How to Identify a Treeing Cur

Body Structure

Check the dog's size. Treeing Curs are typically anywhere from 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) tall, and they usually weigh somewhere between 30 to 60 pounds (14 to 27 kg).

Take note of the dog's head. Treeing Curs should have a broad head that is in proportion with the size of their body. You should also notice that their muzzle is a little shorter than their skull and that they come together in a noticeable stop when you look at the dog's head in a side view. The dog should also have parallel muzzle and skull planes.

Examine the dog's ears. Treeing Curs should have high-set drop ears with a length that can be anywhere from short to medium. You should also notice that the bases of the dog's ears are wide.

See what the dog's eyes look like. Treeing Curs should have medium to large-sized eyes that are ideally brown, but they may also be green, blue or yellow. The dog's eyes should be widely set apart from each other, and their outer and inner eye corners should appear like they are both on the same horizontal line.

Look at the dog's tail. Treeing Curs should have a low-set tail. Their tail may either be any length, or bobbed naturally.

View the dog's overall appearance. Overall, Treeing Curs should be agile and powerful, and appear a little longer than they are tall. Their gait should appear effortless and smooth.

Coat

Disregard the dog's coat color. Treeing Curs may be any color, or combination of colors, and they may also have any pattern on their coat.Therefore, the dog's coat color likely won't be helpful in identifying whether or not it is a Treeing Cur.

Feel the dog's coat. Treeing Curs have both an outer and undercoat. While their outer coat can either feel rough or smooth, their undercoat should feel soft.

Take note of the coat's overall appearance. Overall, the length of a Treeing Cur's outer coat should be anywhere from short to medium, and their undercoat should be short. You should also notice that the dog's undercoat is dense.

Temperament

Be aware of possible aggression. Treeing Curs make good guard dogs, having been used for guarding property. However, this means that they may be aggressive towards dogs and humans they are unfamiliar with. As with any dog, good socialization is essential for this breed.

Know that this dog is strong-willed. Treeing Curs are known to be strong-willed, independent dogs, which is something to keep in mind, especially while training them.

Realize that this dog is eager to please. Despite their independent nature, Treeing Curs are eager to please. They are quick learners who respond well to training with clear direction.

Notice a large exercise need. Treeing Curs need 90 minutes or more of exercise per day. However, they enjoy being outside—meaning activities such as hikes, games of fetch or even swimming are just some of the good exercise choices for this dog. Treeing Curs will also need mental exercise, or they may become frustrated. Some examples of good mental activities include canine puzzles, training classes or scent work.

Recognize whether the dog is a good family dog. In addition to hunting and guarding property, Treeing Curs are also known to be good family dogs.