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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Mountain Cur

The Mountain Cur was bred to work all day in rough country — hunting, tracking, and guarding the homestead — and that frontier work ethic still drives how this lean, high-energy dog needs to eat.

Here is exactly how to feed a Mountain Cur on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the protein and joint nutrition that keep a working dog strong, lean, and sound for years.

  • Adult weight30–60 lb
  • SizeMedium
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan10–13 years
  • CoatShort, dense — moderate shedder
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A healthy Mountain Cur
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Mountain Cur's body needs

Every Mountain Cur trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • High-drive working dog

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady all-day stamina for tracking, hiking and hunting — without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Lean, athletic build

    Needs: Calorie-dense, measured portions

    Freeze-dried raw packs real nutrition into a small, weighable serving, so you can dial intake up on work days and down on rest days to hold a lean, sound frame.

  • Hip dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s help calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off the hips.

  • Floppy, fold-over ears

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed chronic ear and skin inflammation — a real consideration for a drop-eared, outdoorsy breed.

  • Short, dense outdoor coat

    Needs: Whole-food omega fats

    Animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting a healthy coat and skin on a dog that spends its days in the field, brush and weather.

How much to feed a Mountain Cur

Quick answer: a healthy adult Mountain Cur (30–60 lb) needs about 4.5–9.0 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
30 lb 4.5 oz 2.3 oz
38 lb 5.7 oz 2.9 oz
46 lb typical Mountain Cur 6.9 oz 3.5 oz
54 lb 8.1 oz 4.1 oz
60 lb 9.0 oz 4.5 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Mountain Cur

For a Mountain Cur we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a high-value topper while you transition.

Lean single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit everyday feeding and sensitive stomachs; richer Beef or Venison fuels hard hunting and hiking days or a dog that needs to gain. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Mountain Curs

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Daily support for Mountain Curs

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Treats Mountain Curs love

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Feeding a Mountain Cur by life stage

  • Puppy: Mountain Cur pups grow fast and play hard. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals a day, and avoid overfeeding — keeping growth steady protects developing hips on a breed prone to hip dysplasia.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two meals — morning and evening. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust up on heavy work days, down on rest days.
  • Senior: A slowing Mountain Cur needs fewer calories but still plenty of protein to hold the lean muscle that protects aging joints. Trim portions, keep protein high, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition.

Common Mountain Cur concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients — glucosamine from real bone and cartilage, omega-3 fats — support comfort and day-to-day mobility in an active dog.
  • Recurring ear infectionsFloppy, fold-over ears trap moisture; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down the inflammation that infections feed on.
  • Working-dog energy & lean muscleA hunting Mountain Cur runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers that burn out fast.
  • Weight & joint loadBecause activity swings so much day to day, measured raw feeding makes it easy to keep this athletic breed lean — the single biggest lever for protecting the hips long term.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Mountain Cur: what to know

A Mountain Cur burns serious fuel on an active day and almost nothing on a rest day, so feed to the work in front of them. On big hiking or hunting days they need more; on quiet days, scale back so they stay lean and ribbed-but-not-prominent.

Feed to body condition, not habit: you should feel the ribs easily and see a clear waist from above. Weigh portions instead of eyeballing, and re-check every few weeks as activity and seasons change.

Mountain Cur feeding questions

How much should I feed my Mountain Cur?
A healthy adult Mountain Cur (30–60 lb) needs roughly 4.5–9 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and add more on heavy work days.
What is the best food for a high-energy Mountain Cur?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet built on real meat, organs and bone gives a working dog clean, sustained energy without filler. Lean proteins like Chicken or Cod for everyday, richer Beef or Venison for hard hunting and hiking days.
How do I switch my Mountain Cur to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Most Mountain Curs take to it fast — it is rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline.
Does a Mountain Cur need joint support?
Many do, given the breed's risk of hip dysplasia and their hard-working lifestyle. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Mountain Cur lean is the most effective joint protection there is.
How do I keep my working Mountain Cur from getting too lean — or too heavy?
Feed to the day. Their calorie needs swing widely between big hunting days and quiet ones, so weigh meals and adjust: you want to feel the ribs easily and see a waist, with enough cover that the hips and spine aren't sharp.

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  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.