The Treeing Cur dog is one of the many Cur dogs. Cur is not a breed, rather an umbrella term for various breeds of dogs showcasing similar traits. They are recognised as small to large sized hunting dogs, having short hair and drop ears. Apart from the Treeing Cur, the other breeds in the Cur classification include American Leopard Hound, Black Mouth Cur, the Blue Lacy, the Camus Cur, the Canadian Cur, the Catahoula Leopard dog, the Mountain Cur, the Stephens Cur, the Parnell’s Carolina Cur, and the Treeing Tennessee Brindle.
Treeing Cur dogs, as the name suggests, are dogs with the capability to tree animals, thus helping their owners with hunting. They find the prey, and fiercely bark at them until they get into the trees, making it easier for the owners to spot the target and hunt them down. They are known to tree both small to large animals ranging from squirrels, raccoons, opossum to wild boar, bears, mountain lion, bobcat as well as to help hunt big game.
Insight into the Treeing Cur breed: Origin and History
A little more than two decades ago, on November 1, 1998 to be precise, The United Kennel Club, an international dog registry, first recognised The Treeing Cur dog breed in midwest USA. The Cur breeders, who were mostly from the remote and rural parts of the United States, were not that well off. They were in need of a dog who could perform multiple varied tasks such as hunting, guarding and herding. Looks of the dog were their last concern, an ace performer is what they needed. Thus, they bred the Treeing Cur, an all-rounder that served all of these purposes well.
Physical Characteristics
The general appearance of the Treeing Cur can vary in terms of sizes, colors and patterns. However, there are a few traits that help recognise this dog breed. They are small to medium sized powerful and athletic dogs with long legs that help them with agility in any kind of terrain, including rough ones.
They have a broad head that is proportionate to their body size and the muzzle is shorter than their skull. Their white teeth are evenly spaced and meet into a scissor bite. Their pink or black nose is broad with wide nostrils. When it comes to eyes, they are well-spaced apart and can be of various colors including brown, blue, amber, hazel, with brown being the preferred color. The small to medium sized ears drop close to their cheeks.
Treeing Cur dogs have a muscular neck, a straight, strong back and a broad chest. Their tail does not have a fixed length; it can also be naturally bobbed. They have a short-haired coat with a straight texture which can vary from a wide range of colors.
What is the lineage of Treeing Cur dogs?/ Lineage: Do they descend from wild dogs?
It is believed that Cur dogs could be descendants of Native American dogs mixed with domesticated dogs brought to America by the French and Spanish people. The derivation of the word ‘cur’ dates back to the 13th century Middle English word “curdogge” that is derived from the Old Norse word “kurr” which means “to grumble or growl”. Since the Cur dogs bark at cattle during herding or at other animals to help their owners hunt, we can understand why they are called “Cur” dogs.
Temperament
Tree Cur dogs are intelligent dogs with the ability to easily understand and memorize commands by their owners. Due to their naturally athletic body and high energy, they love outdoor activities. Skilled at hunting, they use all their senses from their eyes to ears to nose to track the prey. They are highly alert, strong-willed and fearless in the sense that they will go to any extent to protect their family.
Although they can be scary for strangers and unknown canines, when it comes to family members, they are generally friendly with all age groups. They like pleasing their owner and can, at times, become overly protective. In such situations, it needs to be trained to prevent their behavior from turning aggressive.
Treeing Cur Bite Type and Jaw Strength
Treeing Curs have a standard bite force between 200 and 400 PSI with a notable jaw strength. These dogs are not too friendly with strangers and can be sometimes scary due to their jaw strength and natural instinct to protect their owners. Hence, they should be fully trained before leaving them around strangers.
The Purpose of Treeing Cur Dogs
Originally, treeing cur dogs were trained for hunting, guarding and herding purposes due to their natural abilities such as great intelligence, agility and adaptability. They are still used by farm owners in the USA. In the current day and age, people keep Treeing Cur dogs as pets as they make excellent companions of humans.
Do Treeing Curs Make Good Family Dogs?
Treeing Cur dogs grow fond of their family and will do anything to protect them, making them great family dogs and property guardians. They are friendly with kids and elderly persons as well. Since they are quick learners, their family can train them well and turn them into amiable family pets.
How Easily are Treeing Cur Dogs Trained?
