The average female is about 35-45 pounds and the average male is 45-60 pounds. Almost all kennels are getting pups that are a light blond to a rich dark almost red in color. Most of the brindles lines were discarded by the breed founder Mike Bloodgood in the early 1990's because of temperament problems. These old lines have been reintroduced to the breed to bring back the brindle color by some breeders and is now becoming more common to find the all brindle, all black, or black and brindle pups again, but not at Mountain View Kennel.  Almost all MVC's have white points on their chest, feet and/or muzzle. About 75% are naturally born bobtailed and the others are docked at a few days old and should leave enough tail to form a handle.

     They differ greatly from the KSBA and the OMCBA dogs because 99.9% are born without dew-claws on their hind feet and any that do should have them removed at birth, according to the MVCA Breed Standards.

     Our dogs check in every 20-30 minutes when cast out on coon and about half that time on squirrel. We hardly ever put a leash on our dogs because, if you're moving through the woods, they will keep you in check until you stop and take a stand. They load and kennel on their own. Because of their great scenting and winding abilities, they make natural rig dogs, winding game hundreds of yards away right off the back of a truck or even from inside a dog box. They are fast track dogs and swing out on cold tracks and drift with their heads up, while running at full speed. About 80% are semi-silent, 10% are silent and about 10% are wide open on coon. Almost all open on big game ( Bear, Lion, and Hog) and  99% are totally silent on squirrel track.

     They have a clear ringing chop on the tree and many will give a locate bark when they first locate the tree. They are stay put solid tree dogs and will have the meat 99.9% of the time, because they usually tree the body sent of the game and not just guessing. They have an outstanding disposition and love children and the whole family. They are protective of the property and family, but not overly protective or aggressive. Basically, they have the sense to know when there's trouble and when there's not.

     The Mountain View Curs that have been competition hunted have done exceptionally well. Mountain View Kennel competition hunted for only four years and acquired 5 Squirrel Champion titles, 8 Night Champion titles, 3 Grand Night Champion titles, 2 National Coon Champion titles,  5 Grand Night Champion wins, a Northeastern Classic Hunt Championship,  2 Sportsmen's Pride High Point Breed Awards, and 10 Bench Champion titles, including Kentucky State Champion, Kentucky State Reserve Champion, World Breeders Cup Reserve Champion and a World  Treeing Champion title. These titles were obtained while hunting in five states and four different registries with all kinds of dogs including tree hounds. In their last twelve hunts they obtained, 9 firsts, 2 seconds, and 1 third. Many other MVC kennels are continuing to do exceptionally well dominating both squirrel and coon hunts they enter, but the Mountain View Cur® should remain first and far most a pleasure dog. Many Mountain View Curs® are winning big time in, NKC, PKC, and other registries registered as Mt. Curs or Curs, so don't think they are not still dominating the tree dog world in competition.

     Because of the Mountain View Cur® strict breeding and certification for many years, they will produce the highest percentage of "NATURAL" tree dogs when bred within their breed. Though crossing MVC's with other breeds has improved those other breeds some, the percentages have always been known to drop to less than 40%  lower than breeding pure MVC's together.

Also, beware that some may be outcrossing to avoid certification or to  us MVC's that are not good enough to be certified. Breeding pure MVC's is encouraged by the MVCA, but only after each dog has proven themselves in the woods and been certified. The MVCA breeding records show that over 98% that are hunted are making tree dogs. Many of us feel that this is unheard of in ALL other tree dogs and that every effort should be made to preserve this natural treeing breed of dog the Mountain View Cur®.

     Owning a Mountain View Cur® is an enjoyable endeavor for the whole family. A Mountain View Cur® will amaze you daily, they will try to please you every way they physically can. As one owner said, he believed they would cut wood for him if they could. He was loading fire wood on his truck and turned around and watch his 4 month old mVC pup pick up sticks and put them up on the trucks tail gate.

     If you would like a hunting dog or pet that will be your best friend and you can enjoy for 12 months out of the year, then you should consider a Mountain View Cur®.

     The Mountain View Cur® is a natural straight tree dog, showing very little interest in non-tree game. Unless encouraged, the few that have, have been easily broken from it. Only a strong reprimanding is necessary, because they want to please their master.

