Canadian Curs were initially bred to hunt raccoons but it soon became apparent that the dogs excelled at hunting a wide variety of prey, including coyote, bear, deer, boar, and squirrel. A few breeders even use them to herd cattle. The Canadian Cur was recognized by U.K.C. on November 1, 1998. The Canadian Cur is a powerful, agile tree dog of medium size. The body is just slightly longer than tall.
Legs are long enough to allow the dog to move quickly and with agility in rough terrain.
The head is broad with a moderate stop, and a muzzle slightly shorter than the length of skull. Ears are drop. The tail is straight, set low, and of any length, including a natural bob. The coat is dense but close fitting. The Canadian Cur should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work.