THE VERSATILE MOUNTAIN CUR
The Mountain Cur loves to work. They are not a breed for everyone, however, as they need lots of physical exercise. When provided with structure and jobs, the Mountain Cur is an exceptional compan- ion and working dog. As with most work- ing breeds, the Mountain Cur can become bored and destructive if it does not have enough to do. This is why jobs and exercise are so important when owning this breed. It is also advised to be super careful with small children, as the breed has extremely high prey drive. They are very smart and can be taught to leave unwanted “game” in the home, such as small pets and cats. The Mountain Cur is an overall healthy breed. There are, however, some recessive genes that have been reported since the Embark DNA testing has been done on the breed. It is highly recommended and encouraged for all breeders to have their stock genetically tested. At this point in time, there have been reports of reces- sive Ichthyosis, Collie Eye Anomaly, and Degenerative Myelopathy in the breed. A common occurrence in the DNA reports is Alanine Aminotransferase Activity, which is not necessarily a disease but is something that owners should be aware of and mention to their veterinarian. The color of the Mountain Cur can be any of the following: Black, Blue (with or without tan or brindle points), Brindle, Blue Brindle, Red or Yellow. White mark- ings are accepted, providing the dog is not over one-third white. Merle coloring or blue eyes are never to be accepted. Structure and stamina are very important, as this is a working Hound breed. Faults are to be penalized in the degree to which they affect functionality. Rear dew claws or bob tail are not required. Scars are neither to be penal- ized nor regarded as proof of working abil- ity. The Mountain Cur is a solid, athletic, working dog that should have the appropri- ate structure to work for hours at a time.
Mandy Middleton entered the world of purebred Mountain Curs in 2015 and has been a breeder/owner-handler since 2016. She had been showing in AKC Obedience and Rally with her altered pound rescue Mountain Cur since 2011, but with the breed not recognized by the AKC at that time, her registered dogs weren’t allowed to compete until she had successfully petitioned to have them added into the Foundation Stock Service. After that, her first bred-by dog earned many different titles in multiple venues in the AKC. Mandy created the Mountain Cur Club of America in 2017 to unite and educate fellow Cur owners. Mandy and her dogs compete in many different dog sports, including Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Lure Coursing, Fast CAT, Dock Diving, Scent Work, Weight Pull, and Tracking. She has even earned a Schutzhund BH with one of her young Curs. Her dogs aren’t just show dogs, they’re also accomplished hunting dogs, working various game, from squirrels and raccoons to birds and rabbits, all of which showcase the natural versatility and working abilities of the breed. BIO
280 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2021
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