Mt. Curs are the pioneer dogs of the Southern Mountains. It has been said by many old-timers that without Mt. Curs, or bear dogs, the Southern Mountains could not have been settled by the pioneers. Mt. Curs were a necessity for the frontier family. They guarded the family against wild animals and other dangers and caught, treed and holed animals for the family's food. When moving to a new home, pioneers provided for the Mt. Cur puppies. Baskets were slung across the back of pack animals and the puppies rode. If no pack animals were available, family members carried the valuable puppies. Our Mt. Curs came from Europe along with their owners, who came to America seeking new homes. Settlers landed along the Eastern coast of the New World. Restless souls moved down the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia into the Carolinas, across the Appalachian Mountains, along the Wilderness Trail into Kentucky and Tennessee and South and West into Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. It has been established through family history and research that Spanish Explorers brought the brindle, bob-tail Curs to the South. Hernando de Soto brought the brindle Curs to drive the hogs and provide protection against wild animals, while he explored the South and discovered the Mississippi River. Hunters and settlers found the brindles when they came south. With the advent of World War II, many of the families who had bred them left the rural areas and went to work in factories in the war effort. By the end of the 1940's the breed was becoming rare. Four individuals, Hugh Stephens and Woody Huntsman of Kentucky, Carl McConnell of Virginia and Dewey Ledbetter of Tennessee are given credit for saving the breed from dying out and setting the Mountain Cur breed standard. The colors of Mt. Curs of early days are dominant today: brindle, yellow, black and blue. Some have white markings. Different strains were known by their owners' names such as: Arline, York and Ledbetter. All these dogs have the same general traits, such as strong treeing instinct on all game, courageous fighters and intelligence. The Mt. Cur today is still a "varmint" dog-hunting whatever game his master wants. He is also a guard dog, farm dog, and family protector. Temperament: The Mountain Cur is intelligent, easily trained, and neither vicious nor shy. They can be suitable as companion animals and guard dogs. This is not a submissive, easygoing dog. With the toughness and courage to confront a very angry, very large cat, these curs have learned to be decisive and dauntless. Usually silent on the trail, they make consistent guard dogs but certainly are not ideal for suburbia. Trailing ability varies with strains, but they have enough nose to follow game and many carry treeing ability. Some lines are bred for tree dogs and others for baying. They have a strong desire to please their master. Very protective of the property and family; sometimes can be over-protective. The Mountain Cur is noted for his courage. This hunting dog will catch a mad bull head-on in the nose and will hold his ground even against a bear when threatened.