Black Mouth Cur- Is this the best hunting dog?

The Black Mouth Cur is a dog that originated from the US where he was used to herd, guard property, and hunt wild boars.

These dogs are smart, energetic, and highly trainable.

Curs require a lot of exercise and are not pet for first-time dog owners. If you have no prior experience dealing with an energetic dog then this may not be the dog for you.

They may not be as well known such as other dogs such as Poodles or German Shepherds, they are still wonderful dogs that deserve human attention.

This is a dog breed that requires to be matched with the right owner.

So, stay with us as we debunk all that you need to know about the Black Mouth Cur and know if he is the right dog for you.

Let us jump right into it. 

About the Black Mouth Cur

Curs are fun-loving and energetic dogs that make excellent working pooches but they can also make great companions.

There are several dog breeds out there and choosing the right one might be a daunting task especially if you have never owned one before.

Luckily thanks to articles such as this one in Mydogsinfo, you can get to learn more about breeds such as the Black Mouth Cur.

You may have heard about Curs from a friend or maybe you came across one on the streets. Either way,  a guide such as this one assists you to learn more about what you need to know before making any decision.

However, the most important thing about Mouth Cur is their tenacity and work drive. This is why they were bred in the first place.

If you have a farm or a ranch you may have just found the dog for you. This pooch will not only be a great helper for you but also serve as a companion.

But where did the Black Mouth Cur come from?

Origin of the Black Mouth Cur

Generally, Cur is a term that is used to refer to a working dog that has drop ears and a short coat.

Some are to the thought that Curs originated from Asia and some parts of Europe.

However, these dogs were found in the Southern United States during the 1800s and that is where they got the “Southern Cur Dog” nickname.

But no one knows where they first came from. It is not very clear whether they came from Mississipi or Tennesse.

What is clear is that these dogs were developed to be great working dogs and they are great at the tasks that they perform. These dogs would protect the farmers, hunt, and herd livestock.

They also came from different parts of the US and there are slight differences between them depending on the regions. These variations are;

• Black Mouth Cur(Florida)
• Foundation Black Mouth Curs(Texas)
• Ladner Yellow Black Mouth Cur(Mississipi)
• Red Alabama Black Mouth Cur
• Southern Black Mouth Cur(Alabama)

The differences have mainly been attributed to them being interbred with other breeds.

Some of the dog lovers that know this pooch know him from the Old Yeller novel but the dog is never mentioned in the novel. However, the description perfectly fits that of the Souther Black Cur.

Pedigree and recognition

The American Kennel Club does not recognize this breed and this is because this dog has an unclear history.

However, the UKC recognized this dog officially in 1998 and the Black Mouth Cur(BMC).

Pros and cons of the BMC

Pros

✓ These dogs have low grooming requirements

✔ They are ideal for active and sporty people.

✓ The Black Mouth Cur is a great guard dog.

✔ They are very loyal canines

Cons

✘ This dog may be aggressive towards other dogs.

✗ They require lots of exercise which may be too much for some dog owners.

✘ The Black Mouth Cur is not suitable for first-time dog owners.

General characteristic and appearance

Size

The Black Mouth Cur is a medium-sized dog whose weight could range anywhere from 40 to 90 pounds with a height of 16 to 25 inches.

Males are usually slightly larger than their female counterparts and they may need a lot of space to be accommodated.

Physical appearance

This powerful and agile pooch does not fall behind as far as being good looking is concerned.

These dogs are longer than they are tall and their bodies are square for them to be able to move with efficiency and for speed.

Their hardy bodies make them suitable for work in all weather conditions and also enable them to work for long periods.

The head of a Southern Black Cur is broad and large with medium-sized dropped ears that are high set.

You should note that although this dog is known as the Black Mouth Cur not all of them have a black muzzle/mask.

Their adorable eyes can come in various colors like yellow, green, or even brown. The tails should also be straight and can be of any length.

Coat appearance

The BMC coat is usually short and can come in a variety of colors. Some of them may have a soft and fine coat while the coat of some of the Curs may be coarse.

Here are the colors this dog can come with;

• Brindle
• Black
• Brown
• Buckskin
• Fawn
• Red
• Yellow

Unfortunately, although these dogs don’t shed much they shed throughout the year. But you will not have much hair around your house.

You just need to invest in a good vacuum cleaner that can help you get rid of any hair that may be lying around in the house.

This also means that they are not hypoallergenic and may not be well suited for allergic sufferers.

Check out our hypoallergenic dogs’ guide if you or any member of your family is prone to any dog-related allergies.

Personality traits and temperament of the Souther Cur

Generally, Black Mouth Curs are courageous, tenacious and intelligent. You may also describe this pooch as a trusting, bold and confident dog.

This is a high-energy dog that should not come as a surprise because he is a working dog breed.

He is not only a perfect working dog but also a great protector for both you and your home. You may expect this dog to be a loud barker but that is not the case, he only barks when the game is freed when he spots an intruder. He is a silent hunter.

BMCs are not aggressive and when they are well socialized they get along with just any other animal.

The Southern Cur loves people and is well suited for homes where the owner or any member of the family is around most of the time.

They do not tolerate being left alone for long periods and they can become destructive out of dispair.

The Black Mouth Cur is also a renowned escape artist that will try to find his way out if he gets bored. They are great at opening doors and over or under fences.

Is the Black Mouth Cur a great family dog?

The Black Mouth Cur is a pawfect family dog that is best suited for active homes. They form great bonds with the members of their family and are playful.

If you have children make sure that you make them aware of how they should handle dogs to avoid any incidences.

When raised together with other animals, they will have no problems when they grow up. It is also important to socialize them as early as possible for them to be super-sociable.

However, you need to keep in mind that this is a working breed that should be kept physically stimulated.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Black Mouth Cur aggressive? 

