| General Information |
| Group(s):
Herding |
Height: 20-25 inches |
| Weight: 50-70 pounds |
Longevity: low teens |
| Colors: all shades of yellow, red, brindle, etc. with or without mask and white allowed |
Coat type: smooth, straight |
| Recognized Registries: UKC |
| Overall Appearance: Very much like the field type Labrador the Black Mouth Cur lacks characteristics that could be labeled as "breed type" which can lead to problems in breeding programs and other efforts to make the breed more widely known. The one characteristic of a black mouth (actually just heavy pigmentation around the lips) may be something the breed is named for but even then it is not an element definitively unique to the breed and could be readily confused with almost any breed or mix that had a mask and flop ears. |
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| Personaility - Behavior - Training |
| Energy Level: high |
| General Nature: |
Intelligent, confident, active, protective |
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with Children: generally good but usually only with those it knows well |
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with other pets: somewhat unreliable due to herding and hunting drives |
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with dogs: unreliable due to protective drives |
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| Socialization requirements: high; the Black Mouth Cur was not developed for living in the suburbs, towns and cities of today but rather with the self sustaining hunters, farmers, trappers of another era. |
| Ideal home characteristics: One that does not expect this dog to be an unusual Labrador Retriever but understands that demands that go hand in hand with a multi-talented dog. This is NOT a good choice for someone who leaves for work everyday. |
| Temperament Notes: Demanding in the sense that they expect to work. |
| Training requirement: HIGH; socialization (very heavy), basic manners, basic obedience and ongoing activity (like Agility, Search and Rescue, etc.) |
| Trainer notes: Like many breeds developed for characteristics that would make them a talented all-around working partner, the Black Mouth Cur is a fabulous training partner in the hands of someone who seeks a partner. For someone who seeks to create a submissive tool, the Black Mouth Cur will be a disappointing effort. This dog gladly gives respect, trust and devotion but only to those that can return that respect. As a breed that hearkens back to an era when dogs were bred as working partners rather than companions, the Black Mouth Cur may be a stand out example. This does NOT mean that the average home would be well suited with this piece of history. In fact, it would likely meet with dismal failure. If you are not seeking a dog that will be part of your life every day, if your family leaves in the morning for work and school and the dog is left alone, bored, this is NOT the dog for you. His/her temperament will not tolerate such tedium without work and will turn to a number of neurotic behaviors to make up for the lack. |
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| Background Information |
| Year range of first recognition: UKC 1998 |
| Country of Origin: United States |
| Original Function: Herding |
| History: Developed as a herding dog in the Deep South during Colonial times by the breeding of good |
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| Adoption Information |
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| Deviations from Standard: |
| Health Notes: hip dysplasia, eye issues |
| Health Testing: OFA, CERF |
| Questions to ask Breeder: http://www.digitaldog.com/breeder_questions.html - The Breeder Questions as listed here provided with explanations and answers you will want to be looking for!
How long have you had Black Mouth Curs?
Why do you have Black Mouth Curs (show, performance, hunting, etc.)?
What do you consider to be the most important single characteristic of a Black Mouth Cur?
What health issues have you seen in the breed?
What criteria do you set for your breeding stock?
Do you plan to keep a puppy from this litter?
How often do you have puppies?
Do you have a written contract and puppy guarantee?
At what age do you sent your pups to their homes?
How would you describe the ideal Black Mouth Cur?
How would you describe the ideal Black Mouth Cur home?
Are your puppies whelped in your home?
What advice would you offer someone in raising and training a Black Mouth Cur? |
| Web Sites: Without a rescue in place, it is very difficult to take the claims of the Black Mouth Cur Club seriously. Throughout their site they repeat the ancestry of their breed (referencing lines that are over 150-200 years old and still maintained by families) and concern held by breeders that their dogs go to good homes, but no where is there any information about rescue or rescue contacts for this breed or how a shelter or rescue would readily recognize a Black Mouth Cur if it came into their care. |
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| Other Resources |
| Breed standard: |
http://www.blackmouthcur.com/ukc_standards.htm- Black Mouth Cur standard as per the UKC |
| Breeder Ethics: |
Without a code of ethics in place, it is very difficult to take the claims of the Black Mouth Cur Club seriously. Throughout their site they repeat the ancestry of their breed (referencing lines that are over 150-200 years old and still maintained by families) and concern held by breeders that their dogs go to good homes, but no where is there any information about how to recognize an exceptional breeder or what ethics they should follow. Additionally, without any reference to health issues within the breed this valuable way of screening breeders is gone. |
| Other: |
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