Bluebird Catahoulas

04/30/2026

Snuggle buddies 🥰

04/30/2026

04/30/2026

Just spending some time in the woods 🥰

04/30/2026

We had a blast at the NDHA trials over the weekend. There's something dare I say magical about watching the dogs have a great time on their annual retreat 😅

04/30/2026

There's something about running with hounds that makes me so proud of my life choices choosing catahoulas instead!

They are not a hound. They don't work like a hound.

They are not a herding breed, they don't work like a herding breed.

They are a cur. They work like a cur.

The biggest difference I can identify is that they do it because you ask them to. Not because instincts drive them.

My old gal is a hog dog at heart. She has some classical herding instincts. She is a hell of a c**n dog though not because she has the drive for the job. But because she has the intuition to understand what work is and ultimately she lives to work. To her work can mean guarding the vehicle, playing with the kids, going shopping at the hardware store, finding sheep, baying a pig, finding a person, parkour, racing... Just about anything except for "dumb dog tricks" she will do literally anything I ask her to besides "roll over" or "shake" lol not for a lack of effort but for the lack of reward. Some are happy with a pat on the head, some need a cookie, but my catahoulas are something else. They get their thrills from accomplishing a task. Mental and physical stimulation is necessary for a happy dog.

I wouldn't own this breed if I wanted a bird dog, or a c**n dog, or a hog dog, or a pet. They are not special for a specialty they are special for their intuitive drive and connection with their handlers. I'm not out there hunting every single day with my dogs but they work every single day. There are practically no limits to what qualifies as "work " to a dog that is a jack of all trades!

They are not an easy breed but they are the only one for me ultimately.

I pray every single day that specialty breeding doesn't ruin the breed as a whole.

They are meant to be versatile. They are meant to be as useful as the best farm hand you can find.

My dogs will break the earth for me to set a fence post, they will herd the kids in by name, they will help me shut the chickens up, they will hunt all night long and wake up eager the next morning to do it all over again with anything I can throw at them.

These are not hog dogs, these are not c**n dogs, these are not shepherds, these are not cow dogs, these are not protection animals, these are not sniffing dogs these are not search and rescue dogs, these are not service dogs, these are not pets... They are all of the above. And so much more. And most of all they are NOT "just a dog"

If anyone seems to think that they are any of these things they need to reconsider the breed (including breeding them). It's fine if you are a hunter and you only use your dogs to hunt. It's fine if you are a rancher and only use them on cattle... And so on... But they should have the intuitive drive to do more and be more than your career offers them otherwise reproducing them is not in the breeds best interest. These are not German Shepherds, these are not Doberman Pinchers, these are not Dogo Argentinas, these are Curs. It doesn't matter how famous your pedigree is and it doesn't matter how great the dog works for you, what matters is if the next one is going to work too. Our world is ever changing and it is becoming increasingly less important for working dogs with specialties to exist and we're seeing them turning into pets and accessories and income. This is not the purpose of the catahoula. They should have the drive to learn whatever task is at hand and in the moment. I have never had to formally train my catahoulas to do anything except respect me and stupid tricks just to keep them "working" on a day off. That's how it should be.

-End Rant-

04/30/2026

This is what you get when your dogs hunt 😅.

Interest is limited because... It's dead.

They are too smart for dead scent hound trials 🤣

Zero barks on the tree 🤣🤦 that's okay though we don't go for trophies we go to socialize the dogs and our reclusive selves 😅

04/06/2026

There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes with this life, and a specific kind of pride that makes it disappear. We’ve seen the highest highs and the most crushing lows—broken trust, hard lessons, and the quiet joy of new beginnings. It’s a journey that asks for everything and gives back even more. Every mile, every heartbreak, every dog: 100% worth it

02/14/2026

The future of Catahoula placement starts at Day 1. 🐾

We all know the 7-week evaluation is standard, but at Bluebird Catahoulas, we believe we can do better for our dogs and our puppy buyers. We’ve been developing a new concept for identifying critical instincts in neonatal puppies, long before they even open their eyes.
This isn't just about our kennel; it’s about creating a tool that helps rescues and breeders across the board place the right dog in the right home, every time.

Follow our new project page right here on FB to see the data, the methodology, and how you can apply this to your own program!

Our "NOIT" page is designed to be interactive where we publicly discuss our findings and collect data to hopefully one day integrate this neonate test into all responsible breeding and placement of dogs around the world! It has the open page for updates of data that the public is welcome to share their thoughts and experiences as well as individual and group "chats" that concepts and thoughts can be discussed more privately related to this.

It is a critical step in developing accuracy of this new test to collect more than our own anecdotal patterns to help develop the best testing methods and consideration for aspects that are not found in my own program or breed that require attention for universal applications.

I can't wait to see this project explode!

Please help me get the word out so we can collect as much data as possible to develop this as accurately and effectively as possible!

Thanks everyone for your continued support of my organization even when I'm not dumping those ever desirable puppy pics 😅

Is the secret to picking the perfect working pup hidden in the first 7 days? 🔍🐾

The "Instinct over Influence" Theory

For years, we’ve relied on Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) to build resilient dogs. But with my dogs, I’ve been taking it a step further.

I call it: Neonatal Olfactory Impulse Testing (NOIT).

The theory is simple: Before a puppy’s eyes and ears open, their world is 100% scent and instinct. By introducing species-specific scents (like racc**n) at 7 days old, we can bypass environmental "learned" behaviors and see their raw, genetic hard-wiring.

After tracking 39 puppies across 5 litters, the correlation between a 1-week-old’s scent response and their adult working drive has been incredibly consistent.

What I’ve discovered:

* The "Focused" Pup: The one who persistently seeks the scent at 7 days becomes the high-endurance, high-intelligence hunter.

* The "Frantic" Pup: High interest but low impulse control often leads to a "spastic" adult that struggles with regulation and "trash-breaking."

* The "Neutral" Pup: Indifference at 1 week consistently predicts a calm, stable disposition perfect for companion homes, but lacking the "edge" for serious field work.

I’m finding that we can identify working potential and temperament traits far earlier than the traditional 6–8 week testing window.

Have any other working breeders experimented with neonatal scent association? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The NOIT Assessment Guide (Visual Table)

Neonatal Response (7 Days)
= Predicted Adult Temperament = Recommended Placement.

Persistent/Focused Interest= High Drive, Strong Scent Memory, High Endurance.
=Elite Working/Field Home.

Hyper-Aroused/Frantic Interest =High Energy, Lower Impulse Control, Difficult to "Trash-Break" = Experienced Working Home

Indifference/Neutrality =Stable, Low-Drive, High Trainability for Companionship =Active Pet/Companion Home

Avoidance/Shyness =Low Confidence, Potential for Aloofness or Fear-Based Responses =Carefully Screened Pet Home

*Displacement (Suckling/Nuzzling)= Extreme Human Attachment, Potential for Neurological Instability= High-Scrutiny Monitoring*

Further research and data required:
I am currently looking to expand my data pool beyond my own dogs. If you decide to try this with your breed, please reach out! I'd love to see if these patterns hold true across different lines and species-specific scents.

My objective is to develop a standardized neonatal assessment that serves as a first line of defense in puppy placement. By isolating instinctual olfactory responses at seven days, we will be able to categorize drive and impulse control with high reliability. This data will empower breeders to maximize the success of every puppy; whether they are destined for a service harness, a scent trail, or a family couch; ultimately improving canine welfare and reducing the failure rate in working and pet homes alike.

12/22/2025

08/27/2025

Nothing makes me happier💞