     Even though the Mountain View Cur® has been mainly bred for coon and squirrel, they have also been used very successfully on Bear, Lion, Bobcat, Boar, Opossum, Pheasants, Quail, Dove, Grouse, Ducks, Geese, Turkey, Rabbit, Hare, as Coyote decoy dogs, herding and Cattle dogs. Basically if you sick’em on it, they will get the job done.

    They have also excelled as personal protection from dangerous wildlife like Mt. Lions and Bears that come into back yards and kill other small pets and even children. They are very successful at distracting and harassing large pry away from loved ones and other pets without getting themselves killed, so they can get to safety and then can be called off so the prey themselves. They will die to protect family members only if necessary, but won't just run in and get killed instantly, like most other aggressive type dogs are known to do, leaving every one alone unprotected and not available to protect in the future.

     In recent years, they are also doing exceptionally well and proving them selves as search and rescue dogs, law enforcement, and for drug and bomb location. With their unequaled scenting abilities, stamina, and strong willingness to please, they can excel in any canine field.

     Brand new use for the Mountain View Cur® is a "Antler Dog", because of the exceptional strong desire to hunt out and cover ground, great retrieving instincts, and superior scenting ability, they can easily be trained to hunt for, find, and retrieve antler sheds. Antler shed hunting is becoming a very popular and profitable hobby or business  and trained antler dogs are selling as high as $3500.00.

     Mountain View Cur® are the "ultimate companion and family dogs". They are very loyal and know when to respond to trouble and go into protection mode. They are the kind of dogs that can be kept with small children, keeping them from harms way. Never underestimate the high intelligence of these amazing dogs.

     There has been NOTHING that a Mountain View Cur® has not been able to do well in the cannine world.

MVCA now allows the following types of Certification for the Mountain View Cur Breed;

Frequently Asked Questions
and Answers

Q: How much does a Mountain View Cur pup sell for?
A: Each MVCA breeder sets his own price, but most pups start around $300
and up. Sometimes the females are a little higher than males. We suggest
that you contact a few breeders before making your purchase.

Q: Are puppies guaranteed to make tree dogs?
A: Each breeder sets his own guarantees. They range from a limited replacement
of a pup to a full satisfaction money back guarantee if not completely satisfied.
This is usually a good way to tell who has the best lines and will stand behind
their breeding program. Please be sure you and the breeder are in complete
understanding of what he is guaranteeing the pup for and what will be done if the
pup does not meet their guarantee.

Q: How young can I expect my pup to start to tree?
A: We like to see our pups start treeing around 7-8 months of age. This
does not mean we don't take our younger pups out in the woods several
times before this. We have seen some start as early as 4 months and some
as late as 14 months. The most important time to spend with your pup is
in his or her first four months of life, because Mountain View Curs make a
bond with their master for the rest of their life at this age. This will save
endless hours of training later on.

Q: Is it better to start with a started or broke dog than with a pup?
A: I have found that usually a pup will, in the long run, work out better
because he or she has bonded with you and will do anything it can to
please you. Usually by the time the started or broke dog un-bonds with
his or her last owner and bonds with their new one, a pup will be well on
his or her way to becoming a tree dog. Also with the unbelievable percentage
of pups that turn out, it is also the most reasonable way to own one.

Q: How much can I expect to pay for a started or broke Mountain View
Cur?
A: First off, it is very difficult to find a started or broke Mountain View
Cur for sale, and the few that have been usually have many admirers and
are snatched up before the public or even the registry finds out about it.
There is no set price, each breeder/owner prices his dogs as they see fit.
I've seen 10 month old well-started pups bring as much as $1,200.00 and
have personally been offered $3,000.00-$10,000.00 for broke dogs. Mountain
View Curs usually demand a higher price than other breeds, because of their
beauty, natural ability, and reproducing quality.

Q: Does color make any difference in their ability?
A: Technically None what so ever, but bloodlines do and some brindle lines have
had aggressive problems and were culled out by Mountain View Kennel in 1990.
Unfortunately, one line was reintroduced by some breeder's in 2001 to
produce brindle pups again. Make sure the breeder will replace or refund if the
pup turns out to be agressive toward other dogs or people. If they won't
guarantee temperment, find another breeder.

