Overview
Treeing Curs come from the southern United States, where farmers wanted one dog that could hunt squirrel and raccoon, bay up bigger game and watch the yard. They are not a tidy show breed. Coat, colour and size vary, and what matters to the people who breed them is whether the dog works.
Very few live in Britain, and the ones you meet usually belong to someone who went looking for a hunting-type dog. The walk is about managing a dog that wants to chase and that announces a find by barking at the base of a tree until someone arrives.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour and a half of movement a day is a fair starting point. Curs are built for stamina rather than sprinting, so a long steady walk with plenty of scent suits them better than a quick lap of the park.
Mental work matters as much as mileage. A food trail to follow or a toy hidden in long grass takes the edge off a dog that would otherwise invent its own hunt.
On the walk
- Squirrels: A squirrel up a tree can hold this dog's attention for a very long time, and it will tell the whole park about it. Move on early rather than waiting for interest to fade.
- Recall: Treat it as unproven. Hunting curs are bred to range and follow game out of sight, so a long line is the sensible default in open country.
- Lead manners: Strong and forward-going without being frantic. Expect sudden lunges when something moves in the undergrowth, so keep a hand on the lead rather than a loop round the wrist.
- Other dogs: Curs hunt in company and are usually tolerant of other dogs, though some are guarded with strangers of either species. Let introductions happen slowly and on neutral ground.
Tips for professional walkers
- Pick routes with open ground and few squirrels until you know how the dog reacts to a sighting.
- Use the long line in woodland even when recall looks fine on a sports field.
- Build a search or tracking game into every walk so the hunting brain works on your terms.
- Note the reaction to cats and small animals on the first outing and report it back.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog been worked or hunted, and does it have a history of ranging off after game?
- How does it behave around cats, poultry or livestock, and are there routes to avoid because of that?
- Is the dog wary of strangers, and how should you handle people who want to say hello?