Mountain Cur vs Brittany - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Mountain Cur vs Brittany - Breed ComparisonBrittany is originated from France but Mountain Cur is originated from United States. Brittany may grow 14 cm / 5 inches shorter than Mountain Cur. Brittany may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than Mountain Cur. Brittany may live 3 years less than Mountain Cur. Brittany may have more litter size than Mountain Cur. Both Brittany and Mountain Cur requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Hound dog
undefined
France
United States
Height Male:
43 - 52 cm
16 - 21 inches
46 - 66 cm
18 - 26 inches
Height Female:
40 - 50 cm
15 - 20 inches
41 - 61 cm
16 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 20 kg
30 - 45 pounds
14 - 27 kg
30 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
12 - 25 kg
26 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 13 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
3 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Brittany Spaniel Brittany Wiegref Epagneul Breton French Brittany
MC
Colors Available:
tricolor, orange roan, liver roan, black roan
yellow, brown, blue, or brindle white on face and chest
Coat:
Flowing Medium length
short
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Alert, Courageous, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

brittanyOne of the most intense bird dog breeds in existence is the Brittany, bred for hunt. The breed used to be called the Brittany Spaniel, but since the breed is closer to a setter or pointer, that moniker has been dropped. The Brittany is named for the French Province in which they were originally developed. Sometime from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the breed was developed. Images of a very similar dog can be found on 17th century paintings and tapestries. However, the first written description comes from 1850 by a Reverend Davies, describing a hunting episode. The breed was recognized officially in the early part of the 20th century and made a splash at the 1900 Paris Dog Show.

The first official standards were written in about 1907 and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1934.The Brittany is expected to point to and then retrieve birds and other small ground game. Because the Brittany both points and retrieves they are known in the U.K. as a Hunt, Point and Retrieve breed or an HPR, and they have more Dual Champions than the rest of the AKC Sporting group.

There are actually two types of Brittanys in the minds of many breeders. There is the “French” Brittany and the “American” Brittany. When the breed arrived in the United States in 1931 they became immensely popular in a short period of time. In 1942 American Breeders began the American Brittany Club, rewriting the French standard to fit the dog they knew. Today there are definitely difference between the two sub-sets that can easily be seen. The French dog is smaller than the American dog. The American dog is a runner pacing ahead of the hunter while the French dog works more closely with their human companions. Another visible difference is that the French accept black spotted Brittanys, while in the United States a black spotted coat is considered a fault. Both sub-sets are known for their willingness to follow human directions, their eagerness for the hunt, and their agility and speed.

Unfortunately, the European wars took their toll on this breed as they did on many others. Following the second World War, their numbers in Europe were drastically reduced. The French had stop breeding them altogether during the war. It was in this depleted gene pool that the French agreed to accept the black spotted Brittany. Along with the U.S., Canada also does not recognize the black spotted Brittany.

mountain curFrom The United States in the hound group comes the Mountain Cur. This breed was developed especially to “tree” their prey and to trail other smaller game. They treed and bayed larger prey like the wild boar and bears in the mountains and they trailed the smaller ones like the raccoon and squirrel. There are many types of curs and this breed is just one. Curs can be water dogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs and guard dogs. However, they are not great family dogs because they were born to hunt.

The Mountain Cur comes out of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Virginia. The ancestors of the American Mountain Cur came with European settlers almost 200 years ago. They worked with the settlers to hunt for animals that would provide them with pelts and meat in order to survive on the frontier. The breed became rare when the descendants of the settlers moved to the factories after the second world war.

The breed was brought back by four ambitious men who saved the Mountain Cur. They form the Original Mountain Cur Breeder’s Association of OMCBA in 1956. But they argued over the standard and 2 of the 4 left to form their own association: The Stephen Stock Mountain Cur Association. By 1957 the Mountain Cur Breeder’s Association formed but it took until 1998 for the Mountain Cur to be registered with the United Kennel Club.

The Mountain Cur is a tough, courageous dog as are all the Curs. They are willing to face large and ferocious prey. They are fearless watch dogs, using their trait of being quiet on the hunt to their advantage. The Mountain Cur wants nothing more than making you happy. They have been known to corner bears and even bulls. Given the independence and intelligence of the Mountain Cur it is important that the human be the pack leader, or the Cur will assume the role. If angry the Cur will growl and bite, so being the pack leader is vital for humans.

The novel “Old Yeller” was written about a Mountain Cur – a yellow shorthaired dog with a bobbed tail and terrier blood. Like all Mountain Curs “Old Yeller” hunted and treed prey, fought a bear and held onto the nose of a charging bull. The Cur was the first American purebred dog. Other early lines come from the Appalachian Mountains and near them in southern states. Mixing hounds and terriers created this tough, courageous dog whose tenacity and grit are second to none. Today the Mountain Cur has been split into four distinct breeds: the Mountain Cur, The Mountain View Cur, the Stephens Stock, and the Treeing Tennessee Brindle.

