What You Should Know About the Black Mouth Cur

If you own a ranch or need a hunting dog, a good breed choice is the Black Mouth Cur. It was a popular dog among early settlers in the southern U.S. When they moved west, the dogs did too. The colonists liked how the breed easily adapted for work and how they were confident, protective, and loyal. The Black Mouth Cur’s outstanding qualities make it an excellent choice for outdoor people, but they can also make excellent family dogs.

What Colors Are They?

Black Mouth Curs appear in varying shades of tan and brindle. Their muzzle can be black, tan, or the color of their coat. They are sturdy, muscular, and built for rugged work life. They have mid-sized hanging ears with a short or a long tail.

Can They Live in an Apartment?

Black Mouth Curs aren’t well suited for apartment living. Since they were bred for working, they need plenty of exercises and will be happiest with at least a large yard. They need long, vigorous daily walks and can be great jogging companions. Without exercise, they could develop behavior problems.

How is Their Temperament?

The Black Mouth Cur is even-tempered, loyal, and affectionate, making them great emotional support dogs. They can be suspicious of strangers, though, and are protective of their family. This breed needs to get plenty of exercises and have room to roam to avoid any behavior problems.

Do They Have Any Health Issues?

Black Mouth Curs are not known for having a lot of health issues. Since they’ve always been bred as working dogs, they have never been considered purebred. Consequently, they have benefited from a wide gene pool. They have a long life span of 12 to 16 years, and some live up to 18 years.

Do They Require Grooming?

The Black Mouth Cur is a very low-maintenance breed. They have short fur, so they don’t need constant brushing. They only require nail clipping and ear cleaning like all other breeds. The Black Mouth Curs shed an average amount, and their fur can stick to furniture, clothes, and carpet, but it doesn’t entirely cover them.

Are They Easy to Train?

Although Black Mouth Curs are considered excellent working dogs, they’re not known for being easy to train. They’re very intelligent, but they may also be stubborn when they want to. However, they are easily housebroken and train easily for hunting. They can be trained for other things too, but it usually takes longer than with other breeds.

What Should You Feed a Black Mouth Cur?

Feed your Black Mouth Cur a large breed dog food formula since it’s a medium to large-sized breed. If you take your Cur hunting or herding, feed it a formula for active dogs to fulfill its energy needs. Use a mix of wet and dry food.

How Big Does a Black Mouth Cur Get?

Since there are several different types within the Black Mouth Cur breed, their weight can range anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds. The males are larger than females, so males range from 18 to 25 inches long while the females are 16 to 23 inches. Their litter size is anywhere between 4 to 10 puppies.

What Is Their History?

No one knows their exact origins, but Black Mouth Curs were bred in the Southern U.S. by early settlers for farming. Farmers typically cross-bred them and usually kept no records. Until recently, Curs were unpedigreed. In the 20th century, various types of Black Mouth Cur had been developed, with some being bred by specific families or regions.

Do They Get Along With Cats?

Although not considered aggressive, the Black Mouth Cur is territorial and can be protective of its family. It can get along well with other dogs, but if you have a cat, bunny, or other small animals, you shouldn’t get a Black Mouth Cur, as they have a strong prey instinct that may put the small animals at risk.