The Black Mouth Cur is a medium sized dog that has historically always been a working dog. With extremely high energy levels and with a strong, determined mind, this purebred dog certainly isn’t for first time owners but can thrive in an active family who love to spend time outside and have experience with a pup.
The Black Mouth Cur is incredibly intelligent and highly trainable, and is also known for their great loyalty to their people, but their needs can be high. Read on below to find out more about this interesting dog.
History Of The Black Mouth
The Black Mouth Cur has a desire to work and keep active. They are hunting dogs and are designed to move quickly over harsh terrain for long periods of time. “Cur” is the name for a dog with a working heritage that has a short coat and drop ears. They are often used by farmers to protect their home, hunt and herd cattle and sheep for slaughter — which is why they are known for being so versatile!
The Black Mouth Cur was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1998. The means that they have a breed standard and it can help us to identify them more easily. We will go into more detail about that later on.
Breed Origin
Curs were thought to have originated from Europe and Asia, although the Black Mouth Cur also has ties to the Southern United States and is often known as the “Southern Cur Dog”. It is unknown which state the dog appeared in first, but it is likely to be Tennessee or Mississippi.
There are actually three different variations of the Black Mouth Cur depending on where they originate from. The Foundation Black Mouth Curs come from Texas while the Ladner Yellow Black Mouth Cur come from Mississippi. The Black Mouth Curs come from Florida.
Characteristics Of Black Mouth Cur
As we mentioned above, because the Black Mouth Cur is recognized by the AKC, it means that they have a breed standard. This means that certain traits and characteristics help to define a dog breed and can help us spot them more easily.
Black Mouth Cur puppies are normally born in litter sizes of 3 to 12. You can expect to pay anywhere between $300 and $500 for one of these dogs. It is likely that you will see these puppies labelled as herding and farm dogs. However, some of these lines of puppies will have been bred over generations and these particular traits may not be so present.
In general, male Black Mouth Curs are better at hunting because they are larger and more intimidating. You may want to get a male if you plan on using them as a working dog. Female Black Mouth Curs make better house pets because they are smaller and they also mature faster. The Black Mouth Cur is likely to mature between 12 and 18 months of age.
Appearance
The Black Mouth Cur is a medium sized dog that is both powerful and muscular. Their body is usually square, although at least longer than tall. They have a large head and their ears, normally set high up on their head, drop to a medium length. Sometimes, Black Mouth Cur’s can have webbed feet.
When they are fully grown, a male should be no shorter than 18 inches, and a female should be no shorter than 16 inches. They can weigh between 35 to 40 lbs.
Coat
The Black Mouth Cur’s coat is short and dense and it can be coarse, rough or fine. They do not have many grooming requirements, although we will go into more detail about that below.
Color
These dogs can come in a range of colors. This includes red, yellow, fawn, black, brown, buckskin and brindle.
Although their name is the Black Mouth Cur, the breed standard accepts dogs without the black muzzle.
Temperament
It comes as no surprise that the Black Mouth Cur is a very active and energized dog. Due to their herding and hunting past, these pups need to be kept busy and exercised. Without the right amount of exercise, these dogs can become frustrated and bored and start showing destructive beahviors. They have also been known to escape when not given enough to keep them entertained!
The Black Mouth Cur is also known to escape when they are left alone for long periods of time. This loyal dog knows it is their duty to protect their owners and their home and therefore want to be around you all the time. If you leave them alone for too long they can begin to exhibit separation anxiety which again can lead to unwanted behaviors.
That being said, the Black Mouth Cur is a friendly dog who gets on especially well with their family and with other strangers too. Their intelligence also means they are a dream to train and you can teach them tricks and play fun games with them. They also don’t have a tendency to bark, which can be a bonus!
Lifespan
Because the Black Mouth Cur is a healthy dog, they have a long life expectancy and can live up to 18 years old. The average is anywhere between 12 and 18 years old.
Known Health Issues
The Black Mouth Cur is a typically very healthy breed because they were originally bred for hunting. The main issue that these pups face are health problems with their ears. Because their ears are dropped, they can be prone to infection, especially if they enjoy swimming. Therefore, you should try to check their ears as often as possible to catch any signs of ear infections before it becomes a real concern.
Daily Life
Now we have explored the Cur breed standard and what characteristics and temperament you can expect from this breed, it is time to take a look at what everyday life with one of these dogs is like.
Food And Diet
The Black Mouth Cur is an active dog and therefore needs high-quality, nutritional food to keep them strong and energized. A dog of this size will need roughly 1000 calories a day, which equates to roughly 2 cups of kibble a day. You should always check the back of the food packet to see how much of a particular food you should be feeding them based on their weight.
The Black Mouth Cur needs both protein and fat in their diet to help keep their muscles lean and to keep their energy levels up. As a puppy, you should split their food into three meals a day. This can then be reduced to two meals a day as they mature into an adult.
