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Anyone who has watched and maybe even shed a few tears to the movie "Old Yeller" has seen what the Black Mouth Cur is all about. The movie truly depicts the personality and strength of this intelligent dog. The Cur is an all-purpose dog that has shown its ability not only while herding and hunting but also as a loyal companion to their human family. The Cur is a mix of different breeds that were bred to fit the needs of the regions and functions that were required of the dog.

The Black Mouth Cur earned its name from the coloring of the mouth. Around the mouth and the lips are black and this coloring extends to the inside of the mouth with the exclusion of the tongue. Generations of the Black Mouth Cur have been bred and raised by L.H. Ladner and the dogs from the Ladner family have become known as the Ladner Black Mouth Curs. Many believe that the first dogs to be called Black Mouth Curs came from the Ladner Family. The Black Mouth Cur is recognized by the National Kennel Club but not by the American Kennel Club.

The National Kennel Club has adopted standards to preserve the breed and assist those looking into acquiring a Black Mouth Cur. These guidelines were partially adopted from recommendations made by L.H. Ladner.

*The dog should have a well-balanced appearance with short hair. Preferred colors are yellow, reddish-yellow or black. The ears should hang but be short with a medium length tail.

*The head should be flat, straight teeth with strong jaws and no over or under bite. Dark eyes, black muzzle and no loose skin around the mouth.

*Deep, broad chest with excellent muscle tone.

*Males should weigh between 40-50 pounds and stand 20 to 26 inches in height. Female's weight should range from 30-40 pounds and stand 18 to 24 inches. Ranges outside of these recommendations are not considered a fault as long as the dog is well-balanced.

*The temperament should be trusting and confident but should show distrust towards strangers. They should handle working with other dogs as well as alone and be possessive of their territory. Black Mouth Curs should not be too shy or too aggressive.

While these may be the standards, excellent Black Mouth Curs can weigh anywhere from 40 to 95 pounds and stand 28 inches tall. A small amount of white is common on the toes and can also be seen on the tip of the tail. Those who have owned a Black Mouth Cur can attest that this may be the most loyal dog known. Not only protective towards their family but they are also very affectionate and tend to be even more so towards children and women.

The origins of the Black Mouth Cur are not fully known but some believe they originated in either Tennessee or Mississippi. The book "Big Thicket Legacy" is a compilation of stories about people who lived in the Big Thicket of Texas. Some of the storytellers were close to a hundred years old; one of those stories describes the Black Mouth Cur the best. "What we call a cur dog was just a general mixture of dogs. They had dogs of all kinds and descriptions, took the best ones and interbred them, developed the cur dog, and the strain breeds true, the best dog in the world."

Sources:
BIG THICKET LEGACY by Campbell Loughmiller, Lynn Loughmiller, copyright 2002.
http://www.blackmouthcur. com/
http://www.nationalkennelc lub.com/Breed-Standards/blackm outh_cur.htm

Learn more about this author, Angela Pollock.
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