How To Train Mountain Cur Dogs

Although training the mountain cur is not tough, consistency is necessary. The mountain cur is a dog with a strong desire to please and a willingness to go above and beyond for the people it loves, which accounts for why it is so simple to train. You’ll discover that the task is made quick and simple by consistency, a forceful voice, and numerous training sessions. That explains why so many people agree that owning a mountain cur is such a pleasant experience.

Are mountain climbers trained easily?

They don’t immediately submit, but their instinct compels them to obey the pack leader.

For this reason, you must establish yourself as the pack’s leader. For your dog to accept you as its leader, you must be firm and consistent.

Being the alpha does not require being harsh, though. These dogs strive to please their people, therefore severe training techniques may irritate them.

To ensure that Mountain Kerr puppies can fit in your home, suitable training must be given to them as soon as feasible. These Curs must develop social skills and learn to obey simple directions at a young age.

The first step in socialization is socializing with other children in the same litter, followed by family members and pets.

Did you realize? The Mountain Curs can make excellent water dogs with the right training. This breed can swiftly hunt or retrieve ducks that have been shot by their owners.

Highlights

  • Black, tan, brown, yellow, brindle, and black and brindle are among the coat colors available for Mountain Curs. Their coats could also have white tips.
  • The Mountain Cur is not an allergy-friendly breed of dog since it sheds twice a year, in the spring and the fall. They simply need to be brushed once a week and bathed when absolutely necessary, which is very little maintenance.
  • The Mountain Cur is a very energetic dog breed that requires regular mental and physical activity to avoid acting out destructively. They must constantly have a work to accomplish because they were created to carry out jobs.
  • Mountain Curs are fantastic family dogs and can be quite friendly with kids. As a result of this breed’s hardiness, toughness, and muscle, it’s important to instruct kids on how to interact with and approach dogs properly.
  • The Mountain Cur should not live with cats, even after early socialization, because of their strong predatory instinct. The Mountain Cur is typically highly suspicious of other dogs, thus introducing new dogs to it requires great care. They occasionally just won’t get along, even when raised with other dogs.
  • The Mountain Cur is an unflinching watchdog who will fight to defend their home and the people who dwell there. They are apprehensive of strangers but will eventually come to trust them once they see they pose no threat.

History

Although the Mountain Cur’s exact history is unknown, it is thought that they first came in the United States in the 1940s. The Mountain Cur probably came from different “Cur originates in Europe.

Pioneers employed these dogs to guard their dwellings, catch wild wildlife, and protect their cattle. They were incredibly adaptable and practical companions, which led pioneers to view them as a necessary component of settling in the mountains. They were incredibly devoted and affectionate dogs in addition to being extremely hardworking and protective of their home and family.

Mountain Curs are skilled at employing the method of “Treeing is the practice of pursuing prey up a tree. The Mountain Cur produced food for its families and was a skilled climber and hunter.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) designated the breed to its Foundation Stock Service division in 2017. Other “The Blue Lucy, Catahoula Leopard Dog, and Treeing Tennessee Brindle are examples of current breeds. the term “Any of the aforementioned working breed canines are referred to as cur.

Size

Male Mountain Curs weigh 30 to 60 pounds and stand 18 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Females range in height from 16 to 24 inches, and they weigh between 30 and 60 pounds.

Personality

The Mountain Cur is an unflinching watchdog who will fight to defend their home and the people who dwell there. They are apprehensive of strangers but will eventually come to trust them once they see they pose no threat. Due to their versatility and ability to be trained for a wide range of tasks, the breed has long been referred to as a “all purpose dog.”

Mountain Curs are naturally athletic people that love being outside, partaking in sports, and going on hunts. They have a strong hunting drive because they were domesticated to hunt tiny wildlife. The Mountain Cur actually prefers to spend more time outside than indoors, and they do best in a house with a big yard.

Because of their independence and stubbornness, this breed is not suitable for inexperienced dog owners. They require very strict and steadfast obedience training as puppies, as well as early instruction that they are not the leader.

They are great family dogs and enjoy kids, despite their size and loud, deep bark giving the impression that they are menacing. Although being extremely protective of children may seem like a good quality in a dog, if they perceive threats, they may become overprotective. Another justification for exposing them to a wide range of people while they are still young is this.

Use only positive reinforcement and refrain from utilizing any harsh training techniques while you are training. Giving them chores like hunting will be incredibly fulfilling for them and also help them burn off some energy because they want to please their people more than anything else!

Health

Mountain Curs are well-known for having unusually long lifespans and being generally healthy dogs. Since this particular breed was carefully bred, they are not inclined to any significant health problems.

But some of the more typical health issues Mountain Curs may experience include:

  • skin maladies
  • sensitive skin and dry skin
  • fleas, ticks, and parasites if the dog spends most of its time outside.
  • infected ears

Care

The Mountain Cur is a very energetic dog breed that requires regular mental and physical activity to avoid acting out destructively. To have a controllable and well-behaved dog as an adult, they should receive enough of obedience training as well as other physical exercises from a young age.

They must constantly have a work to accomplish because they were created to carry out jobs. To fulfill its desires for tree climbing, hiking, running, and other sports, the Mountain Cur needs a committed pet parent.

The Mountain Cur is your best friend if you enjoy being outside or live on a farm. They are more than willing to patrol the outside of your house and would even put their lives in danger to keep their families safe.

Although these dogs enjoy playing and running in the open air, you should keep them away from dog parks. Unfortunately, the Mountain Cur is not very trusting of other dogs and may not feel secure or happy socializing with other dogs even after being socialized.

Mountain Curs need to exercise, but they also need to take care of their teeth and their nails. To get rid of bacteria and tartar buildup, try to brush your Mountain Cur’s teeth twice a week. The best practice is to wash your teeth every day.

If necessary, trim their nails once a month. If they spend a lot of time outside walking on concrete or other surfaces that naturally dull the nails, they might not need to have their nails cut as often. The nails are too long if you can hear them clicking on the floor.

Feeding

A medium to large breed dog with lots of energy should be given an appropriate Mountain Cur diet. Since they are such an active breed, Mountain Curs normally do not tend to gain weight, but you must make sure they are receiving the right nutrients.

The Mountain Cur’s nutritional requirements will change from puppyhood through adulthood and will continue to change into their senior years, much like those of all dogs. There is far too much variance among individual dogs — including weight, energy, and health — to offer a specific prescription, therefore you should seek your vet for advice regarding your Mountain Cur’s food.

Coat Color And Grooming

The Mountain Cur is not an allergy-friendly breed of dog since it sheds twice a year, in the spring and the fall. They simply need to be brushed once a week and bathed when absolutely necessary, which is very little maintenance. Too much bathing can irritate Mountain Curs because they are prone to skin diseases and delicate skin.

The Mountain Cur has two coats: a smoother undercoat for insulation and a thick top coat that offers protection. They are relatively simple to groom because they have short hair. Because of how well their coat shields them from the weather, they frequently prefer to spend more time outside than inside.

Children And Other Pets

The Mountain Cur is a wonderful family pet that like being a member of the group. They have a lot of energy and would adore playing with children in a large garden.

These dogs can develop strong protective instincts for their families, so it’s crucial to socialize your dog with every member of your family as well as outsiders from an early age. Children should be taught appropriate dog interactions in addition to socializing your dog, especially with breeds like this one that will grow pretty large and powerful as adults.

You should be sure to teach them how to approach the dog and how to securely engage with them because the Mountain Cur is a rough, rugged, and muscular breed. Additionally, watch over any playtime that youngsters have with dogs and teach them to always be gentle with them. Mountain Curs are fantastic family dogs and can be quite friendly with kids.

The Mountain Cur cannot live with lesser pets because they were developed as hunting dogs. The Mountain Cur should not live with cats, even after early socialization, because of their strong predatory instinct. The Mountain Cur is typically highly suspicious of other dogs, thus introducing new dogs to it requires great care. They occasionally just won’t get along, even when raised with other dogs.

