Why Do Curs Make Fantastic Pets?
If youre thinking of adopting a cur dog, you should know that despite their history as a “treeing” dog, many people dont get them for this purpose anymore. Instead, they get these dogs to keep as pets.
Here are five amazing things about curs!
Have you ever seen the movie Old Yeller by Disney? The movie went into the Library of Congress in 2019, and it was the first live-action Disney film with no animated scenes to receive this honor. Its based on a novel by the same name.
For those that havent seen it, its about a dog that saves its human family from many attacks by wild animals – even getting a fatal injury in the process.
The dog in that movie is a black mouth cur! While the film is fiction, the reality is that black mouth curs (and all curs) are some of the most loyal, courageous, and protective dogs that you will meet. They make for lovely pets in that regard!
These Dogs Tend To Need Little Grooming
As hunting and treeing dogs, they have short hair and very “functional” bodies. Youll find that none of the members of the cur dog breed shed very much. And, the fact that they have short hair makes them very easy to groom!
However, please note that even though these dogs might not shed very much, they are not hypoallergenic dogs. If you have allergies, please consider another breed instead!
Of course, this opinion is subjective, but these dogs can be positively adorable. They have a simple, understated appearance that draws you in and keeps you looking at them. And, since they communicate so well with their owners, they can often give you those puppy eyes that are enough to melt your heart.
While these dogs wont necessarily win any dog shows, they have an adorable elegance about them that is hard to find in another breed.
This dog breed loves to help with any form of job. Without a task, they tend to get upset quickly. Therefore, curs, in general, are best suited for farms and homes with large open spaces. It would be tough to keep a cur dog in an apartment.
Many dogs like having tasks – what makes this breed so remarkable is that they have such a strong drive to please their owner. They love working and spending time outdoors. For the right family (e.g., those living on a farm), such personality and will are invaluable!
Canadian Cur
Canadian curs weigh somewhere between 30 and 60 pounds. Their coats can be black, black and white, tan, or brindle.
They were initially bred by Larry Smith and Larry Rogers for raccoon hunting, but their versatility has allowed them to also be used for hunting lions, bears, deer, and coyotes.
!!What is a CUR!!
Lovers of pure-bred dogs might not get excited when they hear about cur dogs, as the term is often used to refer to mongrel dogs that tend to be aggressive. The term comes from the Old Norse kurra, which means to grumble or growl.
Cur is also, however, used to refer to a group of dog breeds that were developed for hunting and herding in the United States.
These dogs are thought to have played a big role in the European settlement of Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.
While none of the various breeds that fall under the American cur umbrella are recognized by the American Kennel Club as purebred dogs, many are recognized by other Kennel Clubs, such as in the United Kingdom.
Moreover, they are all recognized under the AKC Foundation Stock Service dog program, which allows purebred rare breeds to continue breeding and maintain reliable records without full AKC recognition.
Let’s take a look at these amazing and distinctively American dogs and why they make excellent hunters and companions for active households.