Mountain Cur

Intelligent, loyal and dependable, the Mountain Cur bonds closely with his owner and considers his primary duties to protect and please his human family. The Mountain Cur can be reserved with strangers, but responds well to training provided he’s been well-socialized with plenty of human interaction. The breed also makes for a wonderful family companion and watchdog.

The Mountain Cur has a short, dense, tightly knit coat that’s fairly easy to care for. Occasional brushing to remove any dead or loose hair, as well as occasional bathing, will keep his coat in tiptop shape. Keep in mind he sheds twice a year, during which more frequent brushing is essential. He should also receive regular nail trimming and ear cleaning. This active breed should be exercised frequently, such as being taken on long daily walks, to keep him physically and mentally engaged. Intelligent and eager to please, the Mountain Cur also enjoys participating in performance events and other outdoor activities and sports. The breed tends to be stubborn and territorial, so a firm pack leader is needed, as well as early training and socialization to ensure he’s well-mannered around people and other pets.

• Major Concerns: N/A
• Minor Concerns: N/A
• Occasionally Seen: N/A
• Suggested Tests: N/A
• Lifespan: 10 to 13 years

A true all-American pioneer dog, the Mountain Cur is a relatively new breed, having only been declared a breed in 1957. Prior to that, the early settlers used these dogs to guard family and livestock against wild animals and other intruders on the rugged frontier in the mountains of what is now Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. The Mountain Cur also was used to track and tree wild game as a source of the family’s food. Frontiersmen also used the wild game as a means to provide for their families by selling the furs for money. Although the breed’s exact origin is unknown, as the pioneers didn’t document the Mountain Cur’s pedigrees, the Original Mountain Cur Breeders of America formed upon declaration of the breed in 1957, and the United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1998.