The BMC can become excessively protective and even aggressive if he is not well socialized. However, these dogs are not commonly aggressive to humans but to other dogs especially the male ones.

Is the Black Mouth Cur a Pitbull? 

No, the Black Mouth Cur is not a Pitbull but more of a breed of his own. Pitbulls are also not a breed but more of a category or group of certain dogs.

Can a Southern Cur swim? 

If you have watched the Disney movie Old Yeller you are well aware of the dog in that film. The dog in that movie is a Black Mouth Cur that is a great swimmer and hunter and a proper representation of the BMC. In short, the Black Mouth Cur is a great swimmer.

Southern Cur Puppies

BMC dams have larger litters of between 3 to 12 puppies.

These puppies take around 6 months to reach their adolescence and reach full maturity when they are around 20 months old.

To get one of these pups you may be required to pay anywhere between $350 to $500.

When you are looking for a puppy you should make sure that you make your breeder aware of your needs. Some of the Curs are better refined to do some tasks better than others but they are generally labeled as herding and hunting dogs.

You may also consider adoption when looking for a Black Mouth Cur because you may be lucky enough to find one very suitable for you.

Grooming a BMC

The Black Mouth Cur is a relatively low maintenance dog breed that does not require much grooming.

Grooming these dogs is fairly easy and you will only be required to brush their coats once or twice a week. You will only need to bath them when it is necessary such as when they start getting smelly or after playing in the mud.

Make brushing a routine from an early age to make it easier as they age.

Trim the dog’s nails and make sure that they drop ears are clean and check them for any signs of infections.

In any case, you suspect that your Southern Cur may have an infection you should visit the vet.

Dental hygiene is also a priority by cleaning their teeth using either dental chews or brushing them regularly.

The Black Mouth Cur has webbed feet that should be checked to make sure that nothing is stuck between them.

Black Mouth Cur Exercise requirements

As we have already mentioned earlier the Black Mout Cur is a historic hunter and worker.

He loves being kept active and being on the move most of the time meaning he has high exercise requirements.

Taking this dog for a walk at least 60 minutes a day should get him going as far as his physical stimulation needs are concerned. You can also take them for a hike or a run.

They also thrive in other sports such as dock diving, swimming, flyball, and agility sports.

But if you decide you are going to take him to swim make sure that where he is swimming is safe and there is also the option of investing in a safety jacket.

Another thing that you need to consider is using a leash and a harness when you are taking them for a walk. Even if you have trained them to recall it is always best to stay safe because of their high prey drive.

Problems may arise if you fail to meet their exercise quotas and they may become destructive.

Dietary requirements of a Black Mouth Cur

You should invest in a high-quality diet when you are feeding a BMC.

The meals should be nutritional and should have the following;

• Fats to provide them with the energy that they need(about 8% of the diet should be fats)
• Proteins for building and repair of the body(should be mainly meat-based proteins at around 25% of the diet)

Another guide on how much protein they require is by giving them 4.4 grams of proteins/kg of their weight for puppies. As they grow you might need to reduce this to 1.2 grams of proteins/kg of their body weight when they are fully grown.

A raw meat-based diet is great for a Black Mouth Cur, You can also decide to feed them on other wet or dry foods depending on your preference but you should make sure you consult your veterinarian before you make any dietary decisions.

If you decide to go with dry foods, you should choose kibble that is of high quality that is formulated for active dog breeds.

Be mindful of the number of calories your feed him to make sure that he does not get overweight.

20 calories for every pound of their weight should be enough.

The meals should be divided into 2 or 3 portions in a day to avoid issues with bloat.

Training

This is a super trainable and intelligent dog breed but they can be challenging to train especially for novice dog owners.

They may have a stubborn streak which may come in the way of training. But when you know how to do it right and keep them interested it gets easier.

Short and interesting training sessions should do the trick.

Reward-based training and positive reinforcement are what work best for this dog. However, they are very sensitive and you should never use any aversive training methods such as punishment or shouting at them.

Understand what your pup loves and use it as a reward and for motivation.

You need to be consistent with your training and be patient no matter how frustrating it gets.

Look at socialization as part of the training and make sure that you BMC meets as many people and animals as he can. You should also make sure that you introduce them to different environments.

This will help get rid of any aggressive tendencies that may develop.

Some of the health problems

Not even the Black Mouth Cur is safe from getting some health complications. But there are pretty healthy for a breed.

Every pooch is different from the other but overall no dog is perfect.

These dogs have a long lifespan of between 12 to 18 years. 

Some of the most common health issues with this breed are ear infections. This occurs mainly in the BMCs that swim and because they have dropped ears. You should check and clean their ear canals frequently and if you suspect they have any issues visit the vet immediately.

And because of how active they are, they may also be prone to skeletal problems.

Other problems that may occur in this breed are;

• Eye problems such as ectropion, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.
• Hip dysplasia
• Mange due to pests.
• Epilepsy

You as an owner should make sure that the weight of the dog is kept in check because obesity in any pooch can have far-reaching effects as far as health is concerned.

Black Mouth Cur summary

We have seen that the Black Mouth Cur is an energetic, gorgeous and extremely loyal dog that may not be suited for all dog lovers.

These dogs form very strong bonds with their owners and members of their families. They are also versatile and excel in various fields such as hunting, herding livestock, and protection.

If you correctly socialize them they get along well with other animals and people.

Owning a working dog breed is no easy tasks and it is by reading articles and guides like this that you can learn the dos and don’ts when it comes to raising a puppy.

Therefore you should understand the needs of the Black Mouth Cur before deciding to add him as a companion or member of your family.

Did you live this piece of information and do you have any prior experience with the Southern Cur?

Give us your feedback in the comment section below. 

There you go WOOF!

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