Mountain Cur

Brindle and white Mountain Cur standing in grassy field
  • Size:
    Medium
  • Weight:
    30 to 60 pounds. There is no breed standard.
  • Coat:
    Short, dense, and tightly knit coat that sheds twice a year
  • Color:
    Black, blue, brindle, brown, red, or yellow with white markings and tan or brindle points
  • Energy:
    High

The Mountain Cur is a treeing hunting dog that can be a versatile farmhand when needed. Smart, agile, and trainable, they were essential to early pioneer life. They have a clear, alert bark that also makes them excellent watchdogs.

Mountain Cur Dog Breed Overview

The Mountain Cur dog has been around since the days of frontiersmen. They helped settlers as watchdogs and guards throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. They were also used for treeing, or chasing prey up trees, for hunters. Loyal and steadfast, they love to please their owners by completing a job. They can be aloof around those they don’t know, but when confident, they make good family dogs.  

Mountain Cur Facts

  • Originally bred to be hardworking, all-encompassing farmhands.  
  • They are good treeing dogs, helping chase prey up trees for hunters.  
  • They were first declared a breed in 1957, although there is no official breed standard.
  • They were an essential part of life for frontiersmen and people in Appalachia.
  • Mountain Curs have a high prey drive.  
  • They are loyal and trustworthy dogs.

How to Care for Your Mountain Cur

Here’s what you need to know about caring for your Mountain Cur dog, including nutrition and feeding, grooming and hygiene, and living arrangements.

Nutrition & Feeding

What to Feed a Mountain Cur

Mountain Cur dogs were bred to work and need a hearty diet full of good nutrients like high-quality protein and moderate fat content. These nutrients are available in formulas like Purina Pro Plan Sport and Purina ONE True Instinct, which contain added vitamins and minerals for health.

How Much to Feed a Mountain Cur

These dogs are highly active and will come to each meal hungry. You should feed them on a schedule to help them maintain a healthy weight, usually twice a day. Check your dog’s bag of food or talk to your vet about how much to feed them, preferably spread out over a morning and evening feeding. If you want a specific recommendation on how much food to feed a Mountain Cur, try Purina’s Feeding Guide Calculator to give you an exact amount based on your dog’s weight, activity level, and more.

Treats & Supplements

Mountain Curs generally do not need supplements, but could potentially benefit from a joint supplement to prevent hip dysplasia, a common condition in older medium- to large-sized breeds, or fish oil for coat health. This is something you can consult your veterinarian about first. Even though the Mountain Cur is a highly active dog, treats should be given sparingly and in association with positive reinforcement training.

Health & Wellness

Veterinary Care

Even hardy dogs like Mountain Curs need regular vet visits for vaccines, parasite prevention, and more. Part of being a responsible dog owner also includes good dental hygiene and talking to your vet about spaying or neutering your dog.

Mountain Cur Enrichment & Exercise Needs

The Mountain Cur can be a tireless dog, bred to work. To keep them happy, provide them with plenty of exercise, including hiking, running, swimming, and long walks, as well as mental stimulation such as obedience training and games. They might even enjoy dog sports, something they can do with their owners. A Mountain Cur that has not been sufficiently tired can become destructive, but if they are tired, they are happy – and generally mellow dogs.

Understanding Your Mountain Cur’s Behavior

The Mountain Cur dog has served many purposes for pioneers and frontiersmen over the years, and that has resulted in a strong prey drive and a dog that barks to alert. They are independent thinkers with a stubborn streak who need consistent training. They can be standoffish with people they don’t know and highly protective, so socializing them is important to get them to be more confident in a variety of situations and around different people.

What to Expect as Your Mountain Cur Ages

As your dog ages, they might experience conditions like hip dysplasia, cataracts, ear infections, and more, all of which are normal for elderly working dogs and which can be managed with regular vet visits. A dog food specifically made for senior dogs can help them with their mental clarity and aging bodies.

Grooming & Hygiene

Skin & Coat Health

Mountain Cur dogs have fairly low-maintenance, short and dense coats that are designed specifically for the kind of outdoor work they were bred to do. They can get by with regular brushing to redistribute the oils in their coat. You might need to go up in brushing frequency when they are shedding, which happens twice a year. They only need baths when they are dirty to help keep their coat’s natural oils intact and prevent dry skin.

Ear, Paw & Dental Care

The Mountain Cur should get regular ear and paw checks for infections, scrapes, and cuts. Regularly trim their nails and get your dog on a dental routine to prevent tooth decay and tartar buildup.

Anal Gland Care

Medium to large breeds like the Mountain Cur usually don’t have problems with abscesses or obstructed anal glands, but if your dog is scooting, licking excessively, straining to go to the bathroom, or emitting a foul-smelling odor, call your vet for help expressing their anal glands.

Living With a Mountain Cur

Living Space

Mountain Cur dogs were bred to help pioneers. They feel most at home outside, so a house with a large, fenced-in yard is best for their overall well-being. They can be aloof with strangers, which can cause them to bark, and they like to dig, so a well-secured fence is a must with these dogs. As hard as they work outside, they love to rest near their families, to whom they are devoted. They require their own space indoors, such as a crate fit for a medium to large dog and a dog bed.

Socialization

The Mountain Cur has a strong prey drive and instinct to protect. Socializing them and exposing them to different situations early on can help build up their confidence in group settings. They have extremely high energy levels, so they do best with families that have older children (or no children) that can devote time and attention to getting them the stimulation they need.

Climate Considerations

Because they were originally bred in Appalachia, Mountain Curs do well in temperate to slightly warmer climates. They have a dense coat that can insulate them somewhat against cold weather, but exposure to extreme conditions should be avoided. They are comfortable in warmer climates, but extreme heat should also be avoided as they can overheat. Because they like to spend a lot of time outdoors, it’s a good idea to monitor your Mountain Cur in warmer months for heat stroke and make sure they have plenty of access to shade and water.

Potential Challenges

For the right owner who loves the outdoors and has plenty of access to it, the Mountain Cur is a great breed. They do have a high prey drive, but recall training and plenty of mental stimulation can help them overcome it. They can be excessive barkers because they have treeing instincts, but this can also be worked on with training. If they are not given enough physical and mental stimulation, they could become destructive out of boredom and chew, dig, or create mischief. To give them mental and physical stimulation at once, try switching things up with dog agility or obstacle courses. Mountain Curs are independent thinkers, but good training from an early age can help them understand their place in the world.

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