They have small, dark eyes, a black nose and a muzzle that is medium length and a round skull. Their hind legs are strong to support that activity as well. With their sharp nails that are curved they can climb. The Mountain Feist is a medium sized dog with pointy ears that are long and fold over. He is an active dog too and makes a great playmate for children, getting on well with kids and other pets in the home. Training and socialization can be good for this dog and help him t be obedient and well mannered in all situations. Intelligent, wary, loyal, loving, playful but stubborn, your Rat Terrier is a little bit wary around strangers. It isn't unusual for a puppy to be born with a short or long tail. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him a nice, distinctive look, but today the tail is often just left un-docked. The ears can sometimes be erect, otherwise they are half-erect, half floppy. With his short coat he is seen as a low maintenance dog even though he is still a shedder, with heavier seasonal shedding.

They are mostly in tri-colors - white, tan, black. The single coat is short and smooth and comes in colors such as tan, grey, chocolate, black and in solid colors too such as white. There are different sized Rat Terriers, but the mid-sized one stands roughly between 20 and 36cm in height and weighs between 3 and 4kg. Other breed organizations include the National Cur & Feist Breeder’s Association, The National Feist Breeder’s Association, The American Treeing Feist Association, and the Shadowtails Outdoors Group. The breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2015, but not by the AKC or American Kennel Club. The breed make good hunting dogs, watch dogs and companions. It is a loud, barky dog that needs to learn a “no bark” command or it may drive you crazy. This is an energetic working dog, curious, intelligent and alert. Other varieties of the feist include the Bench Legged Feist and the Pencil-tail Feist. They hunt racoons, squirrel and rabbits among others. The Mountain Feist of today has been bred for hunting performance over generations of time. Many others think the feist is not a breed but a type, a working dog which can vary individual to individual. The breed was originally a cross between British terriers and hounds from Native Americans. The Feist was developed in the South, the rural areas, in order to hunt and eliminate vermin and small prey animals. The name Feist means a noisy, small dog in ancient languages. These dogs, much like the Curs, were an important part of the early pioneer days in America. For Washington it was his diary, Lincoln the poem “The Bear Hunt” and Faulkner “Go Down Moses”. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and William Faulkner all featured the breed in their writings. The breed dates back centuries and looks very much like a Jack Russell or rat terrier. It is the Ozarks and Southern Appalachia that the Mountain Fiest calls his ancestral home. Today, Feists are still valued by hunters, farmers and families for their great tracking and pest-control abilities, not to mention their steady temperaments.In the Southern portion of North America, the Mountain Feist was developed. Feist historyįeists (also called Mountain Fesists) originated in North America several hundred years ago, probably from crosses between English terriers and American Indian dogs. These are solid, healthy little dogs for the most part, but some can develop hip dysplasia and allergy problems. They will be happy living in an apartment as long as their daily exercise requirements are met.Ī healthy Feist can live as long as 18 years. Being an intelligent working breed, they also like constructive games and tasks to keep their minds sharp. What you should know about a Feist dogįeists need at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, whether through walks, jogs through the neighborhood or hikes in the park. However, they do have nose when it comes to intruders - they will bark and alert the family if they sense a threat. Their solid terrier genes can make them slightly territorial, but they are generally good with new people. They have gentle, adaptable personalities, and they know when to adjust the energy level.

Old time mountain feist dog breed