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We’ve done the research and created this guide to help you learn more about Mountain Curs. You’ll find an overview of the breed, the characteristics & personalities of these dogs, and more!
What is a Mountain Cur?
The Mountain Cur is a dog breed famous for being great hunters, brave, intelligent, and more. In fact, these dogs have a special treeing talent that makes them prized with hunters. Mountain Curs work hard, run fast and are extremely intelligent dogs.
This famous dog breed was influential in the settling of the Southern Mountains of the US. In that time, the Mountain Cur was used as a working dog that helped protect the farmstead, family and their cattle from wild animals and intruders. The dogs were also used for hunting. For this reason, the Mountain Cur breed is known as the true All-American Pioneer dog.
When it comes to hunting, Mountain Curs are famous for their treeing instinct. Treeing is a method some hunting dogs use to chase hunted animals to climb a tree, where they can more easily be shot by hunters. These dogs may even climb part way up the tree in their eagerness to chase their prey.
No one is completely sure how the dogs were bred. It’s believed that settlers coming from Europe may have brought terriers that had Cur characteristics. Some also believe these dogs may have been bred with Native American dogs, resulting in today’s Mountain Cur breed.
The breed was first recognized in 1957, when the Original Mountain Cur Breeders of America (OMCBA) was organized. The Mountain Cur has been recognized as a hound and are still a favorite by many in the US. The dogs often accompany hunters but are also used as guard and companion dogs.
There are five varieties of Mountain Cur that are the most common including:
- Stephens
- McConnell
- York
- Arline
- Ledbetter
Mountain Cur Characteristics
Mountain Curs tend to have a square-shaped face, with almond-shaped eyes. Their eye colors usually match the dog’s coat color and run in shades from dark brown to amber. Mountain Curs are known for their extremely alert eyes—these dogs are always watching out for anything amiss!
Curs usually have stocky ears and their muzzle is medium—not too short or long. This breed also tends to have a naturally bobbed tail, at least in about 50% of the dogs. This is one of the most unusual characteristics of the Mountain Cur.
When it comes to the Mountain Cur’s coat, they have short hair, which is dense and rough. Their coat is double layered, with a very short undercoat and a heavier topcoat. However, some of these dogs can have soft fur. Their coat colors have a lot of variation and can include:
- Brindle
- Black
- Brown
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
These dogs can sometimes have markings including:
- Tan points
- White markings
- Brindle points
Mountain Cur are classified as medium-sized dogs, and on average can weigh between 30 to 60 lbs and stand about 16 to 26 inches high. Their average lifespan is from 10-13 years.
These dogs are rugged, athletic, and made to work, so expect your Mountain Cur fur baby to be full of energy and require plenty of exercise.
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Ask a Vet Live NowPersonality of the Mountain Cur
The Mountain Cur is known for being an extremely intelligent working dog. They tend to be rugged, love the outdoors, and are very protective. These dogs are also known for their bravery. If you choose a Mountain Cur, then be ready to spend a lot of time with your dog outside doing fun stuff!
These dogs love to run, jog, swim, hunt, and more—anything that has to do with being active outside. You’ll have a great friend if you love to hike and more.
What’s more, these dogs are extremely protective and loyal, which makes them great guard dogs. While these dogs tend not to be “barky,” they will let you know when something’s wrong or when there’s a danger. If you’re in danger, your Mountain Cur canine companion may even attack the person who is threatening you.
If you’re a hunter, then you’ll find the Mountain Cur to be a great hunting buddy. They are famous for their cat-like stealth hunting method. In fact, they’ll remain silent until they tree their prey. They’ll also alert you to any dangers.
Because the Mountain Cur is a working dog, they can easily become bored when left at home alone or when they don’t have a job to perform. They prefer to stay busy. If they become bored, Mountain Curs can become destructive and anxious.
Training the Mountain Cur
Mountain Curs are not good for first-time pet parents and some of them can be stubborn. For this reason, you need to be experienced with dogs, training, and letting them know you’re in charge.
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to be tough and punish them, etc. We do not condone these methods of training. What it does mean is that you’ll need to let your dog know you’re in charge, and yet build a loving relationship between you and your fur baby. Bonding with your Mountain Cur is essential, as this is the first step to training your dog.
Your dog must trust you and have confidence in you; when a Mountain Cur is secure with you and understand they’re a part of your family (pack), then they become more willing to train and follow commands.
For this reason, you’ll need to spend a lot of quality time with your Mountain Cur, working on building a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. After this, your canine companion will best respond to positive reinforcement training methods.
Mountain Curs also require socialization from a young age, especially if they will be around young children and other pets. There are anecdotal accounts of these dogs not doing well with cats and small animals (such as hamsters, etc.). This could be due to the dogs’ strong prey instincts. However, if they’ve been socialized with other pets, they may be Ok with them. Still, a Mountain Cur must be socialized from a young age because of their tendency to be extremely watchful and protective if their home and family.
Health & Care of a Mountain Cur
Mountain Curs are usually very healthy dogs and are often thought to be one of the healthiest dog breeds around! One issue these dogs may experience is frequent ear infections. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check your fur baby’s ears once a week for any signs of an infection or an ear mite infestation.
When it comes to feeding, you’ll need a high-quality dog food that’s formulated for very active dogs.
And you’ll want to brush your Mountain Cur about once a week because they are known for shedding quite a bit, especially during the two main shedding seasons of fall and spring. You’ll only need to give your fur baby a bath if he’s really dirty and smelly. Too frequent bathing can lead to dry, itchy skin.
Overall, a Mountain Cur can be an excellent addition to an active family who spends quite a lot of time outdoors. If you have young kids and other pets, be sure your fur baby has been properly socialized. You’ll have a loving companion who will protect your family, and spend wonderful times outside having fun with you!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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