Treeing Curs are intelligent and responsive dogs who are also quick learners and can be easily trained. The trainers only need to help enhance their natural abilities of hunting and guarding. The dogs know how to tree animals but communicating the information with their owners requires some training.
Similarly, their natural instinct to become overprotective of their owners can backfire in front of family, friends and strangers. This type of aggression should be discouraged and that requires training the dog in its early years.
Grooming and Nutrition of Treeing Cur Dog
Grooming Treeing Cur dogs is easy as their grooming requirements are minimal. Regular brushing, once or twice a week, can help get rid of the dead and loose hair and minimize the otherwise regular shedding. Seasonal flea treatment is definitely needed.
There is no need to bathe Tree Cur dogs frequently as that can dry out their skin and cause skin issues. Whenever you are bathing the dog, look out for fleas, bumps and other skin irregularities. These dogs are susceptible to ear infections, hence clipping the excess hair in the ear canal is necessary to maintain hygiene of the ears. Toenails can be clipped once a month. Brushing the teeth three times a week is good enough for dental hygiene.
When it comes to nutritional needs, Treeing Curs below one year need frequent meals. But after that, one bowl everyday should suffice. They need a nutritious and balanced diet of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats. Top-quality, branded puppy food in combination with water, canned food, or broth can be fed to Treeing Cur dogs. People’s food can be given but it should be limited to less than 10% of their daily intake.
Is Treeing Cur the ideal dog breed for you?
If you are looking for a dog that requires less maintenance, Treeing Cur may be an ideal breed for you. Being quick learners, beginner level dog owners can easily train them. Treeing Cur dogs do not yearn for too much social interaction and can be left on their own for sometime too. They are not too sensitive and adapt to change well.
They are deeply affectionate and care for their family. Their territorial nature inclines them to being an excellent watchdog. Treeing Cur dogs bark only when necessary and rarely bite. If you are looking for a dog with these personality traits, Treeing Cur may fit your bill.
However, it is crucial to consider the fact that they are not apartment or office friendly dogs. Their high energy levels demand for a larger space to move around and daily high-intensive outdoor activities such as running, swimming and playing. So, if you are a fitness freak and ready to sign up for 90 minutes of activity everyday, Treeing Cur will be your happy companion!
Breeding Treeing Cur Dogs
Treeing Cur Dogs breed once a year; more than that is not considered healthy for the dogs. The litter size includes 6-8 puppies.
F.A.Q
Are Treeing Cur dogs good as guard dogs?
Treeing Cur dogs are loyal and protective of their owners and territory. They are also naturally suspicious of strangers. This, combined with their agility, strength, stamina and courage, make them excellent guard dogs.
What is the speed of a Treeing Cur dog?
A Treeing Cur dog can run up to 26 mph.
What is the bite type of Treeing Cur dogs?
The perfectly aligned teeth of Treeing Cur dogs meet into a scissor bite.
How do I identify a Treeing Cur dog?
Small to medium sized body, broad head, short muzzle, scissor bite, nose with wide nostrils, well-spaced apart eyes, drop ears, muscular neck, strong back, broad chest, short to medium length outer coat, short, dense and soft undercoat, cat foot, and muscular forelegs are all signs of a Treeing Cur dog. They are powerful, agile and hardworking dogs.
Can I feed Pedigree to a local breed dog (Treeing Cur)?
You can feed any top-quality, branded food to your Treeing Cur dog. However, before trying out any brand, if you are unsure, please contact your vet to make the right choice.
Where to buy original Treeing Cur puppies?
You can check your local and online adoption centers to find original Treeing Cur puppies.
Are Treeing Cur dogs high maintenance?
Absolutely not! In fact, Treeing Cur dogs require minimal maintenance, making it a perfect choice for beginners. Their coats need very little grooming that is fairly easy to do. Seasonal flea treatments may be required. Their ears and eyes should be cleaned to prevent infections.
Do Treeing Cur dogs need frequent vet visits?
Yes, as Treeing Cur dogs are susceptible to health issues, they need at least 1-2 vet checkups every year.
Do I need to vaccinate my Treeing Cur dog?
You definitely need to vaccinate your Treeing Cur dog. Call your veterinarian to receive further information on the same.
Conclusion
If you have a large outdoor space, love outdoor activities and going on hikes, Treeing Cur dogs can be ideal for you. They are loyal, protective and friendly dogs with natural hunting and watchdog abilities. Being a novice dog owner should not be a problem as they are easy to maintain and quick learners!
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