Dog lovers who prefer to adopt hounds are aware of the breed called American leopard hound, which is loveable, affectionate, and most intelligent. The perfect companion that you would find in an American leopard hound is just what any person needs. This breed came from Mexico and later they lived in North America.
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How can you select the right American leopard hound?
Usually, the health of the American leopard hound is good. They do not fall sick or need medical attention frequently. When you bring it from any authentic breeder you should be aware that its genetic testing has been done. This test proves that the dog will suffer from less number of genetic disorders.
There are merle-colored American leopard hounds, and if both the parents of a puppy are of the same color then this puppy will be called double merle and have a chance of being blind or deaf.
Can you keep an American leopard hound in the apartment?
American leopard hounds are large-sized dogs and thus, often apartment owners think that it will be hard for them to choose such a wide-sized dog and keep it in a small apartment. But the reality is many small-sized dogs tend to be hyperactive and hyper-energetic.
They would not fit the apartment life anyway. But if the apartment owner adopts a large dog like an American leopard hound, which is calm and quite easy to handle, then it would not create many problems.
Is the American leopard hound good for beginners?
Yes, American leopard hounds and most of the big-sized dogs are fit to be adopted by beginner owners. They are understanding and act maturely. They get trained fast and they usually do not act aggressively toward their owners.
They are also of forgiving nature and will not be too revengeful for your mistakes. They would not mind if there are kids at home and throw tantrums often. But they would not like the chaotic circumstance and if there are too many people in the house then it can be difficult for this breed of dog to get adjusted.
Is the American leopard hound a good family dog?
As we have mentioned, the American leopard hound would not mind living with kids or seniors in the same house, provided they are not too noisy. This breed of dog loves calm circumstances and thus, would react if there is too much harsh sound around them. They may not act aggressively but can become anxious and that will damage their health too.
But American leopard hounds are also great for being family dogs. They are not aloof from the family in which they are living. Rather they get attached to all the individuals in the family and feels comfortable when there is one or more family member in the house.
Can you leave the American leopard hound alone at the house?
Working professional dog lovers often deal with the problem of keeping their pet dogs alone at the house. In that case, they should adopt a breed that is capable of living alone for long hours and would not get anxious. The American leopard hounds are not much bothered about their owner’s presence at home.
They may whine or bark sometimes but gradually they can be trained to live alone in the daytime. They can be trained easily and thus, providing them with food and water in the right places would be sufficient to keep them alone.
Can you keep American leopard hounds with another breed of dogs?
Yes, American leopard hounds are much more friendly with the other dog breeds. You can safely take this dog to the dog park or anywhere as it will not act aggressively with other dogs, even of different breeds. They are likely to be friends with the other dogs.
They would not attack or try to dominate even the smaller-sized dogs as American leopard hounds are mature and they are confident in themselves. Thus there is less chance of their attacking other dogs.
How will the American leopard hounds react to strangers?
As American leopard hounds are trained to be hunting dogs, they would not like the appearance of any stranger in their house. They would not act very friendly with the stranger but would not attack him or her either. If you wish it to be a good guard dog then you can nurture this aspect of its nature and train it to shout or bark at strangers.
But those owners who often have random visitors can train their American leopard hounds to be sober with the strangers.
Do you need to keep American leopard hounds on diet?
American leopard hounds are much more hard-working genetically and thus, they do not gain weight easily. They are healthy and have a good appetite but their metabolism is much high. You can choose healthy treats and also decrease their food portion if you are bothered about their weight management but consulting a vet would be best. The vet can recommend you the amount of food necessary for the nutrition of the dog.
What kind of food should you give to your American leopard hounds?
You should always get the best quality dog food for the American leopard hounds. Giving human food is not considered to be right and thus you should not provide them with any human food without consulting the vet. Do not give too much food as that can make it overweight and later, this may lead to arthritis and other bone-related problem.
How much exercise is required for an American leopard hound?
This breed of dog is much more energetic in nature. You have to give it options for being active like playing in the backyard. You can take it for a walk for 45 minutes daily and take it to Dog Park so it gets enough chance to play, run, jump and spend its energy.
If you can play with the dog, then it will also be a great bonding time. Play fetch with the dog or play hide and seek, which will encourage it to follow directions and channel its energy. Also training them for an hour daily and learning new tricks will help these dogs to be agile for their whole life.
How can you groom your American leopard hound?
American hound leopard comes with a smooth double coat that needs regular brushing. They need an occasional bath as they are from the colder part of the world and do not require regular contact with water. Their nails grow fast and thus, you need to clip them once in 3 months. Overgrown nails will cause pain and also will hurt when the nail will be stuck anywhere.
This dog often gets earwax in their ear canal, and thus the owner needs to take a cotton ball and clean their ears. The teeth of this dog need to be brushed regularly to maintain healthy oral health.
Are American leopard hounds good with small pets in the same house?
American leopard hounds are good at hunting as it was their original task. So they are genetically good trackers and hunters. This hunting nature of the dog would make them unsafe for small pets like guinea pigs, chinchillas, or such rodents.
You need to be cautious and take time to make the dog and the small pets at home get adjusted to each other. Do not leave the pets with the American leopard hound unless they are well accustomed to each other’s presence.
