08/26/2025
Whenever we get a new dog to train, we love to understand what breed we are working with. It is so important when picking out a dog for your family, that you look for something that will fit your lifestyle.
Maggie is a Mountain Cur that trained with us over a month ago. Here is a little history on her breed:
The Mountain Cur was bred by early American settlers as a rugged, all-purpose working dog, especially for life in the Appalachian Mountains. Their main jobs included:
- Hunting & Treeing Game: They were prized for their ability to track and tree small game like raccoons and squirrels, and even help with larger game like bear or boar.
- Guarding the Homestead: Mountain Curs were natural protectors, keeping families and farms safe from predators and intruders.
- Farm & Stock Work: They often helped with livestock, proving themselves as versatile farmhands.
- Loyal Companionship: Beyond their work, they were trusted family dogs, bonded closely to their people.
The exact breeds aren’t documented, but historians and dog experts believe they descended from a mix of:
- European Cur-type hunting dogs (used for guarding, herding, and hunting)
-Hounds (for scenting and tracking game)
- Terriers (for grit and tenacity)
- Possibly shepherd-type farm dogs brought by settlers
Over generations, only the toughest, smartest, and most versatile dogs survived and reproduced in the mountain environment, which naturally created the Mountain Cur we know today.
