By Avatar photoShiloh Nevada Last updated: 18th October 2022

Mountain Cur

By

Avatar photo Shiloh Nevada
Last updated: 18th October 2022

The strong, muscular common American dog Mountain Cur is a skilled hunter dog that was bred especially to ward off tree squirrels and raccoons and even hunting down bears and boars, protecting their master. This wide-headed, folded-eared, strong-jawed, stout-muzzled and black-nosed cur, belonging to the ‘Hound’ group, can even make a great working or water or all-purpose farm dog. This loving and active breed is the first true American purebred, making a good family dog.

Mountain Cur Pictures

Quick Information

Dog BreedMountain Cur
CoatShort, dense, double
ColorBrindle, black, brindle & black, yellow
(with occasional white marks)
Group (of Breed)Hound dog, working dog, hunting dog
Lifespan12 to 16 years
Weight30 to 60 pounds
Height/SizeMedium; 18 to 26 inches
SheddingMinimal
TemperamentLoving, active, protective
Good with ChildrenYes
HypoallergenicYes
BarkingAverage
Health ConcernsGeneral dog issues
Competitive RegistrationOMCBA, UKC, KSBA, DRA

Mountain Cur Video

History

The European settlers, who dwelled in the mountainous regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia, and later Oklahoma and Arkansas as well, brought the Mountain Cur to America. The primary purpose of keeping these dogs with them was guarding the family and their belongings, as well as for chasing and treeing games.
Keeping these dogs as pets proved to be lucrative for them since these canines not only provided their owners with both fur and meat for personal consumption but also for trade purposes. The settlers continued to breed and sustain them for almost two centuries. But, as an aftermath of the World War II, the inhabitants of these areas had to move away from these areas to find work in factories.
The population of the Mountain Cur began to decline in the course of time, and it became almost rare by the end of the 1940s. However, four Americans – Virginia’s Carl McConnell, Tennessee’s Dewey Ledbetter, and Kentucky’s Woody Huntsman and Hugh Stephens, took the initiative to revive the breed. They founded the Original Mountain Cur Breeders’ Association (OMCBA) in 1956 and set the breed standard for the Mountain Cur. Unfortunately, both Stephen and McConnell had to leave the association because of some controversy regarding the breed standard, and later, founded another organization for the breed – Stephen Stock Mountain Cur Association.
Later, a new breed was developed by two breeders from New York’s Afton – Michael and Marie Bloodgood from the Mountain Cur during the 1980s and ‘90s. This new dog came to be known as the ‘Mountain View Cur’ from the kennel named ‘Mountain View’, which belonged to the Bloodgoods.

Temperament and Behavior

These exceptionally courageous and fierce curs are not vicious, but that, they are pretty extrovert. With a desire to please its master, the over-protective nature of the breed might create a relationship hazard with its family that usually shows up as a behavioral issue when it starts feeling superior to its master in its adulthood. As a guardian dog, it would constantly guard its family, thus prone to attacking strangers and pets, challenging anything unusual, even being ready to sacrifice their life, which is also evident through recorded history. Kennel is good for them, since they are not apartment dogs.

Care

Exercise

With a lot of need for exercise, they need to be taken for long walks and jogging (better more than once) daily, which they enjoy. Unleash and allow them to run and play around in an enclosed yard for some good amount of physical activity.

Grooming

With a short coat, only a little bit of grooming is enough including brushing once to twice a week, clipping nails, most importantly the dew claws, at intervals, checking the ear canal for any infections. Also, bath them rarely, but with a mild dog shampoo.

Health Problems

A generally fit and sound breed, no breed-specific disease or disorder has been recorded. But care should be taken to keep it fit and healthy from other common dog diseases.

Training

When it comes to a bold dog like this one, training them to socialize, setting general rules to follow, defining things like dog etiquette and who the pack-leader is become easier if they are trained from the time they are puppies. Pack leader training is urgent for the mountain cur.

Feeding

High energy food for these curs is important. Good quality dry food gives balanced nutrition to the mountain curs which can be mixed with canned food, water or broth. If your pet likes fruits and vegetables, cooked eggs, cottage cheese, it should not sum up to more than 10% of its diet. The puppy must get the best quality puppy food, but limiting “table food” is important, since this might cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, or issues with tooth and bone, resulting in extremely choosy eating habits or obesity.

Interesting Facts

  • European settlers first brought these dogs to the mountainous regions of the US for guarding properties and hunting purposes.
  • Among the mixes, the mountain cur and lab mix is a much sought-after cross breed.
  • Exceptionally, the mountain cur, unlike other hounds, is extremely possessive and protective of its family, which is a characteristic found often in terriers and shepherds.
  • A dew claw, acting as its fifth toe, is always present in an original and well-bred mountain cur. This would not merely be a nail, but will be made of bone as well.
  • The mountain cur almost became extinct by the 1940s.
  • In 1970, the Stephens’ stock mountain cur was identified to be different from the original strains of the mountain curs.
  • Around 50% of the total number of mountain curs are born with bob-tails.

