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.