Black Mouth Cur Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

Are you looking for a dog to help you out with your daily chores? How about a dog that can go hiking with you and keep up with your daily activity? If so, a Black Mouth Cur may be the perfect dog for you. With a working history, Black Mouth Curs are super energetic and intelligent, but they are also gentle, friendly, and devoted to their owners.

Breed Overview

Because of this dog’s fun and friendly demeanor, Black Mouth Curs are a favorite working dog among many. Despite their popularity, the origin of this dog is unknown, and the AKC does not recognize it. Still, Black Mouth Cur dogs are one of the best American breeds today.

With that being said, this breed is not suitable for many homes. For example, city or apartment dwellers will find this dog overwhelming because of its high exercise requirements. Other factors about this dog may make it less suitable for your home, even if you live on a lot of land.

To find out more about Black Mouth Curs and to determine whether or not this breed is right for you, keep reading. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know before buying and welcoming a Black Mouth Cur into your home.

Black Mouth Cur Characteristics

Black Mouth Cur Puppies

Black Mouth Cur puppies are not the most expensive puppies on the market, but they still cost quite a bit. The exact price will depend on a number of factors, including the breeder, demand, and location.

The price you pay accounts for the puppy itself. It does not factor in the cost for licensure, vet visits, food, and any other basics that getting a new puppy requires.

Black Mouth Curs shed less than some other breeds if this is something you are specifically concerned about. They will fit in well with an active family. These friendly pups will match your energy.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Black Mouth Cur

Black Mouth Curs have a history rooted in hunting and other various working tasks. Because of this background, this breed is really intelligent and energetic, but they aren’t as aggressive as other hunting dogs, either. This makes them a great family dog for active homes.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

If you want a dog that is highly loyal to you and your family, the Black Mouth Cur is a great choice. This breed is incredibly loyal and known to protect owners in the case of an emergency. At the same time, Black Mouth Curs are friendly with all members of the family and strangers when they do not detect any danger.

When it comes to children, this breed isn’t necessarily the most doting, but it is not known for being aggressive towards young children. It doesn’t bark very much either, meaning it should not wake sleeping children very frequently.

Of course, you always need to monitor playtime between any dog and a child. You never know when a child could be pestering a dog, causing it to act aggressively. Once your child is old enough to know how to play with dogs respectfully, then you can begin supervising them less.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Because Black Mouth Curs are very friendly, gentle, and aloof, they get along well with many animals. They are not particularly known for being aggressive with other dogs, meaning you don’t have to worry much if you already have a lovable pooch inside your home.

Black Mouth Curs are also good with farm and cattle animals. Many of these dogs are used for herding cattle. Their herding nature may make them more likely to nip at smaller animals, such as cats, due to their herding instincts, not aggression.

Introducing the Black Mouth Cur to other animals as young as possible is the best way to socialize this breed, as with any other breed. Early socialization will make the dog much more likely to get along with any other pets in your household.

Things to Know When Owning a Black Mouth Cur:

Although Black Mouth Curs are great family dogs, they certainly are not the best breed for everyone. This dog needs a whole lot of exercise. If you want a dog to cuddle with you on the couch, this is not the breed for you. Instead, Black Mouth Curs are best for families that love to be outdoors and active.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Because Black Mouth Curs are a large breed, they need a lot more food than other dogs. Providing your Black Mouth Cur a high quality dry dog food that is specialized for large breeds will keep it happy and healthy. It’s best to select a dog food variety that is specific to your dog’s age as well. For example, select dry dog food intended for puppies whenever your Black Mouth Cur is in the puppy phase.

Exercise 🐕

One of the more difficult parts of owning a Black Mouth Cur is their exercise needs. Because these dogs are working dogs, they need a whole lot of exercise and room to run. If you do not want a dog that you have to exercise, do not get this breed. If you do not provide ample exercise, the dog will be unruly, bored, and unhappy.

A simple walk a day will not be enough for this breed. When exercising Black Mouth Curs, you want to integrate physical and mental activities, such as agility training, retrieving, and tracking. Large yards or space outside for the dog to roam on its own is best.

Training 🎾

Since Black Mouth Curs need a whole lot of exercise, they are at least easy to train. These dogs are highly intelligent, and they have an extreme need to please their owners. These two factors make this breed relatively easy to train, especially if you use the right methods.

