The Black Mouth Cur has an undetermined history, however it is known that they were bred as all-purpose dogs by early American settlers. They were primarily used for hunting as well as guarding, but have also been adept at tracking and even herding! This dog is courageous in nature and has energy and strength to spare – a true multi-talented working dog. Along with these attributes, he is also an extremely affectionate companion at home and adores kids – although it should be noted that his size and rough play style makes him a better match for older children rather than toddler-age.
The Black Mouth is a loyal companion gifted with an empathetic nature. Many are said to know when their owners are sad and will try to comfort them thusly. They also generally do well with other dogs and tend to make friends easily, owing to their good natures. This said, if a real threat were to show itself in the form of a home intruder or even a menacing stranger, most would flip that friendly attitude post-haste and become quite threatening themselves. There is a real guard dog hiding under this otherwise social hound! In fact it is very important that he be socialized extensively from puppyhood in order to ensure he doesn’t become aggressive without reason.
When it comes to training, the BMC is surprisingly sensitive and does not respond well to harsh methods despite his otherwise fearless character. This said, too much slack and he may just try to take advantage. Therefore training needs to be firm, yet fair. He is intelligent but may take a little extra knowledge on the owner’s part to work with him adequately. Furthermore, he has a high prey drive that can override his “training brain” if the scent or sight of a woodland creature become apparent. Utilize short sessions to hold his attention and practice all early sessions in places that aren’t likely to present distractions – adding distractions only once he’s learned the commands.
Black Mouth Curs aren’t generally recommended for novices as they are often “too much dog”. Namely, this is a very high-energy breed that requires extensive exercise every day, at very least a long walk supplemented by a vigorous run in a fenced yard daily. Apartments are a big no for this hound! Neither does he do well with those who work all day as he was bred to work with people from sunup to sundown and can get lonely, frustrated and destructive when left alone by himself constantly. Finally, like many hounds the Black Mouth Cur isn’t the best match in homes with cats or other small animals.
Black Mouths can also be difficult in other areas as well. For starters, they are not known as quiet dogs. In addition, they can be wanderers and shouldn’t be trusted to roam an un-fenced area unsupervised. The same personality traits that helped them to protect early settlers from predators such as bears and wildcats also leads to their desire to protect their territory – traits which can be more problematic in suburban areas.
BMCs are a rare breed – especially outside of the United States but unknown by many even in the U.S.A., except mostly for those living in the southern states. They are recognized by the UKC although not by the AKC. Because there are several main strains of the breed, appearances can differ quite a lot. This is one of many reasons why the breed may not be recognized by the AKC for awhile, if ever. It is thought by some that the the main canine character in the novel “Old Yeller” was a Black Mouth, and this seems to be his greatest claim to fame….except to those who live with and love these hounds, who consider their own BMCs to be the stars of their own hearts and homes.
Photo by Greg Hume