At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia gives 30-60 lb for both sexes; the UKC standard only asks for weight in proportion to height in hard, muscular condition.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short double coat, smooth or rough
A short outer coat that can feel either smooth or slightly rough, lying over a dense, soft undercoat. The dog itself is sturdy and muscular, built for long days in hilly woodland.2
Personality what they are like
A bold, fast-working hunter that is smart and easy to train when it gets regular time with its people. At home it tends to be a loyal family dog that gets along with other pets and keeps an eye on the property, being neither timid nor hot-headed.213
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A high-drive working dog that is happiest with a real job such as hunting, tracking or farm work, plus plenty of daily exercise. Without enough activity it can become restless.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat is easy to keep: a weekly brush and the usual checks of ears, nails and paws after outings are generally enough.2
Home where they are happiest
Best suited to a rural or active home with secure outdoor space and access to fields or woods to work in.1
Company who they like around
Bonds closely with its family and does well with regular human contact; usually sociable with other household pets.12
The story where it all began
Settlers in the Appalachian frontier kept these all-round curs to hunt, guard the homestead and help on the farm. The type almost vanished after World War II as families moved to factory towns, but in the 1950s a group of breeders including Hugh Stephens, Woody Huntsman, Carl McConnell and Dewey Ledbetter gathered the remaining dogs and founded a breed club in 1957.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Frontiersman Daniel Boone is said to have bred Mountain Curs and taken them on his expeditions.1
- 2
It is a versatile hunter that trees squirrels and raccoons but will also take on large game such as bear and wild boar.1
- 3
The UKC colour list includes the unusual shade called 'buttermilk buckskin'.2
- 4
Many Mountain Curs enjoy water and can retrieve from it.1
Recognised by the official bits
- UKC
- Recognised 1 November 1998.2
- Original Mountain Cur Breeders of America (OMCBA)
- Breed association formed in 1957 by breeders of the McConnell, Stephens, Ledbetter, Arline and York strains.2
- AKC
- Has an AKC breed page describing it as a treeing hunting dog; not a fully recognised AKC breed.3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Mountain Cur. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
You might also like
Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Black Mouth Cur
American Leopard Hound
Stephens Stock
Mountain FeistLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Wikipedia: Mountain Cur en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, weight, lifespan, uses, fun facts
- UKC Mountain Cur breed standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, size, coat, colours, temperament, history
- AKC: Mountain Cur akc.orgused for temperament, AKC listing
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.