Rescue Groups

Because Mountain Curs are a somewhat unusual breed, it may be difficult to find rescues that are specialized for them. You can always check with your neighborhood shelter, though, and you might want to consider contacting a rescue that accepts all breeds of dogs. Here are some things to look at:

What can you do to occupy a Mountain Cur?

As we previously indicated, Mountain Curs do not thrive in domestic suburban settings and require access to lots of outside play and exercise in order to function properly as hunting dogs. Additionally, they dislike being left alone and prefer to stay with their companion at all times. See what it’s like to live with a Mountain Cur in the video below.

Food And Diet

Regardless of the kind of dog you own, you should always make sure they eat a balanced diet. Only approximately 10% of their diet should be treats.

Puppy-specific high-quality kibble should be fed to Mountain Cur puppies. For a puppy between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, this should be approximately 4 cups of dog food. Always check the label on the food packet to determine how much of a certain meal you should be feeding them.

Your dog should be eating three cups of food when it is between three and six months old. As soon as your Mountain Cur turns one year old, you should start giving them two to three cups divided between two meals each day.

Exercise

Mountain Curs are extremely energetic dogs who prefer to spend the most of the day outside. Being working dogs, they enjoy having a goal, which gives them a lot of energy. To prevent them from being bored or displaying indications of anxiety, you must provide them with a ton of physical and cerebral stimulation. Giving your Mountain Kerr simple tasks like retrieving the newspaper or doing clothes will prevent them from becoming bored at home.

They enjoy to go hiking, swimming, hunting, and jogging, making them the ideal fitness partner for outdoor pursuits. What’s more, they have the energy to keep up with (if not outpace!) your pace. The Mountain Cur has a somewhat limitless amount of energy, thus they can go as long as you can. They particularly enjoy playing hunting activities like “fetch” outside.

A Mountain Kerr needs access to large, open fields and woodlands because they are not city dogs. Spend at least an hour each day with them outside, if not longer. They’ll thrive in households with a sizable fenced backyard to run around in and will get bored if kept inside an apartment.

Family Compatibility

Mountain Cur dogs are the most devoted, devoted, and guard dogs. They can make the ideal family dog for the proper family. They require a lot of exercise, though, and are not the typical pet. If they are kept in an apartment all day and require a lot of care, they won’t function well. They will begin to act destructively if they are left alone or if they do not frequently get to go outside and explore.

This indicates that busy, adult-only families are where they would thrive. In the first few months of their existence, you will need to devote a significant amount of time to socializing your Mountain Cur. They also thrive when given a task to complete, so if you can get them to perform as a security dog or a hunting dog, the animals will be lot happier.

Training

Although they might be obstinate, mountain curs are simple to teach once you become acclimated to them. In order for them to recognize that you are in authority, you must be firm and consistent with them. They are intelligent and enthusiastic, but because they strive to please their owners, you must take caution when training them because they could be sensitive to harsh approaches. You must have a lot of patience because they too struggle with it.

Making ensuring your Mountain Cur is trained from a young age is crucial if you don’t want them to start exhibiting undesirable behavior as they become older. The necessity to socialize your mountain Cur from an early age is just as crucial as training. Since they have a guarding mindset, the sooner you socialize them with other people and dogs, the sooner they will understand that not everything is a threat and that they don’t need to protect you from everything. Additionally, it will lessen any hostility they may have against other people or animals that they perceive to be a threat to their owner.

Grooming

Mountain Curs require relatively little upkeep. Although they do not shed much, your house will remain largely hair-free. They will occasionally need to be groomed with a rubber brush to remove loose hair from their coat. They do shed more when their summer and winter coats are shed twice a year, at which point you might need to groom them more frequently.

Because frequent bathing can cause their skin to become dry, mountain curs do not require it. Use a shampoo made for delicate skin if you need to bathe them. They should have their nails cut every month or as needed. Because Mountain Curs enjoy being outside, their nails may need to be filed down less frequently because the ground naturally wears them down.

You should also examine your dog’s ears. As we indicated above, deafness is one of the rare health conditions a Mountain Cur might experience, therefore it’s crucial to frequently check their ears. Take them to the vet if you notice anything strange.