83 responses to “Mountain Cur”

  1. Blake. Cook says:

    I got a catahula a brown with black markings white on chest an feet

  2. Chris says:

    How do you get your dog to quit chewing up shoe etc

  3. Jane A Currey-Cartee says:

    A dog showed up in my pasture about 5-6 years ago, half starved and had recently band pups. An followed me to the house and we fed her. Our intentions were to get her spay and find her a home . Well , she is still.here. Our mail carrier told us she was a Mountain Cur . Her father raised Mountain Curs. My husband named here Jill because she came up our hill. She is an hunter and get loyal and loving, but can be a bit obstanant at times.

  4. Corey Kulp says:

    My family and I have adopted a puppy at 5 months. We were told he was a lab mix. As we have opened him for 2 months now, we have researched and are 90% he is a mountain cur. We will do a dna test soon, but the mannerisms, stance, body shape, all lead to the mountain cur breed. He is great with our 7 year old and gets his tail and body wagging anytime he sees other dogs or humans. He is full of love for everyone and everything. We are totally blessed to have adopted sick a great dog and such a great breed!!

    • Theresa Newberry says:

      I just adopted a 4 yo female, brindle mountain cur mix. She is terrific, well behaved, well trained, sweet and gentle. She follows me around on her own, walks on leash, etc. My only concern is that I have not heard her bark!! It has been 3 days and no barking. I don’t want to call vet because they are only take emergencies. Anybody have any ideas why she hasn’t barked. She is content and poses on floor for a belly rub every time I come in the room.

  5. Deborah Brinks says:

    We currently own a 4 year old Rat Terrier male, who is fixed, but is somewhat aggressive. Good lap dog, very affectionate, house trained and very obedient. Will kill cats, skunks, possums, squirrels, tree coons and will chase deer if permitted. We have 7 acres, partially fenced. He can run loose but will come if we say “Come”. When we take him to dog park, he will attack the small dogs but loves to run with the big dogs, I think he needs a companion to run and play with, We have an opportunity to own a Cur pup . What is your opinion?

    • Deb Glatz says:

      This is me, Deborah again. Our Rat Terrier is only aggressive when strangers approach the house. The pup we have an opportunity to purchase is a Mountain Cur. Parents are on site. Price is reasonable. Owner is a former minister in our area.

  6. John Arnold says:

    Hi,
    I live in Lancaster. CA. I would love too have a mountain cur. If you have any breeder in California please let me have the info.

    Thanks,
    John

  7. Julie says:

    We just got a mountain Cur mix, not sure what the dad is but everyone says our puppy looks like a black lab. He is completely black with a little white splotch on his back toes. He is the best puppy ever!! He’s only 9 weeks but so far hasn’t shown any aggression. He’s been playing with a few dogs, one adult, one older puppy and another closer in age and has gotten along with them all (male and female). He loves people and when we took him for a walk in crowds he was very patient with kids and adults alike. We are still working on potty training but he’s getting better. He already knows to sit and wait for my to unhook his leash when coming inside. I am over joyed but how amazingly sweet he is! Couldn’t be happier!!

  8. carey chevraux says:

    Hello. My husband and I are so excited! We have been trying to figure out what breed our little gracie is ever since we rescued her (2 years ago). And finally, we have found it (we think). We don’t do facebook so we would like to know if any mountain cur lover’s out there would be willing to get an email of pics and give us your opinion, or let me know somewhere besides facebook I could display them. Appreciate you. Thanks Carey & Paul & Gracie

    P.S. my email is cnp2018@yahoo.com, if any kind soul out there would be willing to send me a simple email with gracie in subject I will respond immediately
    Thanks!!

    • vie says:

      We rescued a 2 month old dog a year ago. This dog is bridle but does not resemble any dog we have ever seen or had in the past. Big ears.

      After an intensive search, I believe our little monster that we love dearly is a mountain cur (We think)

      He is absolutely amazing. Love children and people however we can not bring him to the dog park. He is just too aggressive with play.

      He will walk with us off leash no problem but walks in an loop pattern. He will walk ahead for 10-25 feet then walk back towards us around us and again walks forward 10-25 feet and back again..etc.. bizarre behavior.

  9. chris says:

    my mountain cur is amazing! he came from an Oklahoma shelter. it’s been three years since we’ve met. he was the only dog in shelter not freaking out, or shut down. staff loved him, called him the “ultimate buddy dog.” it’s true.
    first thing we noticed was his unusual coloration markings, very long tail with white tip, and his easy going temperament.
    he can be pushy. tends to growl to get his way. actually he uses different growls and bays he uses to communicate. it’s hilarious. which seems to be part of the breed. they are very high maintenance dogs activity and time wise. it’s well worth it.
    i don’t have discipline issues. he listens to me. other people not very much. that’s ok. learns quickly, and without prompting.
    having a high prey drive his favorite activity is hunting rabbits in backyard. he can do this all day! he’s even caught a few. his ability to move slowly, and silently or to stand motionless is incredible.
    love this dog.

