The Mountain Cur is a muscular and powerful working dog that loves having a job to do. These purebred dogs do not tolerate sitting around the house for extended periods, and much prefer being outdoors as much as possible. They are happiest when they are off-leash and allowed to roam, run, sniff, and chase as they please. Having a Mountain Cur as a pet is certainly a lot of responsibility as they can easily become bored if they are not exercised, and mentally stimulated enough. As most dog owners know, a bored doggo can often turn into a destructive doggo, and the Mountain Cur will have no issue tearing apart your shoes if they have too much pent-up energy.

The exact history of this dog is not certain, however, they appeared in the United States, specifically Kentucky and Tennessee, in the 1940s and are descendants of Cur breeds from Europe. The Mountain Cur became critically important to the well-being of farms in the mountainous regions as they were capable of assisting in many different ways. These dogs were used to hunt small animals, guard the property, and even herd livestock. Their well-rounded abilities were a great asset to the farmers, and the Mountain Cur still works on farms until this day. These athletic breeds are also often referred to as ā€œMountain Kerrā€ and ā€œPioneer Dogā€.

Anyone that has a Mountain Cur at home will tell you how stubborn they are, and this is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to having them as a pet. They are extremely intelligent dogs, but they just donā€™t like being told what to do. For this reason, an experienced owner is necessary, and firm, consistent training is critical, especially when they are puppies. The Mountain Cur can become very difficult to control if they are not well-trained. 

This mid-sized dog weighs 30-60 pounds and is known to be very territorial. They make excellent watchdogs, and you can be sure that nobody will be walking on your property without hearing your Mountain Curs’ deep, intimidating bark. Their territorial nature typically results in them being wary of strangers, and they do not always get along well with other dogs. As a family dog, the Mountain Cur is very loyal and will become close to everyone in the household. They may appear tough to the outside world, but they become big affectionate softies when they are around their beloved family.