What is a Black Mouth Cur? (Personality, Price, Train, Health,)

Are you interested in learning more about the Black Mouth Cur dog breed?

Perhaps you are thinking about adding one to your family?

Or maybe you already have one and you are looking for tips on how to take the best possible care of your new pet.

In either case, you have come to the right place.

In this article, we will introduce you to this fascinating breed.

We will discuss a wide range of topics including Black Mouth Cur feeding, grooming, training, and veterinary care.

Let’s dive in and get to know the Black Mouth Cur temperament!

What is a Black Mouth Cur?

A Black Mouth Cur is a medium-sized multi-purpose working dog.

The breed was developed in the Southern United States for hunting, herding and protection.

These dogs were bred for their working abilities rather than their appearance, so some people believe that they look rather “ordinary.”

They are generally light brown with black markings around their eyes and muzzles. They have brown eyes, floppy ears, long tails and short coats.

Black Mouth Curs might not look fancy, but they are outstanding working dogs and great companions.

Black Mouth Cur History

The history of the Black Mouth Cur dog breed is only partially known.

It is believed that the breed originated in the Southern United States in the 1700s.

Some sources claim that the breed first emerged in Tennessee while others claim that the Black Mouth Cur came from the area that is now Mississippi.

As Americans moved West, Black Mouth Curs moved West with them.

These dogs were prized for being all-around working dogs. They were used for every possible task, which was beneficial because many early American settlers could not afford to have more than one dog.

Their Black Mouth Curs could protect the property, herd the livestock, and even go hunting with them.

The beloved dog in the classic novel, Old Yeller, is thought to be modeled off of a Black Mouth Cur.

This breed has never been officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC); however, it was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1998 and it is recognized by other Kennel Clubs as well.

Black Mouth Cur Behavior and Temperament

What should you expect in terms of personality traits?

In this section, we will discuss the most common Black Mouth Cur behaviors.

However, it is important to remember that all dogs are individuals.

Therefore, your Black Mouth Cur may not display all of the traits listed below. There will be some differences between individual dogs—even within the same breed.

Rugged, Athletic, Active

The Black Mouth Cur is a rugged, muscular athlete.

These dogs require plenty of daily exercise.

Exercise can include activities like jogging, hiking, or a canine sport.

This breed is not do well as apartment dogs. They thrive in more rural settings where they have plenty of space to romp and play and exercise.

If you plan to keep one in the city, you must be committed to making sure that you can meet the exercise needs of your Black Mouth Cur. You might want to look into the option of doggie daycare or get involved in a canine sport such as agility.

Clever, Easily Bored

The Black Mouth Cur is very intelligent.

These dogs thrive when they have something to occupy their brains.

They are highly trainable, and they love learning new things.

They can get bored easily if they do not have a job to do.

You will need to provide plenty of mental enrichment to keep your Black Mouth Cur from becoming bored and destructive.

When bored this dog may develop nuisance behaviors such as barking, digging and chewing.

You can stock up on food puzzles and interactive toys at your local pet store to keep your pet mentally stimulated.

Loyal and Protective

The Black Mouth Cur temperament is often described as loyal and protective.

These dogs bond deeply with their families.

They make good watchdogs and they will protect their territories from intruders.

If you are looking for a dog that will make a good watchdog, the this breed is an excellent choice.

Black Mouth Cur Size and Appearance

The United Kennel Club (UKC) breed standard describes the Black Mouth Cur as having the following physical characteristics:

“The Black Mouth Cur is a powerful, agile tree dog of medium size. The body is square or just slightly longer than tall. Legs are long enough to allow the dog to move quickly and with agility in rough terrain.”

United Kennel Club (UKC)

The typical Black Mouth Cur weight range is between 40 and 50 lbs.

The average Black Mouth Cur height range is between 16 and 18 inches at the withers.

Black Mouth Cur colors come in different shades of brown from light yellow to deep chestnut or red. They can occasionally be brindle, but they are never spotted, mottled or merle.

Their fur is short and easy to care for. We will talk more about Black Mouth Cur grooming and shedding in the next section.

How to Groom a Black Mouth Cur?

The Black Mouth Cur is a fairly low maintenance dog when it comes to grooming needs and coat care.

They require very little daily grooming. They have short, dense coats and their shedding is very manageable.

Owners simply need to brush their coats from time to time and give them baths as needed.

Most owners can do all the grooming themselves without needing to take their Black Mouth Cur to a professional groomer.

This is a great perk because professional grooming can get expensive quickly!

Your Black Mouth Cur should also get its nails trimmed on a regular basis.

If this is not something you are comfortable doing at home, most grooming salons and vet clinics can do it for a small fee.

Make sure to check your dog’s ears for debris and keep them clean to avoid infections.

Is the Black Mouth Cur Hypoallergenic?

Unfortunately, the Black Mouth Cur is not a hypoallergenic dog breed.