    • PENNY says:

      I DO NOT ALLOW MY MOUNTAIN CUR TO HUNT AND KILL IN MY HUGH FENCED IN PROPERTY THE BEST I CAN. CHRIS YOU “SEEM” HAVE AN ATTITUDE [OH LOOK MY BABY KILLED ANOTHER RABBIT] WE TRY TO MAKE SURE SHE DOESN’T KILL. I HAVE SEEN WHAT SHE DID TO A WOODCHUCK, IT WAS HORRIBLE, NECK WAS MANGLED. I TOLD HER TO STAY THAN I MOVED THE ANIMAL OUT OF MY YARD.

      • Joshua says:

        Then I hope you give her enough to do while negating her purest instinct. She needs to move fast and plenty. I think you have an attitude. Who are you to judge Chris? He’s letting his dog be a dog, rather than just a pet.

    • Tom Fields says:

      Mine showed up 2 years ago. Instant bond but my wife said he was the ugliest dog she had ever seen. He was 6 months old. We had both just retired and would walk 3 miles every morning and he would wake us up at six to go for the walk. We didn’t claim him but still fed and watered him and wormed him. I immediately noticed he ran like a bullet AND he would tree squirrels at a moment’s notice. Beautiful watching him with his front paws on the trunk of the tree barking like a bugle. We kept trying to find a home for him but to no avail. We had just lost the last of inherited dogs from kids and I had not had my own for 40 years but this dog really seemed special. Then it was time to go on our cross country camping trip and the dog remained behind. Arranged to have him fed and watered with hopes that he would find another home but missed him the whole time we were away. 5 weeks later and there he was waiting for us to return. He was getting smarter. He would freeze when walking and take one step and freeze as he slipped up on squirrels. Then off like a bullet AND climb the tree. Never caught one but tried. Then one day he stopped and looked up into the trees and slowly turned his head until he saw a squirrel. It was done and he was mine after 5 months. Took him to the vet for shots and neutering. Wife went ahead and told the vet it was a Heinz 98. It wasn’t even a Heinz 57. A week earlier we got him a collar and unlike most dogs he loved getting it. He was so proud and felt he now belonged. I walked into the vets office and she immediately took the form and scratched through mixed breed and said you have a mountain cure on your hands. When it got cold Juynx, as my grand daughter named him, moved inside and only lays on his mat and has never had an accident inside. His intuitive intelligence is amazing. He now travels everywhere with us and when I go uptown he is in the seat next to me.
      My friend is so impressed with Jinx and likes the bond, he found a mountain cure/lab mix just like Jynx in a shelter in Kentucky. He is arranging to have it transported to Louisiana.
      Next trip is 5 weeks West and he will be with us.
      Ke

  10. Darlene says:

    We rescue a female pup off of a gravel road on Memorial Day. Everyone believed she was a pit mix. However after just a few weeks and one vet saying she was mountain cur mixed, we believe we have a mountain cur. She looks just like the pictures. It is unbelievable. We are working on manners and she is doing fair. When she is outside and doing her running frenzies, she will come back to us and growl and jump at us. We are having a hard time showing her this is not acceptable. She is loving and wants to be with us all the time. We are practicing dominance but this girl gets very sassy when told no. She is now seven months and around 37 pounds. Does anyone have any comments on this aggressive behavior of hers.

    • Lisa says:

      my lab cur mix is now 4 years old and it has taken a good bit of that time to get her to the point of being able to trust her. I feel that her aggression may have been related to her being the runt from a litter of 10. I suspect she had to fight her way through. She is easily 100lbs. Every day has been a new adventure with her but I love her more than life. She has become my shadow and I often feel smothered by her affection. What can you say about this wonderful mix? If you enjoy a challenge and not a lap dog, look no further. I have always had cats and have 3 right now. I have worried at times but they seem to keep her in line. She has had to be taught to not chase them, most of the time she remembers.

    • Christal says:

      Yes I have a 3 yr old rescued Mountain Curr. When calling her back to you make sure you are standing up straight and not bent over at all, she will take that as a sign of weakness. Praise her only once she comes completely back to you. Sounds like she is just testing you to see what she can get away with and once she knows the growling will not get praised she should quit. Good luck.

  11. Genie N Thomas says:

    we rescued a mountain cur, never hearing of this breed i did my research. wow I love this little throw Wy dog,that what happened to her someone threw her from a moving car. we took her into our family, we have only owned akitas and they fell in love with her also. Lilly is so gentle, fun, loving, a cuddle bug and has to always be bony side. I am so happy she came into our lives

  12. Karen says:

    I’m about to adopt a 2 yr old black dog who the foster mother just disclosed is probably part mountain cur. I went to websites and she is built like a cur with a long tail. There must be something else in there. I’m losing my nerve. It doesn’t sound like this foster mother exercises her very much but she goes to work with her daily working with patients. she also has a fenced yard. I can walk her 2miles a day, but my yard has only invisible fence which sounds like it won’t work with a dog who hunts. I’d appreciate any thoughts.

    • Anne Muntz says:

      I adopted a mountain cur in December and have a radio controlled fence that works great and keeps my dog away from my barn where there are cats, groundhogs and sheep. Fence made by PetSafe. They have Phenomenal customer service and products are available at Lowe’s and Tractoe Supply.

