40-50 lbs
17-22"
United States
The Mountain Cur is a medium sized dog that is very intelligent and easy to train. He should never exhibit shyness or viciousness and should always be willing to do what he can to please his family. The Mountain Cur is a fiercely loyal dog and will protect his family, even to the death if need be. He was bred to work and needs a job to do to ensure he expends all of his extra energy. Otherwise, he can become destructive and a nightmare for his owner. He does well with children and other dogs, but he should be watched closely around small dogs and other small pets.
Enthusiasts of the Mountain Cur call him the true all-American pioneer dog. He was essential to the frontier family for protection and hunting. Families found him to be a big asset as they settled within the Southern Mountains and until the 1940s; the Mountain Cur was used extensively to tree or hole wild game to help keep food on the table. Some researchers feel that the terrier-type Curs that were brought over from Europe with immigrants were bred to native Curs and this produced the Mountain Cur. The early Mountain Curs were able to quickly adjust to pioneer life and even Native Americans were known to own this breed along with their own version of Cur known as the Indian Cur. The largest population of Curs was thought to be in the Ohio River Valley. The Mountain Cur gained some fame when the book “Old Yeller” was published. In the book, the author described Old Yeller as a typical Mountain Cur who was able to hunt and tree and is not afraid of large predators. Although the breed’s name was never mentioned in the book, the description is spot on regarding his use by pioneers and his physical appearance. The Mountain Cur’s ancestry is not well documented since most pioneers did not see the necessity of written records. In the 1950s a group of breed enthusiasts began meeting with the goal of preserving the Mountain Cur breed. It was during this time that the number of purebred Mountain Curs was quickly dwindling and he was on the verge of extinction. The Original Mountain Cur Breeders’ Association and the Kemmer Stock Breeders’ Association Registry formed to preserve the breed. The Mountain Cur has begun to be categorized into individual types such as the Treeing Tennessee Brindle, the Stephens Stock and the Mountain View Cur. Lovers of these varieties are working to have each recognized as an individual breed. These three varieties have their own registering groups. The American Kennel Club (AKC) began registering the Mountain Cur in its Foundation Stock Service in 2017.
The Mountain Cur is a medium-sized dog with a stocky, rugged look. He has a heavy, dense coat that is longer than the typical hound but is still considered short. His coat can be smooth or rough, but should be straight with a soft undercoat. He can be found in yellow, black, brindle or black and brindle. The Mountain Cur can have white markings on his chest or toes. About 50% of the Mountain Curs are born with bobtails, while the other 50% have naturally long tails that may be surgically docked. He also may have dewclaws on his hind feet, in some instances there may be two dewclaws per hind foot. He has feet that are catlike, strong and well-muscled. His ears are short and hang down, not lower than the outside of his eye. His eyes are prominent and usually dark, with an expressive expression. Even though he gives the appearance of being heavily built, he is actually built for speed.
The Mountain Cur is relatively easy to groom, except when he
sheds seasonally usually once or twice a year. Brush him using a natural
bristle brush, soft slicker brush or a hound mitt to remove loose or dead hair.
Weekly brushing will keep his coat and skin healthy and shiny. He can
experience dry skin or dandruff if he is bathed excessively. Only bathe him a
few times a year using a mild shampoo and rinsing him well with clean, warm
water. The Mountain Cur is not a hypoallergenic dog. He also does not drool
much because he has tighter fitting lips and not the typical hound jowls. Since
he has ears that hang, be sure to check them weekly and clean as needed to
prevent a foul odor or infection from occurring. If he is very active and running
over rough terrain, he should naturally wear his toenails down, however, you
should check his nails every few weeks to ensure all nails are properly worn,
even the dewclaws.
Mountain Curs often suffer from ear infections and Lyme disease. Secure pet health insurance today to avoid high veterinary care costs. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like Figo and Spot. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
The Mountain Cur is an energetic dog that is dauntless when hunting and takes his job of protecting his family seriously. He is usually silent when hunting but can become vocal at home when he is left alone for too long. The Mountain Cur has to have a job at home or he will become bored and easily become a nuisance and even destructive. He is not a submissive dog by nature and needs to have a strong leader or he will take the dominant role in the family. He can easily become over-protective of his family if he is not properly trained or socialized. Socialization should be started as soon as possible to ensure he is not shy or overly aggressive towards strangers. The Mountain Cur does have a strong prey drive and should be closely watched when around other small pets within the home, including cats. He does well with children that he is raised with as long as he sees them as higher in the pecking order than him.
Written by a Rough Collie lover Holly Ramsey
Published: 11/29/2017, edited: 09/24/2021
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