Origin
There are no sufficient documents that tell us about the origins of the Blackmouth Cur. No one knows how and where they first originated. But, one sure thing is that they were developed in the Southern United States in the late 19th century. Their main purpose was to work on farms. This dog is one of the famous Cur breeds.
The name ‘Cur’ was believed to be implied on all mixed-breeds. This is true in modern Great Britain, but not in the United States where the Blackmouth Cur is pure breeds. It might, however, be possible that the purebred Blackmouth Curs were a descendant from the extinct Great Britain curs. But, no records are supporting this notion.
Nowadays, Blackmouth curs are still used as working dogs, whether part-time or full-time. They are also showcased in dog shows and kept as pets.
Traits and Behavior
Blackmouth curs are extremely loyal to their masters and they often create strong bonds with their families. This is an affectionate dog, but it depends upon each dog. When trained and socialized properly, they are good with children.
They are tolerable with rough plays but might get too excited. Therefore, they aren’t recommended for families with very young children.
This is a very protective dog. They are very suspicious around strangers and the most socialized dogs will tolerate strangers at best. If not trained, they are highly protective and may show aggression.
However, no record of any serious human aggression has been reported, yet. Because of their protectiveness and territoriality, they make great guards and watchdogs.
This dog may or may not be aggressive towards other dogs. But, since this dog has been bred to hunt and kill small games, they tend to be aggressive against non-canine animals. But, this instinct can be controlled with proper training and socialization.
Blackmouth Curs are very intelligent and great problem solvers. They can be trained to do complex things. However, their stubbornness and independence can be a challenge to trainers.
They like to do things their way and would not respond well when being told what to do. This dominant dog should have a more dominant owner. Reward-based training works best for this breed since they respond well to corrections. Training a Blackmouth Cur requires consistency and firmness.
Pet Care and Diseases
This high energy dog is used to working on a farm all day and therefore should be given the same amount of activity daily. They require at least 1 hour of vigorous exercise daily and would prefer more.
This is a tireless dog that even with enough exercise; still tend to wander about. If not given the required activity daily, this dog tends to become aggressive and destructive.
This breed has a very low grooming requirement. Occasional brushing is sufficient for them. Other maintenance grooming includes nail trimming, ear cleaning and bathing.
Owners should take note that this breed changes coats once or twice a year when the seasons change.
Blackmouth curs have dropped ears that should be checked and cleaned regularly to prevent infections.
This dog is an excellently healthy breed that can live up to 18 years. Since their gene pool is very large, genetic diseases have been eliminated.
But this healthy dog can also suffer from eye and skeletal problems. Owners can have their dogs checked both by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) for the determination of any hereditary diseases.
Appearance
There are different varieties of this breed, and each has been crossed heavily. The Blackmouth cur can vary from large to double extra large.
The average Blackmouth cur stands at 18 to 25 inches tall, and weighs about 40 to 95 pounds, with the females generally smaller and lighter.
They have a muscular, fit and athletic body that may range from lithe to stocky. Bred to work, they don’t have exaggerated features that would hinder their movement and stamina.
Their tail comes in 2 natural varieties, the long, slightly curved and tapering tail and a short natural bob. But, owners can dock their dogs’ tails to a few inches artificially.
The dog’s head is quite proportional to its body. Its eyes are medium to large and come in yellow, green and brown.
Its ears are wide at the base and short to medium in length. This breed is covered in a short, dense coat that can be very coarse to fine. Acceptable colors include red, yellow, fawn, brindle, tan, black, brown, and buckskin.
General Information
These dogs have an average life span of 12-16 years. The average litter size is about 3-9 puppies. Other names include Southern Cur, Yellow Black Mouth Cur, Black Mouth Cur, American Black Mouth Cur, Red Black Mouth Cur, Ladner Black Mouth Cur, Ladner Yellow Black Mouth Cur, Southern Heritage Kennel, and Registered Yellow Black Mouth Cur.
Breed Club
Visit this dog club website dedicated to Blackmouth Cur. Click this link: http://tlscurs.tripod.com/
Featured Video
Watch this video: “Blackmouth Cur Treeing in New York City…”