager to please their owner than any other treeing and hunting hound. They are built to hunt and hold down games without taking damage and are gentle enough to be affectionate to young children, of which they tend to be very protective.
Cost ✅
COST LEVEL
Low End: $800
High End: $1000
American Leopard Hound Physical Traits
General Appearance💡
The American Leopard Hound is a large dog standing over two feet tall at the shoulder. It comes in a variety of colors and, depending on the coat color and whether or not they have the merle gene, they will have either brown or blue eyes. Their tail is strong and lengthy with a solid girth around the base and their legs are equally as long as their body. Their topline is level and capped by athletic and muscular legs that stride gracefully along the ground during a hunt.
The colors are many with this dog. Their dense double coat is stiff and straight on top but with a fine, wool-like undercoat that is uniform in length across the body. This coat sheds seasonally but it is not generally considered to be heavy shedding.
There is no breed standard for this scent hound but they have general characteristics that make them look like an American Leopard Hound. These are large, athletic dogs with large ears that droop to the bottom jaw. These help to stir up smells during a hunt, allowing the dog to remain on task throughout the journey. They have a medium build for a large dog and a long tail that trends upward toward the sky. Their legs are roughly as long as their body, making their height-to-length ratio almost even. This also gives the dog a level topline from tail to shoulders.
The mottled double coat of the American Leopard Hound has a smooth and stiff top coat of short hair and a fine, wooly undercoat. It lends their coat many colors such as black, gray, yellow, brown, blue, and any combination of the above. Their fur is short and stiff with moderate ability to shed. Their eyes can range from a dark brown, almost black, to a piercing blue framed by darker fur to further intensify the aesthetic.
Size & Weight ❤️
Height: 22-27 inches
Weight: 45-75 pounds
Height: 21-25 inches
Weight: 35-65 pounds
Coat & Color
Eye Color
Blue, Brown
Coat Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Gray, Red, Yellow
Coat Length
Short
Coat Texture
Smooth
American Leopard Hound Temperament and Personality
This is a friendly and personable hound dog. They are very eager to please their owners and always ready for the next adventure. They are fantastic with other dogs, although they still require socialization, and with small children, although they are energetic and should be supervised when around small children. Their size can pose an unintentional threat to the safety of the child should the dog get a little too excited and start playing rough. This energy also leads to a lot of barking as they require a ton of mental stimulation to be satisfied.
The American Leopard Hound is highly trainable and adaptable to any climate and environment, provided they have the right owner. These are very protective dogs, barking at the slightest of disturbances so you can rest knowing you have a great watchdog at your service.
Kid Friendly?
GOOD WITH KIDS
Bad Idea
Excellent Nanny
Yes, the American Leopard Hound is a kid-friendly dog. This is a fantastic family dog and they tend to like kids and often become protective over them.
Good with Other Pets?
GOOD WITH PETS
Bad Idea
Friendly Socialite
Yes, the American Leopard Hound is good with other pets. However, other pets should probably be kept to other dogs as these hunting dogs have a high prey drive and will not likely do well with pets like rats, ferrets, or cats.
Barks a Lot?
BARKING LEVEL
When Neccessary
Noise Maker
Yes, the American Leopard Hound is known for its excessive barking. Like many hound dog breeds, this dog is very watchful and will alert their human to any potential danger or hunting opportunity. The vocality of these dogs does not end at barking, however, as they are also known for their howling.
Can Be Left Alone?
LEFT ALONE
Likes Being Alone
Sepration Anxiety
Yes, the American Leopard Hound can be left alone. They can succumb to separation anxiety if training has not been a priority, especially in the early years. With some patience, though, these dogs can be left alone without fear of destructive behavior.