    • Cur love says:

      My mountain cur stays very well inside our perimeter invisible fence. She knows ther boundaries well and has only broken the fence line twice for a neighbor she absolutely adores.

  13. Dakota says:

    I just adopted a one year and two month old Mountain Cur dog from the shelter. Mikie is such a sweet heart and I am absolutely in love with this goofball. He’s not really good with car travel but otherwise he is a fantastic dog.

  14. Christine says:

    Just adopted a 6 yr old female cur, Sabra, from a shelter. She’s obviously had many pups and is now recovering from heart worm treatment. Funny story: on the way home from the pet shelter we stopped a pet store for a few last-minute supplies. The first thing she noticed was the ferrets. Good thing they were on the other side of a glass wall because she was going to climb that wall. When we got home, she noticed a squirrel in the tree and just about climb do 6 foot fence to get to it. Every day she goes back to that same location, but it appears the squirrel has Relocated.. I’ve had Sabra for 7 days now and I have not heard her bark. Not even once. I presume when her health is restored she will be her more natural self. I must say however, she is quite stealthy in the backyard looking for animals. Love this dog! I hope she will be happy living in suburbia with me. I take her on 2 to 3 walks per day. As long as she’s willing and able, and I’m willing and able, we are a team!

  15. Joanie says:

    We rescued a mountain cur pup from a shelter in southern Mississippi near the Louisiana border. He and his sister had been strays when they were picked up by a local park ranger. We got our pup at 5 months old and he has been the best dog we ever had. I can’t believe I never heard of this breed before. This pup is highly intelligent and learns extremely fast. He is sweet and loves to cuddle or give kisses. I take him for a run with me now in the morning and a long walk in the evening and he never seems to get tired. This is definitely a dog that could keep pace for a 5k with a runner. He is not destructive at all but he is very curious and will open drawers or pulls things off shelves and sniff through them. He has learned to open the doors and we have to use gates to keep him out of the bedrooms. He never barks, ever unless we’re on a walk and he gets a squirrel up a tree, then he goes nuts attempting to climb the tree and baying like crazy. This is an agile pup who will take to hiking and even hop up and down rocks easily, perfect for an outdoors loving family. I want to get another one like him but have extreme difficulty finding a breeder!

    • Joshua says:

      As you well know, there are plenty of great Mountain Curs waiting to be rescued. Truly a breed that has no need of husbandry. And two is a good number, because they learn from each other, and keep one another active. They are great exercise companions (I consider mine to be my personal trainer!), but can always use more activity.

      • Tom says:

        Josh my friend has an 8 month rescue coming from Kentucky to Louisiana. Can’t wait to see the interaction of his with my 2 year old rescue mountain curr.

  16. Alvin says:

    I have an application mountain cur,will be one years old in February 2018 best loyal dog I’ve ever had.he I’d a male named Snickers.

  17. Sylvia. Balius says:

    I am looking for a young mountain. Cur rescue or puppy . I love the breed and recently lost our sweet mountain cur rescue of 9 years . If any one can put me in touch with a breeder I would be grateful . We continue to check rescue sites looking for a new friend .

    • Jenny says:

      Just saw an ad for a young cur for adoption…where are u located?

    • Judy Croucher says:

      Honey- WATH/WXTQ PET OF THE WEEK
      Mountain Cur Chauncey, OH
      Adult Female Medium Brindle
      About
      COAT LENGTH
      Short
      ADOPTION FEE
      $65.00
      Meet Honey- WATH/WXTQ PET OF THE WEEK
      IF NOT CLAIMED BY OWNER AVAILABLE TUESDAY, APR. 3

      Honey is a doll of a dog. She loves sunbathing and playing fetch for days. Honey is a spayed 2-year old Mountain Cur. Her brindle coat is gorgeous and she’s got a wonderful personality. She prefers not to be around other dogs all the time, but would be ok with short play dates with dogs she knows well. Honey should not be in a home with cats.

      Her adoption fee is $65.00. This includes spay, rabies, heartworm test, 5:1 booster, Bordetella, deworming, and a county dog license.

      Honey was found with Sunshine (adopted) at Utah Pond on Utah Ridge Road between Chauncey and Doanville.

      The shelter is putting a new procedure into place. If you are interested in adopting a dog the day that it becomes available you must visit and meet the dog before the dogs availability date. If you have other animals and/or children at home you must bring them in for a meet and greet to see if they are compatible.

  18. Lynda says:

    We adopted what I am now believing to be 2 to 3-year-old black mountain cur. Maggie is a real sweetheart, very intelligent, very agreeable, and a quick learner. She loves to play either alone or with us and loves to sit out on our patio and survey her domain! She is great at sticking her nose into mole tunnels. I think she has driven the critters away. Although on the smaller side at 34 pounds, She’s very energetic and loves to amuse herself for a long periods of time with her toys or with us. She loves her walks and will display bursts of high energy which are followed by long long naps! I thought she was a lab mix as we have had many of those in the past. But she is so alert and barks to let you know what she needs (unlike my labs). She generally gets along with other dogs but not other females. she feels threatened by them or maybe she is protecting Med!. She is very Affectionate, but hates to be left alone she will bark like crazy when I have to leave the house which isn’t very often. She is such a great companion I’m so glad we found her. Never heard of this breed but saw a picture of a black one online and they are dead ringers for each other.