Description

brittany puppy - descriptionThe Brittany is much like other hunting dogs – pointers and retrievers – in size and stature. He is solid and strong but not heavy. He is compact with an average size head and floppy ears, docked tails or short natural tails, and expressively intelligent looking eyes. He is athletic, energetic, and alert. He has a long, elastic and free gait. The French dog is smaller and the dog with black spots is accepted. The American Brittany is larger and only a tri-color of orange, liver and white is acceptable.

mountain cur puppy - descriptionBred to be a hard working hunter and protector, the Mountain Cur is rugged and stocky. They are muscular with strong neck, wide head and expressive dark brown eyes. Some may have blue or green eyes, but they will be darker instead of light. They have a heavy muzzle, high set short ears and feet that are catlike, muscular and strong. The Cur has straight legs, deep chests and 50% are born with the tail bobbed.

Their coat is short and heavy. The colors could be yellow, red, blue, brindle, black and brindle, yellow with white points, dark brown and red.

Characteristics

brittany dog - characteristicsThe Brittany is particularly trainable and friendly. They love to play and are sweet-natured. They don’t due well with harsh correction though and a stern look will cause them to wither. Socialize them young or they can become shy around strangers. They are loyal and family oriented. They can easily become attached to their humans.

Children friendliness

mountain cur dog - characteristicsThey are friendly with kids but don’t make good house pets.

Special talents

Tree climbing

Adaptability

They need space and they do not make good indoor pets

Learning ability

He is very intelligent and learns quickly.

Health Problems

brittany puppies - health problemsThe breed is a hardy one and Brittanys are mostly healthy dogs. In Europe 1 in 5 dogs dies of old age and that age is usually 14 or 15 years. They do have a few issues that they may be susceptible to. These would include:

Ears – prone to infections

Hip Dysplasia – bones don’t fit well into joints

Epilepsy – mild or serious seizures are possible.

Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid hormone

Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – autoimmune disease

mountain cur puppies - health problemsThere are a few health issues that the Mountain Cur is susceptible to. They include:

  • Skin Issues – infections and allergies.
  • Ear Infections – Keep them cleaned and hair trimmed in ears.
  • Hunting Injuries – this is probably the most common health issue.
  • Bloat – Can be fatal.
  • Obesity – Can lead to bloat, injuries, other issues.
  • Hip Dysplasia – Can cause arthritis and lameness – can be caused or aggravated by obesity.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

brittany dogs - caringDon’t overfeed your Brittany. Keep him at hunting weight by feeding a half a cup up to 2 cups per day depending on the size of your dog and activity levels. Serve this in two meals not one.

Health issues

Ears – prone to infections – make sure that you check them and wipe them out routinely to prevent infections.

Hip Dysplasia – bones don’t fit well into joints – this can be genetic or otherwise, causing lameness and arthritis. If severe it can require surgery to correct.

Epilepsy – mild or serious seizures are possible. This can be genetic/hereditary but is set off by an infectious disease of the brain, head injury, poison, tumor, or metabolic disorder. There is no cure, but medication can be very effective.

Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid hormone – can cause drooping eyelids, obesity, lethargy, mental difficulties or irregular heat cycles or all of this. Medication is available as it is for humans but must be taken daily for the rest of the dog’s life

Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – autoimmune disease that is rare in dogs. Cats and humans can also have it. It is a skin disease and does not become the more serious and deadly Systemic Lupus. The Discoid version of this disease causes loss of pigmentation and a scaling on the nose which can then progress to the skin around the ears, eyes and genitals. There could be ulcerated lesions and tissue death in more severe cases. Sun exposure can make the condition worse.

Exercise and games

The Brittany is a hunting dog that acts like a pointer but will retrieve fowl and birds in the water or on land. If you don’t hunt, the Brittany can still be your family dog. They need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. They need a job if they are not going to hunt and expect them to be distracted by every bird they see. Try flyball, agility, FAST CAT, field trials and dock diving. They are very task oriented and have boundless energy. They excel at obedience and confirmation as well.

Feeding the puppy

mountain cur dogs - caringMountain Cure puppies should eat four bowls of high quality dog food in four separate meals each day until 3 months old. From three months to six months feed them 3 times per day and from six months to a year just twice a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult Mountain Cur would eat 3 cups of high quality dog food in one or two meals per day. Don’t overfeed them as they have a tendency toward obesity.

Points for Good Health

Athleticism

Games and Exercises

This breed is an active dog and he needs to get plenty of exercise. He needs daily exercise – daily walks – and enjoys canine sports like barn hunt and agility. They do well in field trials.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Brittany vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Brittany vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Brittany vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Brittany vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Brittany vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Brittany vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Brittany vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Brittany vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Brittany vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Brittany vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Brittany vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Brittany vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Brittany vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Brittany vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Brittany vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Brittany vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Brittany vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Brittany vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Brittany vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Brittany vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Brittany vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Brittany vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Brittany vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Brittany vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Brittany vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Mountain Cur vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Mountain Cur vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Mountain Cur vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Mountain Cur vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Mountain Cur vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Mountain Cur vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Mountain Cur vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Mountain Cur vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Mountain Cur vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Mountain Cur vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Mountain Cur vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Mountain Cur vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Mountain Cur vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Mountain Cur vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Mountain Cur vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Mountain Cur vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Mountain Cur vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Mountain Cur vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Mountain Cur vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Mountain Cur vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Mountain Cur vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Mountain Cur vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Mountain Cur vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Mountain Cur vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Mountain Cur vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison