Catahoula Leopard Dogs were bred find livestock in the hills, thickets, wooded areas, but especially swamps of Louisiana. Their trailing style is a bit of “nose to ground,” but they prefer to throw their heads up and “wind” their prey, taking the shortest route line to find, gather,  bunch, circle, and bay at their find until their master arrives to take control. It’s said that webbed feet allow Catahoulas to more easily traipse through the soggy and boggy Louisiana marshland. 

Image from AKC’s Catahoula Leopard Dog page