  19. Gloria Skeeters says:

    My Cur is 100% and brindle. Got her in Yellville, Arkansas. She is 3 months old
    Very fast and smart. Bit of a stinker yet. She gets along well with my female black lab.

  20. Rich Fraser says:

    Cory came into our lives through a rescue agency in December of 2016. He had been plucked from a drainage culvert in Mississippi and made his way north. He was believed to have been born in September, and the best guess that anyone had as to his breed was “retriever mix”. But it was those dark eyes and question mark tail that instantly imprinted on us, and we took him home.

    As the months went on, it was becoming clear he was not in any way a retriever, nor was he going to be a very large dog. But boy was he fast. And agile. And highly intelligent. A bit of a biter and a chewer (we’re still working on that). And easily trainable. He’ll do anything for food. Training sessions had to be short because he would get overloaded.

    But what breed was he? What other breeds have a bob tail? We watched the entire Westminster Kennel Club show and no dog looked remotely close like him. But then came Google to the rescue. We searched for breeds with bot tails and were at first disappointed. But one result led us to a Mountain Cur photo, and everything else fell into place. He matches all of the traits almost exactly! We had a Mountain Cur, a breed that I only had just learned was a thing.

    So yes, he needs a ton of exercise. When he doesn’t, he tends to get the “zoomies”, these high bursts of energy that really do help, so we just get out of the way. He knows that the wife and I are the Alpha and Beta, but our two grown sons can’t seem to assert themselves well enough. He’s turning into a wonderful camping dog, once you get him on the trails. But he’s not the friendliest with other dogs. I’ve never seen hackles raised on a dog like Cory does. So you just have to be careful. He doesn’t fight, though. He’s just making sure that there’s no threats to his humans. He doesn’t bark much, but when he does he says a lot. He has probably a dozen different barks depending on what he’s expressing. It doesn’t take long to figure out what’s on his mind. He’s not the love sponge that our golden mix was, but he does show affection in his own way.

    Cory is maturing into a terrific dog. The challenge for my wife and me is to keep training him constantly to keep his mind busy. Which will be easy; he will do anything for food.

    • G Markus says:

      I haven’t seen a picture of your dog but what you descrbe could also be a Carolina Dog. You may want to check on that.

      • Rich says:

        I did do some checking around on your suggestion, and I have to give you a lot of credit. It is very close. There are a lot of similarities, but there were enough differences with the head, ears, tail and body that it’s still not a match. I guess that’s to be expected and given the history of both breeds I wouldn’t be surprised if one didn’t develop off of another. Given that he was rescued from the wild and we know nothing about the parents, we’ll never know for sure just exactly what he is. Thanks again for the suggestion!

  21. Virginia says:

    Hi,

    We have been searching for a purebred mountain cur pup for a while and didn’t have much luck. I have dog allergy so I can only have hypoallergenic breeds. Anyone knows a reputable breeder along the northeast regions? I’m serious about getting the right pup for the family and we are willing to travel for the weekend to meet the pup and bring her home.

  22. Travis Taylor says:

    Our mtn cur was a rescue pup. We thought he was a Pit/Boxer mix at first
    We’ve been training & socializing him. He is a loving, protective, & active puppy; requiring multiple, daily trips to the dog park.
    Socializes well with other dogs off leash. He guards the back yard from his perch on the couch, looking out the window.
    Thick rope toys for tug and durable chews are best.
    He gets spooked by skateboards & is hit or miss with other dogs on leash.
    He is not destructive, and has full run of our home. Sweet couch potato puppy, after he’s gotten out his energy

  23. Terry C says:

    Our pup Max is just over 6 months and 70 lbs … no doubt in my mind that he’s all or very nearly all Cur – his momma was a very pregnant rescue dog . He has all the traits , dewclaws front and rear , posture and general build , bullheadedness , but he’s big . We live on 12 wooded acres so Max has plenty of room to run and play . It’s a constant battle at this age to remind him who is the boss , but I think Max is quite likely going to be the best dog I’ve ever owned .

  24. T says:

    Hello. I’ve enjoyed reading all of your comments, thank you. Good info! My boyfriend and I both big on anything outdoors, to include hunting and trapping. I am very interested in adding a mountain cur to our family. We have just purchased 300 acres of untampered woods that we are excited about exploring. Is anyone able to direct us on where to get more information on rescuing or buying one of these amazing dogs?

  25. Emily Maxwell says:

    Our undocumented mountain cur is wonderful with our young children! We socialized a lot, and she is great with other dogs and our cats as well. One piece of advice for anyone thinking of getting one, invest majorly in bones and other toys that require strong jaw action. Our dog enjoys chewing quite a lot, and the bones provide both a calming activity and teething help.

    • Cheryl says:

      I discovered the miracle of celery. My mountain cur pup would roll on his back whining a little like in discomfort. My daughter used celery for teething on her children. I tried it, it instantly soothed him whether it was his belly or teeth. It a natural analgesic, anti inflammatory, and aids digestion. He liked to lay on his back in my lap at bedtime. I’d hold one end of celery and he’d chew other end. He enjoyed it through the teething stage, doesn’t chew it anymore.

