Cur

The term cur refers to a mongrel dog. Originally the word cur referred to a certain English purpose-bred, short-tailed cattle droving dog known only from historical records, the cur dog, but in modern usage it applies to any mongrel.

Among dog experts curs are any of several closely related North American purpose-bred treeing hounds, some of which have since achieved breed recognition.

Terminology

Etymology

The derivation of the word cur dates from the 13th century. It is thought to be short for the Middle English curdogge, which derives from the word curren, meaning to growl. According to the Dictionary of True Etymologies the original root of the word may be Germanic, possibly from the Old Norse kurra meaning to grumble. If so, the word may be onomatopoeic.

Curs versus feists

Among dog experts, the terms cur and feist both refer to purpose-bred North American treeing hounds. The term feist, however, is exclusively used for only the smallest of these, such as the DenMark Feist, Mullins' Feist, and the Thornburg Feist; whereas curs are much larger. In addition, the term feist is one of several terms that have been used to refer to the Rat Terrier, which is not a treeing hound.

Black Mouth Cur

The Black Mouth Cur is a hunting and cattle dog that has its origins in the Southern Eastern United States of America.

Description

The Black Mouth Cur is a well-muscled rugged herding, hunting, and all around utility (or work) dog whose coat comes in a number of colors and shades, generally red, yellow, fawn, or buckskin. Solid white and piebald colors are not allowed in Black Mouth Curs, but in rare occasions may appear in a litter due to recessive genes from several generations back matching up. According to the breed standard of the United Kennel Club, up to ten percent of the coat may be white with the amounts of white on the toes, tail, nose and chest are acceptable but not desired. As of this date the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Cur is recognized by AKC as the Catahoula Leopard Hound and the Plott Cur has been renamed the Plott Hound. It is hoped that the Black mouth Cur does not become recognized, renamed, and made into a show dog whose champions are judged only by their looks and not their working performance.