Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: the Unusual, Extraordinary Hybrid Breed

Whenever you are considering adding a hybrid or mix dog to your family, it is important to learn all you can about each parent dog breed. This will help you learn what your dog will need from you to have a healthy and happy life.

This is particularly the case with a less well-known hybrid dog breed like the Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix, where there isn’t a lot of information readily available online or locally.

In this article, we will give you a thorough overview of the two-parent dogs as a guide to learning what this hybrid puppy or rescue dog might be like to live with on a daily basis.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix

The Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix dog has two purebred dog parents: the Mountain Cur, a lesser-known herding/hunting breed, and the Australian Shepherd, an enormously popular herding breed.

Because both parent dogs have strong working dog instincts, this is probably not the ideal hybrid dog breed for a first-time dog owner or inexperienced dog trainer. But for the right owner, you will be choosing a smart, spirited dog to keep your days lively!

Meet a Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Rescue Dog

In this YouTube video, you can meet a rescued Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix dog who is keen to demonstrate all the tricks she has learned.

As this video highlights, a Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix dog is going to be a very smart pup! You will have your hands full finding new tricks to teach to keep your intelligent and active dog engaged and happy.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: Dog Breeds History

Perhaps the best way to learn more about any hybrid breed is to study the history and evolution of each parent dog breed. That is what we will do in this section.

Mountain Cur history

The term “cur” typically refers to a dog breed that has a mix of herding and hunting traits and instincts.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) places the Mountain Cur in its foundation stock category in the hound group.

Foundation stock is a term that indicates the breed is still under development, but in actuality, Mountain Curs are not a new breed at all.

Rather, they are simply a less well-documented breed, since the colonists who brought these dogs to America didn’t care about keeping detailed breeding records. Black Mouth Cur, also known as the Southern Cur is also a part of this family.

Instead, these dogs evolved naturally right alongside their early New World (American) pioneer owners, who relied on their canine sidekicks to share herding and hunting duties.

Curs in general are very brave and will readily go toe-to-toe with the most terrifying predator to protect their people and any livestock in their charge. They are expert treeing dogs and have a bay that resounds for miles.

Australian Shepherd history

The Australian Shepherd is a dog breed that confuses a lot of people because their name suggests they come from Australia.

Actually, these dogs were not formally named until they got to America, but they started their journey back in Europe, and specifically in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the smart and athletic Australian Shepherd is the 17th most popular companion canine in America right now.

These dogs got their start as herding and livestock guarding dogs before they came to the United States and became known as expert rodeo tricksters and performing dogs. They are resilient and loyal but not easy to tire out!

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix history

No matter which parent dog your Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix puppy most takes after, you can count on having a working dog by your side  .

The history of the parent dogs tells us that this dog will inherit a tireless work ethic, lots of courage, plenty of canine smarts, and excellent guard dog instincts.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix Personality & Temperament

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has registered nearly 200 different purebred dog breeds, and there are plenty more in the world that is either un-registered or still under development.

Why are there so many different dog breeds? It is because people want specific traits and qualities in their canine companions.

This is also why it is so important to learn about the personality and temperament of any hybrid dog you are interested in to see if there is a good potential match.

With so many dog breeds to choose from, you are sure to find “the one” if you keep learning and searching. In this section, we look closely at the personality and temperament your Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix puppy is likely to inherit.

Mountain Cur personality and temperament

The Mountain Cur is a working dog through and through. As Panther Ranch Farm Dogs* points out, the overall personality and temperament of cur dogs tend towards “mellow” and “friendly.” (*link removed)

Having said that, these dogs will also inherit a strong desire to have some type of daily “job” to do, be that participation in canine athletics or something more formal.

They need a lot of daily exercise and activity to avoid becoming bored and thus destructive.

Australian Shepherd personality and temperament

The Australian Shepherd is very similar in the sense that these dogs are also true herding and working dogs that are born and bred to do a job.

As the Australian Shepherd Dog Club of America explains, these dogs are also very smart and energetic and really need a lot of daily activity to thrive.

