In my mind a cur is a mutt also. With that being said I see catahoula , black mouth, mountain, and other cur dogs bread to a standard of look temperament and ability are indeed just another breed.
All these 1/4 this half that mixed up mess are cur dogs or mutts. I own some of these dogs and they get the job done but in my mind they are still mutts.
Until they are reproduced....exactly....10 generations.....to where every litter comes out near exact in confirmation and color.......are they still just mutts then?