Mountain Cur
山地雜種犬
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
The Mountain Cur is the all-American pioneer dog of the southern Appalachians — a fast, hard treeing hunter that runs a track with its head up, guarded frontier families and livestock and hunted their food, and was declared a breed in 1957 by the Original Mountain Cur Breeders Association. The AKC describes it as extremely intelligent and courageous, with strong treeing instincts and a clear bark that carries a long way, responding best to training with a lot of human contact; it is very active and, when not hunting, needs long daily walks and a job or dog sport or it may become bored and destructive. It is friendly with people it knows, watchful on its own territory, and may see small pets as prey.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 41–66cm |
| Weight | 14–27kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–13years |
| Breed group | AKC: fss |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Short coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 90–180min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 5/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 4/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 2/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
General health screening
The AKC says the Mountain Cur is a generally healthy dog kept in top shape by the proper amount of exercise, and names no breed-specific condition; no parent-club health page could be found. Ask your vet about routine screening appropriate to an active, medium-sized hunting dog.
Behaviour
A fast, hard treeing hunter that wants human contact
The AKC describes the Mountain Cur as a fast, hard hunter that runs a track with its head in the air, open, semi-open or silent on the trail, with a clear bark that carries a long distance and strong treeing instincts; it is a courageous fighter when required, extremely intelligent, easily trained to leave unwanted game, and responds best to training with a lot of human contact, making a great companion and watchdog besides. It loves having a job, which is why it excels in dog sports, and is trainable enough to become a therapy dog.
Very active; be the pack leader
The AKC says Mountain Curs are very active dogs that, when not hunting, need physical and mental exercise such as long daily walks or they may become bored and destructive, and that owners should make the dog heel on walks to reinforce leadership. Some are difficult to train, others agreeable; they are friendly with people they know but may see small pets such as cats as prey, are watchful guard dogs on their own territory, and early socialisation is key. The AKC trait chart rates energy 5/5, trainability 5/5, barking 5/5 and openness to strangers 1/5.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "intelligent / reserved with strangers / strong-willed".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 5/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Mountain Cur
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Mountain Cur — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.