The Mountain Cur is a hunting dog with a good treeing instinct. It is a very courageous fighter and extremely intelligent, doing whatever job its master desires. The dogs were a crucial part of the cultures of early pioneers, settlers, and homesteaders.
The Mountain Cur should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
The short hair of the Mountain Cur is easy to care for. Occasionally brush him to remove the dead and loose hair; a rubber curry comb or shedding blade works well for this. His coat sheds twice a year, so at these times, more frequent brushing may be necessary. Bathe him only when necessary, since it can dry out his skin. Trim nails and clean ears when needed.
Mountain Curs are very active dogs. When not hunting, they need to have physical and mental exercise, such as long daily walks, or they may become bored and destructive. During these walks, owners must be sure to make their dog heel to reinforce that they are the leader of the pack. Otherwise, Mountain Curs are great candidates for performance events and enjoy outdoor activities and sports.
The Mountain Cur is a generally healthy dog. The proper amount of exercise will keep them in top shape. Working with a responsible breeder, prospective owners can gain the education they need to learn about specific health concerns within the breed.
Mountain Curs are the true All-American Pioneer dog. They were a necessity to the frontier family and it is likely that the Southern Mountains could not have been settled without them. They were one of the biggest assets that the settlers had in the rough and unforgiving country of the Mountains. They guarded the family and livestock against wild animals or intruders.
They were used to catch, tree, or hole wild game for the family’s food. Until the 1940s, these dogs were part of the way of life for the frontiersmen. They used money from sold furs that their dogs hunted to provide for their families. The exact origins of this breed are undocumented, as there was no need for an official pedigree among the pioneers.
The Mountain Cur was declared a breed in 1957 with the organization of the Original Mountain Cur Breeders of America (OMCBA). The most common strains of Mountain Cur included the McConnell, Stephens, Ledbetter, Arline and York strains, the categories being named after the owners of the dogs.