If you are looking for a breed that is hypoallergenic, you can check out this list of hypoallergenic breeds to look for alternatives.

Black Mouth Cur Training

What is the best way to train your Black Mouth Cur?

This breed is intelligent, and they respond well to positive reinforcement training.

If possible, sign up for a positive reinforcement obedience class in your area.

If you acquire your dog as a puppy, you can also sign up for a puppy socialization class so your pup can learn important social skills with other dogs.

Ask questions before you sign up for a class, though. Avoid trainers that use punishment or dominance. Never work with a trainer that uses painful training tools like shock collars or pinch collars. These types of devices are painful and not necessary. They can harm the relationship between you and your dog

Positive reinforcement training is more humane, effective and enjoyable for you and your Black Mouth Cur.

Once you have gone through basic obedience training, you can sign up for more challenging classes such as agility, flyball, nosework, search and rescue, rally obedience, and much more.

Health and Veterinary Care

Like all dogs, your Black Mouth Cur will need yearly veterinary care to stay happy and healthy.

In general, the Black Mouth Cur tends to be a fairly healthy dog breed.

However, all breeds are prone to certain genetic medical conditions.

Talk with your vet about the following conditions before you commit to adopting a Black Mouth Cur. Make sure that you would be able to handle these issues if they did arise:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Eye Issues
• Ear Infections
• Skin Infections

You can keep your Black Mouth Cur as healthy as possible by bringing him to the vet on a regular basis for yearly checkups and annual vaccinations.

You can also keep your pet healthy by making sure that your Black Mouth Cur is always up to date on flea prevention, heartworm prevention and tick prevention.

Feeding and Nutrition

What should you feed your Black Mouth Cur?

Talk with your vet about the best nutrition for this active dog breed.

Your vet will likely recommend a high-quality dog food brand. Try to avoid cheap supermarket brands that contain filler ingredients such as animal by-products or corn.

What is the Lifespan of a Black Mouth Cur?

How long they live depends on the individual dog, but most Black Mouth Curs have a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years.

As we mentioned before, Black Mouth Curs tend to be hardy, healthy dogs, so make sure you can make a long-term commitment if you choose to adopt one of these dogs.

If you take good care of your Black Mouth Cur, it should have a nice long lifespan.

Adoption and Rescue

If you think a Black Mouth Cur is the perfect dog for your household, you can start to look at your options for acquiring one.

One great option is to look into adoption.

Adopting a pet is a very rewarding experience. There are many pets in this country that are homeless and are in need of loving homes. Many adopted pets will come to you with some prior housetraining and obedience training, which is a definite benefit.

Where to Find a Black Mouth Cur for Adoption

If you are looking to adopt, start by paying a visit to your local animal shelter or humane society.

Black Mouth Curs are fairly common in American shelters.

Even if you do not find one on your first visit, ask to leave your name and number so you can be notified if a Black Mouth Cur becomes available in the future.

You can also search for rescue groups. These are rescue organizations that specialize in just one breed.

You can find them by asking for suggestions at your local animal shelter, or by searching online.

There are also some websites that you can visit such as www.petfinder.com, www.adoptapet.com, and www.getyourpet.com.

Facebook is another useful tool for connecting with the rescue community.

Finding a Black Mouth Cur for Sale from a Reputable Breeder

If you decide to purchase a Black Mouth Cur puppy from a breeder, you will need to do careful research to make sure that you find a responsible Black Mouth Cur breeder.

Never purchase puppies over the internet or from a pet store. You might inadvertently get a puppy from a puppy mill or a backyard breeder.

Instead, always insist on visiting the breeder’s property in person. Make sure the conditions and clean and humane. Ask to see medical records for the parents as well as the puppies.

Reputable Black Mouth Cur breeders will welcome your visit.

They will not have anything to hide. In fact, they will probably take the opportunity to ask you questions as well and make sure that you can provide a good home for one of their puppies.

If the breeder does not want you to visit their property, this is a major red flag. Keep looking for a different breeder.

How Much Does a Black Mouth Cur Cost?

The Black Mouth Cur price tag varies depending on how you acquire your new pet.

Adopting from a shelter or rescue group is substantially cheaper than buying one from a breeder.

Adoption fees are generally between $75 and $300.

The adoption fee usually covers spay/neuter, vaccinations, and veterinary checkups.

Sometimes it also includes a microchip and other services.

On the other hand, most breeders charge well over $500 per puppy. Some breeders even charge over $1000. This might cover the first set of shots and deworming, but no further veterinary care.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and learn about the Black Mouth Cur. We hope that we have answered your questions about this unique breed.

Allie M.

Allie has worked in the field of animal welfare for over ten years and as a freelance writer the space for many years. She has had many different kinds of dogs (and cats) throughout her life—all adopted. She currently shares her home with a lovable pit bull mix named Huckleberry.