  26. Cat Elstun says:

    We just rescued a boxer-mountain cur. She is five months. We have boxers currently. We also have put ducks who are very much part of our family. Will the new dog see them as prey ? I know they like to tree squirrels and raccoons. Does anyone know how they are with birds ?

    • Sergey Uhanov (Certified Veterinarian) admin says:

      Hello!
      Experts say that the ‘Cur’ breeds may have hound ancestry, and they are originally meant to be hunting dogs. Many of these Curs can be used to herd livestock and hunt and retrieve birds. So, generally speaking, the instinct of hunting down birds is inherent in them. However, if you can train your dog accordingly from puppyhood, it might learn to peacefully juxtapose itself with pet birds or even refrain from chasing the ones that visit your garden.

  27. Galen says:

    We have a mountain cur female, somewhere between 9 and 11 years old – we’re not sure because we got her from a work friend, who got her from a shelter where she was taken after being abused when she was younger. Despite that, she is a wonderful family dog who loves to play and run around with lots of energy. She’s very protective and “defends” her yard from other dogs being walked – until she gets to know them and then she’s very friendly. However, we’ve noticed that she has recently developed a pretty bad limp which seems to be coming from one of her rear legs. How prone are mountain curs to hip dysplasia? She might be mixed with another breed, but we don’t know what that might be.

    • Sergey Uhanov (Certified Veterinarian) admin says:

      Hello!
      Mountain Curs are not immune to dysplasia. If you are in doubt about your dog’s health, you must not take long to take her to the nearest vet.

  28. Lori says:

    How are mountain curs with same sex dogs and can they be trained to leave birds alone? I have a parrot. I’m thinking of rescuing a 11 month old male cur mix I have a large yard have a extremely large standard poodle he can play with. also how are they with small dogs I have a French bulldog?

  29. Deb says:

    We have a cur, female, how 4 years old. Got her as a puppy because our Newfoundland/Lab has hip dysplasia and wanted Mabel (cur) to know her place in the pecking order so as not to harm the Newfie.

    We since then adopted a golden retriever (whom died) and then a Basset Hound/Lab mix. At first the basset was possessive of his toys but I put a stop to that and that only lasted a day or so. They play all the time now. All 3 of them. She also, loved the golden (Newman).

    Mabel is very affectionate, little shy with other dogs, loves to tree squirrels, and a happy girl.

  30. Karen B says:

    I adopted a Cur/Shepard mix when he was about a year old. Now six, Sammy is one of the best dogs I’ve ever had! Never thought I’d find a dog as great as my Mastiff was, but I certainly did in Sammy! He is so laid back, loves everyone he meets and loves to snuggle! Never barks at people, just critters he sees or hers outside! He will pick up a scent and go in point! He does shed a bit, but he is definitely more cur than Shepard. Love my boy and looking forward to many more happy years with him!

    • Anna Trapane says:

      Hi, I just rescued a Cur/Shepherd– more Cur than Shepherd. She is almost 11 months old and I love her to pieces. I am noticing that she is very attached to me and my mother (we’ve spent the most time with her), but she is very standoffish with mostly everyone else until she really gets to meet them. She does well with my other dogs and doesn’t seem to be bothered by cats. However, she does not seem to like dogs when she is walking on the leash. She is also very weary of human strangers– she tends to growl or bark when she is meeting a person or animal for the first time. BUT, she does great at the dog park (maybe because she is off the leash??).

      Did you have any issues like that? Also I know it is very important to assert yourself as the “pack leader.” How did you do this with Sammy?

      Thanks!

  31. Anna W says:

    We rescued ours when he was 5 months old. Doesn’t shed a ton. Very easy to groom. Barks occasionally. Medium sized dog. He is over a year old and weighs about 45 pounds but can weigh anywhere from 30 to 60 pounds full grown. He is wonderful with our toddler. Very protective. Had an issue with biting while playing when he was a puppy. But we used redirection and it worked pretty well. I recommend the Kong toys or deer antlers. He tears thru other toys. Doesn’t bite the furniture.

  32. Christine RN says:

    My cur and cat are up in arms though Colt (the cur) is not yet 3 months old.

  33. Shelly Burns says:

    I have had Lab/Retrievers for my whole life. After loosing my last fur baby, my daughters female became pregnant. The mother is a Retriever/Cocker and the father is full Mountain Cur. We brought Naula home when she was 6 weeks old. She will now be 10 weeks old tomorrow and I am at my whits end with her. I walk her atleast 3 times per day. She is leashed trained and loves walks. I had her potty trained and then in the last week, she waits till she is in the house and then does her duty. We can go on a hour walk and she will do her business on the walk and then we come into the back yard and play for 15 minutes or so. As soon as I get her into the house, she does her duty again and just looks at me. My husband and I work during the day, but we have a puppy sitter come take her out midway and take her for a walk also. She is VERY aggressive to me but will submit to my husband. I have held her down until she submits but this only works for maybe 10 minutes and then she is back to being naughty. I do not know what to do with her. Any suggestions would be great!!!