Black Mouth Curs are prone to gaining weight, so make sure you do not overfeed them. Try to minimize the amount of treats you give them too, and keep the treats healthy when you can.
Best Dog Food For The Black Mouth Cur
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We recommend the SPORT Formula dog food from Purina Pro Plan for the Black Mouth Cur. As the Black Mouth Cur is a very active dog, they need a lot of protein in their diet. This kibble from Purina contains 26% protein and 16% fat to help your pup maintain lean muscles and an ideal body condition.
With chicken as the number one ingredient, this food is easy to digest and helps to promote nutrient absorption. There are also many antioxidants in the recipe to support your dog’s immune system, as well as high-quality sources of carbohydrates for sustained energy. Even better, this food is manufactured in the US so you can be sure it is safe for your pup to eat.
Exercise
It is no wonder the Black Mouth Cur has high exercise needs — they were a herding dog after all! These pups need around 120 minutes of exercise a day and this is one of the reasons they are not recommended for new dog owners! Without this amount of activity, the Black Mouth Cur can become bored and destructive.
The 120 minutes should be ideally split up into two 60 minute walks. They will also love to accompany you on hikes and runs and do best in an active family who like to spend their time outside. With their webbed feet, these dogs are also excellent swimmers too.
With their high intelligence, the Black Mouth Cur is extremely trainable and is therefore excellent at obedience training and games such as flyball. However, remember that they are a hunting a dog and you will need them trained to recall if you plan on having them off the leash anywhere in public, especially while you are playing sports with them. If they spot something they like, they will have to follow it!
Family Compatibility
The Black Mouth Cur is certainly not a dog for those who have no experience looking after pups. They have high exercise needs as mentioned above. They also don’t like to be left alone, so are not the dog for those who are out of the house for hours at a time.
That being said, the Black Mouth Cur can make an excellent family pet for an active household who likes to spend time outside. These dogs love poeple, including young children, and are very playful. With easy trainability, you can teach these dogs tricks and other games to keep both you, the family and them entertained. Even better, they love to accompany their owners while exercising, so you might have found your new running buddy!
One thing to remember is that the Black Mouth Cur is primarily a hunting and herding dog and will need an owner that understands this. If you want a quiet, gentle pup that wants to spend their day curled up next to you on the couch, the Black Mouth Cur is not for you. These dogs can be a handle but they are also certainly worth it!
Training
We mentioned above just how intelligent these dogs are. This means that you need to keep their mind engaged as much as their body needs to be active. Training this dog is very easy and they will love to learn and be given a job to do. You can also teach them tricks and play games than stimulate them mentally. Keeping them entertained will keep them out of mischief.
The Black Mouth Cur will respond best to positive reinforcement training and reward based training. This includes verbal praise and treats. They can be quite sensitive, so avoid getting angry or frustrated with them because this will not work.
Socializing
The Black Mouth Cur loves their family, both adults and children included. They can also get on very well with strangers and people they don’t know, although you will need to socialize them from a young age so they understand there is nothing to be afraid of. This includes showing them new sights, sounds, places, smells, people and animals.
Grooming
Fortunately, the Black Mouth Cur does not require a lot of grooming because their coat is short. You should aim to brush them two to three times a week to keep their coat looking neat. They also don’t shed too much, great for those with allergies or those who don’t want dog hair all over their home!
Brushing your dog’s teeth is important so you can stay on top of dental decay and disease. You can always use dental chews if this is easier. If your pup has webbed feet, try to remember to check them from time to time incase anything has got stuck between the pads.
Starting a grooming routine from a young age will show your dog that there is nothing to be afraid of. It will also make it a lot easier when you take them to the groomers or vets!
Black Mouth Cur FAQ’s
How much does a Black Mouth Cur cost?
A Black Mouth Cur puppy can cost anywhere between $300 and $500. Always remember to buy from a reputable breeder.
If this is out of your price range, you can always check your local shelter to see if there is one waiting to be adopted. There are lots of dogs out there that need a forever home!
Are Black Mouth Cur’s good with children?
Yes! The Black Mouth Cur can make an excellent family dog for families who have experience with pups. Very playful, these dogs love to exercise and will love to play games with children. They also love to go hiking and running and will get stuck in to any active family activity.
The Black Mouth Cur is also known for being protective over their family and will protect your children from anything they deem a danger. This can be trained out of them, but it’s nice to know they’re looking out for your kids!
Summary
The Black Mouth Cur is an extremely active dog that was originally bred to be a hunting and herding dog. Not advised for first time owners, this pup thrives in an active family where they can join in the action. Their high intelligence makes training very easy and you will have fun teaching them tricks and playing games with them. Remember, this dog doesn’t like to be left alone and you will need to be walking them for at least 120 minutes a day, so they can be high maintenance. That being said, this loyal dog loves their family and will feel it is their duty to protect you.