Mountain Cur Dog Breed

Mountain Curs are a very valuable and versatile breed used to hunt varmint such as squirrels and raccoons as well as large game like wild boar. Without them, many suggest early settlers would've had a much rougher time migrating into the Appalachian and Southeastern regions. These dogs not only hunted small game for food and furs but also protected the family from danger-- whether that be a thief or large mountain lion! This breed is considered a scent hound by its founding club, the Original Mountain Cur Breeders Association (OMCBA) as well as the Continental Kennel Club. This breed is best suited for a hunter, of course, but also an owner or family that lives in a more rural area with a large yard or property for them to roam and patrol-- at the very least an active person that can give them adequate daily outdoor exercise. Consider the following Mountain Cur dog facts:

PROS

• Excellent hunting companion for both large and, especially, small game
• Great family companion
• Good with other dogs
• Intelligent and easily trained, most are eager to please
• Friendly and non aggressive
• Watchdogs and household protectors
• Fiercely and loyally devoted
• Can live indoors or out
• Not a needy breed
• Maintenance needs are few
• Healthy and long lived
• Will keep house and yard free of pests and varmint

CONS

• May bark frequently
• May not be compatible with cats or other small pets
• May be over protective of passive owners that have not established themselves as "pack leader"
• Ideally an outdoor dog for a large property or fenced yard
• May become anxious and destructive if bored
• Need plenty of daily outdoor exercise
• Must be kept on leash when walking in populated areas due to strong prey drive
• Not hypoallergenic

Mountain Cur information provided by the UKC and CKC describe this breed as a compact, muscular and agile treeing dog. The head is broad and slightly wedge-shaped with high set ears and large brown eyes (that can range amber in lightness). The coat is thick and longer than many Cur types, however, it is still considered short. Common coat colors include: black, brindle, blue, yellow, red and blonde; the coats may include small portions of white. The tail may be naturally bobbed or long.

Although they may independently make decisions on the hunting trail, they are intelligent, obedient and eager to please; most contend they can easily be discourage from unwanted behaviors. Training should focus on establishing the owner as the pack leader with firm, consistent commands, otherwise, they may become over protective. Early socialization is a must if these dogs are to live with cats or small animals and may not be successful still. Overall, this breed is easily trained by a first time owner.

Mountain Curs have high protective instincts and, although not aggressive dogs, have been known to protect their owners from threats as large as mountain lions! They will certainly be watchful and aren't shy of raising an alarm. To friendly people, they will be friendly in return and they do very well with children and other dogs.

This breed enjoys being outdoors and thrives most on a large property or, at the least, a large fenced yard. They will actively patrol the home and property, ridding it of vermin and alerting you when necessary. Their absolute favorite activity is hunting, as this is where their origins and natural aptitudes lie. If you keep this breed indoors, they will certainly need at least an hour daily outdoor activity to avoid becoming bored and destructive.

When European settlers landed on the eastern coast of America in the 13th century, they brought with them dogs native to whichever lands they came (for example British Terrier-types and Spanish bobtail Curs). These dogs intermingled with native Cur types to produce dogs that were excellent hunters and guardians. This allowed these settlers to migrate down into the Appalachian regions and states like Virginia, Tennessee, the Carolina's, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and later Oklahoma and Arkansas. Members of this breed hunted game for the family to eat as well as protected them from large predators in this mountainous new terrain; they were so essential for survival they families treated them as prized possessions with puppies often riding on the pack animals along with other family necessities.

Until the 1940's many Mountain Cur were still providing sources of income for their families from animals that had been trapped and the furs sold. Then WWII came and, with it, the necessity for multitudes of men to leave their homes and farms to become soldiers, then many women left to replace them at factories and other jobs previously not available to them. This left the breed in a state of decline with attention focused on other needs and no use for them in urban areas.

In 1957, four dedicated men organized the OMCBA, the Original Mountain Cur Breeders Association and recognized the Mountain Cur as a distinct breed. Although two of the members are rumored to have split due to controversy over the breed standard, they still managed to bring this amazing breed back from near extinction and increase its popularity greatly.

Mountain Curs are purebred dogs but will still vary slightly since they are not bred strictly to an appearance standard. These scent hounds are bred for work and, as such, proportionality will be more important than uniformity. As with many breeds, there are those that claim one strain/bloodline is superior to others-- two such popular bloodlines include Carl Smith Mountain Curs and Busher Bred Mountain Curs. Several of these bloodlines have even developed into their own breeds (ex. Kemmer Mountain Cur).

An interesting side note, some Mountain Cur types are born with bobtails while others have naturally longer tails. This is where the term "cutailed" comes from-- meaning to "reduce in extent or quantity".

The Mountain Cur temperament is surprisingly versatile allowing them to be tenacious hunting partners as well as dedicated family companions. They are intelligent, eager to please, loyal, protective, hardworking, friendly, playful and energetic! Most often, they are used for hunting varmint and treeing small game but these dogs are so courageous that they can also track larger game such as wild boar; stories even abound of Mountain curs protecting their owners from large wildcats. This brings us to protection... these are friendly dogs that are not shy, however, if they feel you need to be protected they will do so-- especially if the dog doesn't recognize you as the pack leader. They are not usually aggressive so visitors and friendly strangers needn't worry about all the commotion they are likely to raise.

Although the Mountain Cur personality is generally obedient and eager to please, training them early to see you as the pack leader is necessary since, otherwise, they may become over protective. Training should be easy if you do so with firmness and consistency. They usually get along great with kids and other dogs but they will retain strong prey instincts towards smaller animals, especially varmint like creatures. Socialize them early with any cats they may live with.

Mountain Curs are certainly a commitment (as far as longevity is concerned) as many will live 14-16 years. They are a robust little breed that, if given plenty of exercise, will remain in good health. In fact, there is little information about diseases and disorders for this breed; this may be due to them being bred for functionality more than appearances.

As with all breeds, don't skip the routine veterinary check ups and, if purchasing from a breeder, ask for proof of health for both the parents and the puppy.