Mountain Cur facts for kids
A young Mountain Cur
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| Origin | United States | ||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||
The Mountain Cur is a special type of working dog. These dogs are bred to help people hunt small animals like squirrels and raccoons. They are also great at hunting bigger animals, such as bears and wild boars. Many Mountain Curs also work as all-around farm dogs.
These dogs are part of the Hound family. The Mountain Cur is one of several kinds of "cur" dogs. They can even be used as water dogs! Most Mountain Curs come from Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The United Kennel Club has officially recognized them since 1998.
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A Look Back: Mountain Cur History
The Mountain Cur came to America about 200 years ago. Settlers from Europe brought them to the mountains of Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Later, they spread to Arkansas and Oklahoma. These dogs were very important for the settlers. They helped guard families and homes. They also chased and treed game, which means they would make animals climb trees. This helped settlers get meat and furs.
During World War II, many families left their farms. They moved to cities to work in factories. Because of this, fewer people were breeding Mountain Curs. By the late 1940s, the breed was becoming very rare.
Saving the Breed
Luckily, four people helped save the Mountain Cur. They were Hugh Stephens and Woody Huntsman from Kentucky, Carl McConnell from Virginia, and Dewey Ledbetter from Tennessee. These four friends worked together to bring the breed back. In 1956, they started the Original Mountain Cur Breeders' Association. They also created a standard for what a Mountain Cur should look like.
Later, some disagreements happened about the breed standard. Because of this, Hugh Stephens and Carl McConnell left the group. They then started their own group called the Stephen Stock Mountain Cur Association.
In the 1980s and 1990s, a new type of Mountain Cur was developed. It was called the Mountain View Cur. Michael and Marie Bloodgood from Afton, New York created this new type.
What Makes a Mountain Cur Special?
How They Look
Mountain Curs have short coats. Their fur can be blue, black, yellow, brown, or brindle. Brindle means they have stripes or streaks of different colors. Some Mountain Curs might also have white spots on their face or chest.
Male Mountain Curs usually weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. They stand about 18 to 26 inches tall. Female Mountain Curs are a bit smaller. They weigh the same but are 16 to 24 inches tall.
Their Personality
Mountain Curs are very smart dogs. They are easy to train and love to please their owners. They are not mean or shy. But don't think they are softies! Historically, many Curs bravely protected their families. They would even fight dangerous animals to keep their loved ones safe.
These dogs were bred to work hard. If they don't have a job, they can get bored or anxious. A "job" could be hunting, guarding, or helping around a farm. When they have something to do, they are usually happy and well-behaved. They also tend to get along well with children and other pets.
Staying Healthy
Mountain Curs can live for a long time, usually between 14 and 16 years. There are no specific health problems that are common only to this breed. This means they are generally very healthy dogs!
