The Cur: Confused Yet?

It’s been said that the Appalachians in Tennessee and Kentucky could never have been settled without the curs working with pioneers. Alternately called “bear dogs,” “hog dogs” or simply, “Hunting Dogs,” only one of the several dogs that could fit this general description has the characteristic black muzzle and lips for which it is named, and that is the Black Mouth Cur, or BMC.

Some people can’t tell the difference between the Mountain Cur and the BMC, but there are a few dissimilarities. The Mountain Cur, of course, has the black muzzle, but it was also bred specifically for treeing and trailing small game while the BMC is an all-rounder that can herd livestock and hunt game. BMCs typically have a short coat to the Mountain Cur’s longer one, and Mountain Curs are normally lighter boned, and have a wider range of acceptable colors. Some people think Mountain Curs bark more than a BMC, the latter being a generally quiet dog.

After that, it can get really confusing. Debate still rages among Black Mouth Cur fanciers to this day as to whether the breed was first developed in Tennessee or Mississippi. And then there are the names and types:

  • Foundation Black Mouth Cur
  • American Black Mouth Cur
  • Florida Yellow Black Mouth Cur
  • Curt Ladner Black Mouth Curs
  • Paynes Black Mouth Curs
  • Ladner Yellow Blackmouth Cur (originated from Mississippi)
  • Red Alabama Blackmouth Cur
  • East Texas Cur
  • Florida Black Mouth Cur
  • Florida Yellow Black Mouth Cur
  • Southern Black Mouth Cur (originated from Alabama)
  • Southern Cur
  • Florida Cracker Cur
  • Givens Black Mouth Cur
  • Wetherford Ben Blackmouth Cur
  • Alabama Red Black Mouth Cur
  • Aiken Black Mouth Curs
  • East Texas Brindle Cur
  • Thoms Yellow Black Mouth Cur Cowdogs

Obviously, there are many distinct lines of Black Mouth Cur, and most of them are either named for the family that developed them (some having bred the dogs for well over 150 years), or for the area in which they were developed. The Southern Black Mouth Cur is from Alabama, the Foundation Black Mouth Cur hails from Texas, and the Ladner Yellow Black Mouth Cur calls Mississippi home.

The type of stock can also distinguish one line from the other; the Texas Black Mouth Cur is used mostly to herd cattle, as was the Florida Black Mouth Cur (recognizable by its yellow coat) and the Wetherford Ben Blackmouth Cur. Hunting style can be another distinguishing factor. The Ladner, Nolan, Lott, Lee, and Ford are said to be able to drift a track and tree game with ease, not the normal purview of the breed. As an aside, the Ladner (which originated from Mississippi) was the first Blackmouth Cur line and was registered with the National Kennel Club in 1964.

In 1998, the United Kennel Club recognized the Black Mouth Cur

Image: “Couch Potato” by Luke Herro is available as a art, a greeting card and phone case here.

4 thoughts on “The Cur: Confused Yet?”

  1. This is my dog Harley . Had him now 5 years . After reading this breeds info and seeing images , I may have a mountain cut.
    He certainly is a treeing dog .. chasing any scuirrel in the yard or wanting to chase cats . I won’t let him . Trying to keep the peace here . Neighbours have cats . He is not big on water . This about the most he gets in water . We walk a lot every day . He has learned basic vocabulary.. dinner .. go outside .. go potty .. lay down .. wait .. stay .. and so on .. he responds well to vocabulary.
    We live in a small town .. he does get lots exercise and walks .. and we go to a fenced in baseball field to run .. any feed back or suggestions how I can keep him happy and well balanced ?
    Thank you !

    • Sounds like you’re doing just fine, Chris. A quality diet, lots of exercise and love – Harley is a lucky dog.

  2. Hello
    I adopted Scarlett in May of 2021. She was a rescue from Mississippi.
    At first, we thought she was a Feist but I am now thinking she is a Mountain Cur.
    I had included a picture of her today at 2 years and 3 months.
    What do you think? She is incredibly smart and very family protective. She goes to
    daycare 4 days a week and loves playing with all her friends there, but when at home she is a couch potato. I would love to know her breed(s) not that is would make a difference, we love her either way.

    • I would definantly say she’s a mountain cur over black mouth cur. Especially with the little bit longer coat. Maybe even more specifically, a red mountain cur. I rescued Scooby,my 3 year old about 2 years ago now, who I know for certain is a mountain cur because the people who brought him to the rescue i got him from, could no longer take care of him for whatever reason but brought full paperwork on him from birth and where they got him, as well as his mother and father. But anyways I’d say they look very similar. Same size about, and same coat. Scooby is also very active when we walk and are outside but then a couch cuddler inside at night. Very loving and loyal too(so much so when I first got him, for the first 5 or 6 months did not want to leave my side. Anywhere I went, in the truck, every room, even would try and follow me into the bathroom when I’d shower ha. I think that might be more from anxiety of being left at the animal rescue by his previous owners though. Thinking it could happen again. What I mean though is Scarlett sounds like she is very similar. I’m 100% sure she is a mountain cur. They’re amazing dogs! And she is a beautiful girl!

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