Most people like the yellow color, because they are easier to see in the woods
and on the roads. Some Big game hunters prefer the brindle and black colors,
because they are less visible and cause more confusion to the game (Bear, Lion,
etc.), causing the game to seek refuge and making them less likely to be charged
and injured. Unfortunately, brindles can also be mistaken for a pit-bull many
times and be shot by other hunters or neighbors.

Q: Do you need a Tracking Collar to hunt MVC's?
A: NO! Mountain View Curs hunt for you and will keep you in mind and will
check your where-abouts often until you take a stand (staying in one spot) so
they can range out and cover more ground without worrying where you are or
being left behind.

Q: What are the differences between hunting Mountain View Curs and Tree
hounds?
A: The main difference is that MVC's hunt for their master and want to please
their master. This makes them easier to train and less time is spent on looking
for them and more time is spent on treeing game. Also MVC's hunt to catch not
to run, making short work of the chase, usually treeing three times the amount of  game in the same amount of time.

Q: How do the Mountain View Curs compare with the tree hounds on ability?
A: MVC's have an exceptional cold nose and many can out smell the coldest
nosed hounds. The difference is, in stead of cold trailing for hours on old tracks,
the MVC will have the sense to cut and swing out on a track until they can run
with their heads up like the wind.

Q: Is a Mountain View Cur all right to raise in the house and around small
children and do they make loving pets?
A: Yes, our research has shown that the pups raised in the house learn much
faster and start earlier than those raised outside. Also, the temperament of
MVC's is excellent around small children and other pets. They will become
protective of them keeping them from harms way and will help in their raising
by letting you know if and when something is wrong. One of the best kept
secrets of the MVC's is, even though they are mainly used for hunting they
make wonderful loyal loving pets.

Q: What is the difference between Mountain View Curs and other cur breeds?
A: The MVC is a pure breed and is the most unified breed of curs today. No
other cur breed and many other breeds are as unified in ability, temperament, or in looks. It has taken many years of hard hunting and strict culling to develop these well
tempered, hard hunting, natural treeing, breed of cur. Reproducing generation
after generation like clones. This is why they are able to reproduce such high
percentages of natural tree dogs with excellent health and reliable temperaments.

Q: If I am a part time hunter or don't hunt, will a Mountain View Cur be
happy with just being a family dog most of the year?
A: MVCs want to please their master first and far most and will be very happy
just being a part of the family. This is why they have become so popular with
hunters, because they can be enjoyed by the whole family all year round, not
just used a few months out of the year and chained or kenneled most of the year.

Q: Will a Mountain View Cur adapt to a small yard or home?
A: The MVC will be happy were ever her and his master's family are together
and have been known to adapt well in just about any situation, including appartments, and small homes.

Q: How do I know that I am purchasing a true Mountain View Cur and not
just a Mountain Cur or a cross breed?
A: The Mountain View Cur® is a registered trademark and only IPDBA registry
have permission to use the name in it's registry, so only IPDBA registered
certified Mountain View Curs® may be advertised as, used for breeding as and
their pups be sold using the Mountain View Cur® name. Using the Mountain
View Cur® name to sell or promote another breed, cross breed, or pups out of
non-certified parents is a violation of International/US Trademark law and
MVCA Breeders' Code of Ethics and all violations should be reported to MVCA at EMAIL.

Q: Why are there so few breeder's breeding Mountain View Curs?
A: Because of MVCA's strict Breeder's Code of Ethics and IPDBA's
Certification policies, it is difficult for breeder's who don't hold the same high
standards to breed Mountain View Curs. Unfortunately, most breeder's are
more interested in making a quick buck instead of improving or breeding the best
dogs and is why so many dog breed's today are suffering from years of poor
breeding and genetic faults. The MVCA motto is "Breeding for Quality not
Quantity on Ability not Myth". It's not the number of breeder's or pups that are
produced, but the quality of the pups produced that matters.

Q: Is there any Labrador Retriever blood in Mountain View Curs?
A: No trace of Labrador out-crosses have ever been found in MVC background,
but many scholars believe that Mt. Curs were used in the development of many
breeds of dogs, especially the Labrador Retriever. Mt. Curs date back longer than the Labs, so it makes sense that they went into their development rather than the other way around. MVC's are natural retrievers, love water, but are not as large and don't have the oily smelly coats or as web feet that Labs are known for. All MVC's that have been trained for waterfowl retrieving have done exceptionally well and reported better then the Labs their owner's had in the past.