Mountain Cur

Grooming Tips

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.

Exercise Tips

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.

Feeding Tips

The Mountain Cur should do well on 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 whichhuman foodsare 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.

Health Tips

The Mountain Cur is a generally healthy dog. The proper amount of exercise will keep them in top shape.Working with aresponsible breeder, prospective owners can gain the education they need to learn about specific health concerns within the breed.

Trainability

Mountain Curs are extremely smart dogs and they love having a job,which is why they excel in dog sports. Some may be difficult to train, while others are more agreeable. Either way, be prepared to be the pack leader. They are friendly with the people they know, but may also see small pets, such as cats, as prey.When they are in their own territory, they are watchful guard dogs and will protect their resources and family. Early socialization is key to keeping a well-mannered pet, and they are trainable enough to become therapy dogs.

The Mountain Cur was declared a breed in 1957 with the organization of the Original Mountain Cur Breeders of America (OMCBA). Prior to that time, dogs of this type could only be found in very remote, rural areas, and there were no organized breeding records.The most common strains of Mountain Cur included the McConnell, Stephens, Ledbetter, Arline and York strains. OMCBA was able to assemble breeders and register the original-type Mountain Cur. On the last weekend of September 1991, a group of men and women met at Robert and Lou Ella Kemmer's house and formed a new breed club that registered a strain of linebred cur that became known as the Kemmer Stock Mountain Cur.These curs are Mountain Curs that are bred from the above-mentioned lines. The best was bred to the best and then linebred. Kemmer Stock Mountain Curs were first registered with the Kemmer Stock Mountain Cur Breeders’ Association (KSBA). Mountain Curs from OMBCA and KSBA provided the foundation stock for the UKC Mountain Cur breed. Today these dogs are used on squirrel, raccoon, and all types of big game.