  34. kelly says:

    I have a 4 year old mountain cur brindle male. He is very smart and learned very quickly. We have kept him as a indoor pet with a large back yard for him, he cannot be let free because he gets on a scent or sees a wild animal and takes off. He is very possessive over the family as we have other dogs and if they go near us he pushes them away for attention and will even begin to play fight with them to get them to go away, every time they come near us. He also is extremely stubborn. If he doesn’t want to do something he will ignore you and drop all his body weight to not move. I have a 5 year old daughter and he has always been very good with her and snuggles her, just doesn’t like when she tries to lay on top of him. We had to get him another dog because of his high energy and we got him a female puppy plott hound who is now over a year old. I tried him around other dogs at dog parks and he never seemed interested in them (always would rather chase a ball or sniff the park) but when we introduced him to this dog he loved her. They are very particular dogs and seem to have the mentality that they should get what they want. I’ve owned labs, huskys, beagles, shar peis, ect and none have come close to the level of stubbornness.

  35. Carole says:

    I agree a lot with what I have read based on our Mountain Cur pup. She is a bit of a Jekyll-Hyde, also very possessive of her bones with our lab mix. She is a happy camper when she gets her walk, but a little pesky when she doesn’t. We feel like we need to get some help training her to avoid her becoming too dominant because we have witnessed her aggressive side. She walks on the leash pretty good with our other two dogs. She does chase our small dog at times like she is prey and can get too rough with her. She is soo sweet and smart and loves our praise and will do many tricks just to please us. She can find any dead thing in the yard or on a walk, and wants to eat what she finds. Yuk. I wouldn’t recommend this dog for a novice, inactive family though. We think she will be a great family dog for us- we just need her to know her place in the pack.

  36. glen g says:

    Finally! Many after his passing, and thanks to 101 Dog Breeds, I now realize the best dog I ever had was a Mtn Cur.
    “Winston” was abandoned at my door in a remote location in Western North Carolina. The last thing I wanted or needed was another dog. But the little guy started to grow on me after a week or so. Locals told me he was a Cur but until today I always thought he was just some kind of pit bull mix.
    Winston turned out to be a truly amazing animal. Loyal, strong, fearless, determined. Some annoying habits as well! Pig headed and stubborn on certain issues, such as his mortal hatred for cats and water. With other male dogs it was either instantaneous friend or foe. But his finer traits more than balanced his faults. Constantly amusing, my best friend for almost 17 years. A wonderful animal, I miss him even now.

    • christie says:

      I have a what I truly believe to be a mountain curr/ chessie cross. He seems to pick and choose dogs to be friends with or not. He has an over the top prey drive and so my cats are always in danger and anything he sees as prey. He is forever in alert stance whether we are taking a walk or he is home relaxing but he never seems to truly relax if the cats are about he will focus on them with way to much intensity, same with anything he sees as prey squirrels rabbits small dogs etc,he pays little attention to dogs barking in the neighborhood dogs running the fence and carrying on however puts him in alert mode and he takes the attitude bring it on. Not a dog that I would say just anyone should own. Must be supervised, and socialized and live with a person who can be a secure pack leader

  37. Bob says:

    Hi, i was thinking to get a mountain cur. Do you think the breed is right for me an my family?
    We have a large house with a garden, 2 kids age 10 & 13, there is a park round the corner, we need a good guard dog as well as a good family dog, we are not interested in hunting and we are experienced as we had a doberman in the past.
    Thanx

  38. Beatriz says:

    We are thinking about getting this breed for a family dog and we live in a apartment 2 bed 2bath. We have a 1 year old and a 3 year old both girls and we need a family dog as well as a protective dog. In case Simone tries to come in or something. Are this good family dogs. With kids to I am seeing that there really protective and will attack strangers or anything. Is that true to please help

    • Sergey Uhanov (Certified Veterinarian) admin says:

      Yes, these dogs are really protective, and at times, over protective too. It is not because they are dangerous, but that they are possessive, and love their masters a bit too much. It is not unlikely that they won’t attack strangers or intruders. However, if you have never experienced owning a dog before, you might want to think twice before adopting this breed. For more information, you can go through the ‘Temperament and Behavior’ section in this page.

  39. Ashley Cochrane says:

    Hi! I’m considering getting a cur/lab mix. However, I live in an apartment. My boyfriend likes to run and we like to go on walks together so regular exercise won’t be a problem. However, my apartment complex has a 50lbs limit on weight and they tend to restrict aggressive and protective dogs (They list labs on this list). Will my prospective puppy be within the weight limit and temperament for my apartment complex?

    • Sergey Uhanov (Certified Veterinarian) admin says:

      Hi!
      Labradors can weigh anything between 55-79 lbs, whereas Mountain Curs would be between 30 and 60. So, there is a high chance that your lab/cur mix would cross the weight deadline. Curs are said to be protective, courageous, and tough dogs, but Labradors are relatively even-tempered and gentle, but also outgoing. Now if your pup’s dominant gene comes from the Cur, he/she might get the same temperament.

