Cur dogs

D

diced

Joined
Sep 26, 2012
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My yellow lab is almost 11 an not really able to hunt anymore. After doing some research on various breeds I have become interested in cur dogs. I have notice a lot of people on here from the south, where the breed is common. So my question is what type of cur dog would be best to be both a family pet with kids and be able to hunt and retrieve waterfowl, blood track deer, alert me to squirrels, and maybe even tree coons. I know it would take a lot of training but just wondering if anyone has developed a cur this way and what type did you get. Not too worried about upland game like pheasants because they are pretty much gone from my area.
 
my brother has a catahula leopard dog which is a type of cur. She is still young and he might train her to hunt but she very energetic and a great family dog. she is very fast and has a great nose, my brother will bring her to work and drag her toy around and hide it and she will find in no problem in less than a minute. they would make great hunting dogs.
 
yea I think all Curs are bread to be hunting dogs of various game, but I am trying to find a type that would be able to be a jack of all trades, and still be good for kids. asking a lot I know...
 
My buddy has a black mouth cur that does some amazing things...unbelievable nose. I definitely plan on getting one when i'm out of school and on my own.. (I also want a Catahoula)

Fun fact, the famous dog Old Yeller was actually a BMC. Here is what WIKI has to say about the breed...
 
We have a German Shorthair and I can't say enough good things about her. Her hunting instincts are amazing, she makes a great watchdog, and she loves children. I have never tried to hunt anything other than grouse or squirrels with her but believe she could learn to if I had the desire and time to teach her.
 
I am also hoping to stay below 75Lbs. My lab is a freaking hulk at about 120 without much fat. He is really tall and long, his size makes it rough crossing fences now that he cant jump them. It is even worse when I would take him on a tandem sit on top kayak and have to pull him back onto the boat after he would go for a swim. I thought about German Shorthairs too, they seem to have good genetics. I was hoping for a Cur because they have been bread exclusively for hunting. My lab is all field trial stock, but many of them have been bread for show traits and you may sacrifice hunting traits for aesthetics. I think most dogs can be trained to do about anything if you put the time in. My dad and I have labs from the same litter and he has his trained for squirrels.
 
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I would go to Squirrel Dog Central and look around that sight. They have a message board where you can ask questions and they will lead you in the right direction.
 
ive been around alotta dogs, and my next hunting dog will absolutley be a Patterdale....ive seen them little dogs do everything, including retrieve.
 
Curs are incredibly versatile dogs from what I understand. Growing up one of my dad's prized dogs was a cur/walker mix that would tree squirrels. Also I went out west to eastern Arizona and hunted Black bear on one occasion and our guide used a pack of curs they were quite impressive to say the least. I have great respect for any creature that will bay or tree an animal that's five times its weight.
 
My brother has a Kemmer Cur...he is a good dog ! The dog will hunt coon & squirrel. Very smart & energetic ! He is also great with the kids ....here he is with my boys.
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Hawkeye5 thanks for the site will check it out.

woody will look at the patterdale too. My lab came from La Claire IA.

Coaldigger, thats a great looking dog, about the size I am looking for. Big enough to get the job done on a crippled goose, but small to get in the kayak. Its opening day for duck and goose here, I am heading out and my poor old lab just looked up at me and went back to bed. I have a feeling after slogging through the mud today chasing down birds I will be looking sooner rather than later. could probably have one trained by next year
 
Go check out United Kennel Club forums, lots of hunting dog sub-forums and plenty of folks who use curs for all sorts of game. Black mouth, Ladner, Kemmer and Leopards....a good breeder will let you know if their dogs are good family/hunting dogs or if they have a sharper temperment and are better for being a one person dog. Study them all before you go get one, I was thinking about them at one point but wanted a houndy breed and got a bluetick grade dog. Not a close bunter like a cur would be and in hindsight there would have been times we could have hunted smaller parcels and passed on it. She would have run those woods over and been gone in two minutes.
 
As mentioned, most hunting breed dogs can be cross trained for different game. Jake, my Llewellyn Setter likes to hunt squirrels. He is bred to be an upland bird dog, but is an excellent swimmer and good with people as well as other dogs. At 46#, he can reboard the canoe without assistance and will do so on command.

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bobbywett said:
Jake's a handsome Boy.:thumbup:
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Thanks. I like to think so. But his biggest assets are inteligence and bidability, willingness to do as I tell him to do in order to please me. He is still young and headstrong, but we are up to 26 word commands now. Only a dozen or so are real consistant and recall is not one of them. Thus the 25' teather. He lives in the house, is crate trained and relieves himself only on command. "Squirrel" is one of the words he recognizes. I am sure that there are cur breeds that are every bit as intellegent.
 
woody d said:
ive been around alotta dogs, and my next hunting dog will absolutley be a Patterdale....ive seen them little dogs do everything, including retrieve.
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Here is a crappy cell phone pic of our Fell Terrier (aka Patterdale) named Blake. He's a great woods companion and an invaluable member of our family. Blake and my my four year old son are inseparable.

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good looking little dog. ive been researching the breed a bit, and luckily i have a buddy in texas who is an ADBA judge who also raises patterdales.
its good to have a mentor when getting involved in a breed of working dog.
 
Here are some better pics of Blake. We rescued him from the local shelter three weeks before he was scheduled to be euthanized. I never knew anything of the breed until we brought him home. He's almost two years old now and he's the most intelligent dog that I have ever owned. I believe that if he had opposable thumbs, he could take over the world. :D He is, at this moment, laying at my feet and snoring.

I wish you luck in your quest. Good dogs make us better people.

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I am from Catahoula parish where Catahoula Curs originated. I have heard of Curs doing all the tasks you mentioned except retrieving ducks. While they probably wont be as adept as a retriever they could probably be taught to make an adequate retriever. I have access to 3 of the old original lines of Catahoula's. These dogs aren't cheap ($600-$1000) depending on line, sex etc. I could also find you a cheaper one but it wouldn't be from the original breeds/lines. One of these would probably make an acceptable dog. It all depends on how much you wanna spend. If you'd like give me a call at the number below and I'll take your contact info. and what type of dog you are looking for and find you one. It may take a few months because the good dogs are usually spoken for before they are even bred. I'll have to get you on a list. If you wanna call please call between 9AM & 9PM central time.
 
I have a female cur dog , Blackmouth/Pitbull mix. She is excellent with people but wants to fight every dog she meets. She can catch wild hogs, tree squirrels, kill coons, do a half-ass job blood trailing wild game. Lola is 72 pounds, a poor swimmer - NOT a water dog, she rather stay on high ground. Right now she is giving me advanced notice to "Trick-or-Treaters" by barking a minute before they make it to my door; excellent house/guard dog.
My opinion Diced, stick with some type of lab/water dog breed if you mainly waterfoul hunt. Good luck with your search and let us know what you decide on.
 
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