They also really need to have a lot of time with their human family – providing another canine companion will not be an adequate substitute for you.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix personality and temperament

Here again, regardless of whether your hybrid puppy takes after the Mountain Cur or the Australian Shepherd parent more closely, you will have an active, energetic dog that needs a lot of daily activity or a job to do to stay out of trouble.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: Size, Height, and Weight

Dogs are amazing in many ways, but particularly in how they can range from toy-sized to giant-sized.

In this section, we explore the height, weight, and size extremes between the two parent dogs to give you an idea of how big and tall your Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix puppy might become in adulthood.

Mountain Cur size, height, and weight

The Mountain Cur generally weighs between 30 and 60 pounds and stands between 16 and 26 inches tall.

Australian Shepherd size, height, and weight

The Australian Shepherd generally weighs between 40 and 65 pounds and stands between 18 and 23 inches tall.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd size, height, and weight

Regardless of which parent dog your puppy most favors, you are likely to have a medium-size dog breed when your puppy grows up. These dogs will be lean and athletic overall.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: Training and Exercise Needs

You are probably getting the sense by now that a Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix is going to be a handful to exercise and train.

This is so important to know! These dogs will only acclimate well if provided with a job to do or some level of daily activity that is representative of real canine work.

And a Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd is not going to be an easy dog to train if this is your first time trying to train a dog. In this section, we take a look at why this is the case.

Mountain Cur training and exercise needs

The Mountain Cur is highly intelligent and has an independent mind, which is very much an asset in their work as a herding and hunting dog breed.

But in pet life, this can present some challenges in training. You need to keep training sessions short and positive and very interesting to hold this dog’s attention.

Australian Shepherd training and exercise needs

Australian Shepherds are also independent and intelligent and can be stubborn if they get bored during training.

However, they are also quick to study and will easily grasp new skills and tricks and be ready to move on to the next lesson.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd training and exercise needs

You won’t have any trouble training your Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd hybrid mix dog, as long as you use the right approach to training with short sessions full of new lessons and positive reinforcement.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming

As you are about to learn, coat care can be a breeze or a burden with your Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix depending on which parent dog coat your puppy inherits.

Mountain Cur coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Mountain Cur has a short, flat, neat, double-layer coat that is very common with working dog breeds.

These dogs only need occasional brushing and will shed year-round and seasonally.

Australian Shepherd coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Australian Shepherd has a long, flowing coat that needs daily brushing and grooming and will shed heavily year-round and seasonally.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix coat care, shedding, and grooming

If you are sensitive to pet dander, work with a later-stage hybrid breeder to ensure your mix puppy inherits the short, flat coat of the Mountain Cur.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: Longevity & Health Issues

One of the most heart-breaking trends in modern dog breeding is the increased risk of genetic health issues due to intense breeding for certain traits or appearances.

This makes learning about the overall breed health of each parent dog breed an imperative so you can choose the healthiest possible puppy.

Mountain Cur longevity and health issues

Because the Mountain Cur dog breed is still a breed in development, there is no official health database to check for known genetic (heritable) health concerns in the breed line.

However, as Easy Pet MD explains, there are certain health issues that you can and should watch out for, including each of the following:

• Ear infections
• Eye anomalies (ectropion, entropion, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy)
• Dysplasia (hip, elbow, shoulder)
• Demodex mange
• Epilepsy

The Mountain Cur typically lives from 10 to 13 years.

Australian Shepherd longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Australian Shepherd can potentially pass along the following heritable/genetic health concerns to puppies:

• Elbow dysplasia
• Hip dysplasia
• Collie eye anomaly and other eye issues
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Sensitivity to medications and drugs (including anesthetic)

The Australian Shepherd has a typical life expectancy ranging from 12 to 15 years.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix: longevity and health issues

Since both parent dogs can be predisposed to joint and eye issues, these are the most important health concerns to talk with your breeder about.

Any reputable breeder will pre-screen parent dogs before permitting breeding to take place. Responsible breeders who value their standing in the dog breeding community will happily show you the results of these tests.

Make sure the breeder is willing to provide you with an initial guarantee of good health and a take-back guarantee in the event your new puppy does not work out.

You should also receive proof of all required vaccinations and pest treatments with your initial new puppy packet. Don’t work with any breeder who does not provide these to you.

Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?

If your idea of an ideal life is lots of time spent outdoors running and playing and enjoying nature with your dog, then a Mountain Cur Australian Shepherd mix might be a great canine companion.