  40. Raccoon hunter says:

    They are good with kids I was 14 and got the pick of the litter from my uncles puppies and had him for the next 2 years he lived inside and outside he slept in my bed ate what I ate and did whatever I did for the next 2 years untill he passed

  41. Buzz says:

    We have a Lab/Cur mix from Lab Rescue of Tampa… 10 months old at time of adoption… Now 18 months. We’ve had two full bred Labs before and I understand the Lab personality very well after 25 years with them.

    This guy is a great dog and we love him to death but he doesn’t have the Lab personality… He’s a hunter, trees every critter in sight, and will dig a 3 foot deep hole in the yard in 30 seconds trying to find a gecko that burrowed down into the the mulch!!! He loves kids and is strong As a bull!!!

    He’s just not interested in the things my former Labs were crazed about… Playing frisbee, catching tennis balls, or retrieving. I want to play with him outside but he’s far more interested in treeing squirrels and digging for geckos!!! He’s very social at the dog park.

    He rides with me wherever I go… But I’m struggling to find some activities we can enjoy together since I don’t tree squirrels or geckos… LOL…

    Any ideas??? Feel free to comment!!!

    • Sergey Uhanov (Certified Veterinarian) admin says:

      Hello!
      Seems like your dog is brimming with energy, and love activities involving digging or pricking or just running after something in particular. For that, you can try something similar, e.g. you can give your dog food puzzle toys. These are hardy containers made of rubber or plastic that hold food, having holes on both ends or the sides, and it is for the dog to open it somehow and get the treat. Initially, when you introduce your dog with such a container, keep things easy, so that your dog can easily reach the food. As your pet becomes an expert, make it harder and harder every day. Your dog will get a lot of chance to satisfy his instinct of shaking, biting, pawing, nibbling, rolling, or licking!

    • Amanda Jane says:

      You and your dog might enjoy dock dogs (dock jumping) or joining a tracking group. Agility might be another good fit. I think tracking or search and rescue would be fun for you since you can be outside together and he gets to find something! You can practice tracking in your home by dropping treats in a trail and have him find you or a prize 🙂

    • Michael says:

      hi we are looking at what has been identified as a possible Lab/Cur mix (they are not certain at the rescue organization in Illinois, he was originally rescued in North Carolina where this breed perhaps is more prevalent) for a rescue adoption. Would you be willing to post a picture to see if your dog looks anything like the dog we are considering? To your question, I know that with the dog we are looking to rescue they strongly suggesting jogging/running as a physical activity and agility training. Thanks in advance

      • Judy says:

        North Carolina is where the “plott hound” is very common as that is the area the “plott’s” settled when they came to our country with their pure bred “plott hound”. The Plott hound looks almost identical to the dog that is being called a “mountain cut”.
        I am very curious to know if these breeds are related somehow, if anyone knows, please comment…

        • Nancy says:

          I always thought the plott hound came from the bloodhound but just read they’re a cross of BH and cur. I have my 2nd PH now and am in LOVE with the breed! Strong pretty drive and it takes a lot of work to leash train but so worth it! Devoted, fun, loving, sensitive but tough!

  42. Jeff says:

    For the cur left alone, try a cat. Our wonderful 5 year old Mountain Cur was raised with a cat, and they are best friends. My wife and I both work outside the home comma so those two are left alone all day with only each other’s company. This works great for us.

  43. Helga Maggi says:

    My husband and I have a 9 year old female mountain cur which we love very much. We do not leave her tied up outside and she stays in the house with us overnight. When we are both at work, we keep her downstairs in the basement in a separate room with a raised bed and plenty of water. Within the past year, she has started to chew the wooden frame of inside door as well as the wooden door itself. Could she be getting separation anxiety? It is becoming a problem. She has not hurt her teeth or gums yet. We are hesitant to leave a chew toy all day with her and have not been crating her. Any suggestions?

    • Sam says:

      I am really interested in this dog type. Did you have the dog as a puppy? Was she a chewer when she was a puppy? Does she shed a lot? Barker? Smell? How big?

    • Asia Moore says:

      This is a very intelligent, independent-thinking, highly energetic hunting and herding dog — she is bored beyond belief being left along all day locked in your house — surprised she has not become seriously neurotic after such treatment. The only way she can tell you how unhappy she is, is by chewing the wooden frame and door. This is a dog that lives for activity, especially outdoors, so NO, she is not experiencing separation anxiety — she is experiencing daily torture. She is bored and under-exercised – Find an energetic dog walker to take her our for at least an hour of vigorous activity while you are at work and your problems with disappear. Asia M, Author and Dog Whisperer

  44. Trina says:

    As an owner of original breed mountain curs and also an owner of a home daycare I have to disagree with your assumption that they are not good with kids – these dogs are beyond amazing with children ! We also attend many youth hunts and see all these wonderful dogs with their children .

    • Sergey Uhanov (Certified Veterinarian) admin says:

      Hello,
      Thanks for that piece of info. We have considered your suggestion and have updated the article accordingly.
      Regards,
      Admin.

      • Kevin Simon says:

        I also have cuts with other dogs and it has excellent relationships with them. The only thing that if the other dog gets aggressive the original mountain cur will correct it then go back to wanting to play with it.

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