Most importantly, it’s best to use positive reinforcement and praise in order to train your Black Mouth Cur. Positive reinforcement will encourage the dog to continue acting in the way you want it to. Using negative reinforcement can cause the dog to become scared or shy away from the activity entirely.

Grooming ✂️

Black Mouth Curs have short coats that tend to be dense. Depending on the individual dog, the coat can be fine, rough, or coarse. Because the coat is short, these dogs don’t have as intense of grooming requirements as other dogs.

If you brush your Black Mouth Cur once or twice a week, the coat will be kept clean and soft. It will also keep shedding at bay, making the dog more suitable for those with allergies. It is important to note that this breed is not hypoallergenic, though the short hair mixed with regular brushes makes them more suitable for those with mild allergies.

In addition to caring for the dog’s coat, you also need to brush your dog’s teeth and clean out its ears. This breed can get ear infections pretty easily. Cleaning out the ears frequently will prevent this from occurring.

Health and Conditions 🏥

As a working dog, Black Mouth Curs are really healthy. Most of their conditions are shared with other dogs of their size as well. Focusing on proper diet, exercise, and grooming will largely keep your dog healthy.

Serious Conditions:

Black Mouth Curs are not known to have severe health conditions, but they can have joint dysplasia because of their size and activity levels. Supplementing different nutrients and vitamins into your dog’s diet can help to prevent these more serious conditions from occurring as the dog ages.

These dogs are also very food driven, meaning they are more prone to obesity than other dogs. Make sure to monitor how much you feed your Black Mouth Cur so as to keep the dog at a healthy weight.

Minor Conditions:

The most common issue that Black Mouth Curs face is ear infections. Their ears are droopy, and the breed likes to swim a lot. These two factors make their ears a breeding ground for bacteria. Cleaning out the dog’s ears once a week or so will help keep the bacteria at bay.

Male vs Female

The males and females are very similar in personality since they were all used as working dogs. The main difference between male and female Black Mouth Curs is the size. Males tend to be slightly larger, though females are on the bigger side too. It simply comes down to preference when choosing the sex of this breed.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Black Mouth Cur

1. They aren’t recognized by the AKC.

Even though Black Mouth Curs are a relatively popular breed, they are not recognized by the AKC. It does not look like the AKC is intending to add them to their list anytime soon, either. Although the AKC does not recognize this breed, the United Kennel Club does.

The UKC recognized this breed in 1998. This means that most Black Mouth Curs are compared to the UKC breed standard, whereas most other recognized breeds are compared to the AKC standards.

2. They have unknown origins.

Part of the reason that the AKC does not recognize Black Mouth Curs is because their origins are a bit unknown. It is believed that Curs originated from Asia and Europe. However, the Black Mouth Cur is a bit unique.

Although it is unclear where this breed originated, most people speculate that the Black Mouth Cur first appeared in the state of Tennessee or Mississippi. With that being said, there are three varieties of Black Mouth Cur, including the Foundation Black Mouth Curs, the Ladner Yellow Black Mouth Curs, and the Classic Black Mouth Curs.

Each one of these varieties have more specific origins. The Foundation Black Mouth Curs are from Texas, the Ladner Yellow Black Mouth Curs are from Mississippi, and the Classic Black Mouth Curs are from Florida.

3. They are sometimes called the Southern Cur Dog.

Because the Black Mouth Cur has unknown origins that are often connected to the southeastern United States, these dogs are often called the Southern Cur Dog. If you hear this name, the person is likely referring to all varieties of Black Mouth Curs, not one specific type.

Final Thoughts

Black Mouth Curs are a super energetic, loyal, and devoted breed. They are perfect for families that are active and love doing outdoor tasks. If you live on a farm or another area with a lot of yard space, a Black Mouth Cur can be a perfect addition to your home.

We recommend selecting a different breed if you live in an apartment or do not want to fulfill the exercise requirements this dog needs. Because of its working background, Black Mouth Curs simply are not suitable for a lazier lifestyle.

If you have the ability and desire to exercise this dog, however, Black Mouth Curs will bring a lot of joy into your life. From their devoted nature to their fun and friendly behavior, this breed really does make a great active family dog.

• Related Read: Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Black Mouth Cur: Differences Explained (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock