Eyes are brown, ranging from dark to amber. He doesn't like raised voices and loves to play with kitties and other dogs. Prey drive is strong, he absolutely loves to be off the leash when we hike and bark at trees when hes got a critter up one. Note: The breeders on this list are not endorsed by UKC. When relaxed, the tail may be carried straight out behind the dog. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. Although their relative the Treeing Feist was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1998, the Mountain Feist was not recognized until 2015. Leptospirosis is a complex infectious condition, most often acquired through contact with infected standing water. Published: 03/16/2018, edited: 08/18/2021. Hes the most charming and charismatic dog Ive ever met by far. We will definitely be getting another Feist and delighted to hear Maggies traits are the breeds traits and that there may be others like our wonderful Maggie! [2], In the 20th century these dogs became increasingly rare and in the early 1980s a group of devotees banded together to prevent their extinction. Very fast learner and seems to read my mind and know what I intend half the time. He is an amazing animal! I love my little buddy so so much. In the 19th century a small type of dog developed in the mountainous regions of the Southeastern United States. The Mountain Feist isnt difficult to recognise as he looks a lot like a Jack Russell or Rat Terrier. Everyones meet wants to know what she is and wants their own. All images are the property of their respective owners. Chuck is easily the best dog I couldve ever found for myself at this stage of my life. Remember, this isnt a breed that lives to please his owners because the world is a big enough and exciting place already for him to search out his own rewards. He says I love you when he wants to go play. Hes the sort of dog that would rather chase squirrels all day, preferably climbing a tree in the process, than lounge around on the sofa. Because they were often raised by families and sometimes kept in numbers throughout their history, they are usually inherently good with children and other dogs, although socialization is highly encouraged to keep them at their best behavior. A roughy-toughy low maintenance dog, he was once a common sight amongst small holders in early settlers in the US. Honorable scars resulting from field work are not to be penalized. Docked or natural tails are acceptable. As recently as February 2015 the Mountain Feist had a breed standard drawn up by the United Kennel Club, which should help ensure the survival of this unique character moving forward into the 21st century. Their coat is short and smooth, but can come in any number of a combination of colours, including white, light brown, and black. Like the Cur breeds, the Feist breeds were developed in the rural South by breeders who needed low-maintenance dogs to hunt small game and to eliminate vermin, Feist were often the result of crosses between hunting hounds and terriers. Dogs under 12 inches or over 18 inches. He does not have much patience and can get bored easily, but as long as he gets his exercise in for the day hes more than happy to cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie. Their coats are short, smooth, and dense and come in every color and pattern combination. Albinism. United Kennel Club (UKC) is an international dog registry celebrating bonds, rewarding ability, and preserving the value of a pedigree. The forelegs are strong, straight, and moderately well boned. The rest of their history is largely unknown, besides the fact that they were likely created by breeding European Terriers with native and imported scent hounds, the results showing in their excessive variety of colors and patterns, along with their two different types of ear structures. I knew then that he had to be ours. [1] Both the Treeing and Mountain Feist breeds are used to hunt small game, particularly squirrel and rodents, as well as raccoons, opossums, rabbits and for flushing birds. He talks to me all day long. Such was the Mountain Feists influence that they accompanied the first settlers as both companions and hunters. [1] In 1998 the United Kennel Club recognized the Treeing Feist as a breed,[3] in 2015 they recognized the Mountain Feist as a separate breed. When the dog is alert, the tail is carried in an upward curve. She is always entertaining us and is always engaging in something. A once common breed but now considered unusual, breeding efforts are targeted at preserving breed numbers rather than outcrossing to produce new looks or hybrids. Indeed, youd be forgiven for mistaking him for a Rat Terrier or Jack Russell Terrier, as he has much in common with these dogs. Previous owner says he was born with his back legs deformed. There are no user comments for this listing. Docking should be between the second and third joint of the tail. My mountain feist girl, Lillie, is a very sweet and a high energetic girl. Semi-wire, wire or long coats over more than 50 percent of the body. Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dogs ability to perform its traditional work. Overshot bite. Go back half a century and he was all the rage. He wants to learn and make us happy so he usually behaves very well. Mountain Feists are small to medium size dogs, standing 12 to 18 inches at the withers are rarely weighing north of 30 pounds. Therefore, avoid over bathing the dog, as this strips away natures hair conditioner and could lead to his skin drying out. Shes the very best! Therefore, the Mountain Feist is not a dog for inexperienced owners and will benefit from someone used to reward-based training methods. The tail is straight, set on as a natural extension of the topline, and may be natural or docked. Their necks are clean and muscular, seamlessly descending into similarly well-muscled shoulders, which are well laid-back, and a straight top line. Its very intriguing to see his hunting instincts come through in such a gentle way. They have long pointy ears that stand upwards and button ears that fold over. He is usually in his cage and likes staying in his crate ??? The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down. As a dog with a working heritage, the Mountain Feist is the opposite of a couch potato. They form strong bonds with their families and love to get attention, going so far as trying to initiate playtime at a moment's notice if they feel so inclined. Feist-type dogs have long been a staple in the American South, yet there is limited documented history of them, largely because of the widespread illiteracy that existed in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. But in the last half of the century they have fallen out of favour not through any fault of the dogs but because of peoples changing lifestyles. This breed is capable of great bursts of speed when needed. He's the best. The two middle toes are slightly longer than the other toes. The neck is clean, muscular, and of moderate length. Shes very loving and intelligent and picks up really fast on training new tricks. (A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.) Everyone who meets him is similarly charmed and amazed at how affectionate he can be without being cloying and annoying about it. The latter already had flourishing lines of highly effective small hunting dogs, such as the Jack Russell Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier, and the now extinct White English Terrier. With a strong instinct to hunt and track they excelled at keeping down vermin, such as rats and mice, but also rabbits, raccoons, and opossums. On track, they are virtually silent. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears. A dog that waits for instruction before finishing the kill on an angry squirrel is a dog thats going to get injured. Back is of moderate length, and level, blending into a muscular, slightly arched loin with slight to moderate tuck-up. The Mountain Feist is easy to groom. We've had Turbo for a month and are working on potty training, it's been rough going but we're getting there. None but she loves to bite your heels and bring everything from deer legs, dead mice, dead squirrels and tree branches in my front porch. Her mind is always on doing something and she loves to play with her toys and chew on sticks. Like the Cur breeds, the Feist breeds were developed in the rural South by breeders who needed low-maintenance dogs to hunt small game and to eliminate vermin, Feist were often the result of crosses between hunting hounds and terriers. He walks and runs some and does not seem to be in pain. The elbows are set close to the body, but able to move freely in action. He enjoys anything from playing around the house or yard, to cuddling up with mom and dad during a movie. Jasper is so affectionate, so friendly, so loving. We totally love this little guy. Height, measured at the withers, must not be less than 12 inches nor greater than 18 inches. Very intelligent and very playful. This translates into a dog that can run all day without getting tired. The Mountain Feist is an intelligent dog who has a natural hunting ability. [1] In 1984 the Mountain Feist Association was formed; in 1985 this was replaced by the American Treeing Feist Association, and this was joined by the Mountain Feist Breeder's Club in 1986, the Mountain Treeing Feist Organization in 1992 and the Traditional Treeing Feist Club in 1999. If they are kept solely as a companion, however, they will need somewhere around 60 minutes of activity a day. She is entertaining and will initiate play or do things to make you laugh. Now a rarer sight, youre more likely to come across his close relatives Jack Russell Terriers or Manchester Terriers than the Mountain Feist. Hes also intelligent and likes to make his own decisions, which can make him stubborn and difficult to train. The natural tail is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. 2022 United Kennel Club The upper arm is long and forms an apparent 90-degree angle with the shoulder blade. As a treeing/hunting breed, they love to chase, so if they are regularly used for hunting, will likely be settled after the day's hunt. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information. Only took a couple of days to teach him that. Please allow 2-3 extra weeks for paperwork, in addition to UKC processing time, due to nationwide postal service delays. The word treeing refers to their hunting style of running game up into trees and indicating to the hunter which tree the game has climbed. Always wants love, but if youre busy he intuits that and leaves you alone. It may help you decision making to understand where the word feist derives from. Shes by far the best dog! Turbo will watch tv with me then we'll play chase or tug of war. They require an occassional brushing and/or combing to remove dead hairs. However, having achieved a recognised breed status in 2015, they now have a degree of protection to maintain their status and appearance. Todays Mountain Feist is the result of generations of breeding for performance and is still primarily used to hunt squirrel, although they are also used to hunt raccoon, rabbits and more. Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated. People constantly question his breed and origin and are impressed by his good looks. On days it cannot be taken hunting it needs to be taken on a long walk or jog. He is our first mountain feist, but we love him. Conversely, if you dont meet the dogs needs be prepared for bad behaviour. Mainly used as a squirrel dog, the Mountain Feist is also good at hunting raccoons and tracking larger game. Mountain Feists are an extremely low maintenance breed and were bred to be that way so the farmers and ranchers that owned them would have little more responsibility to deal with above and beyond their already overwhelming duties. Go figure! This type of reference leads many to believe they were long established even before the first true written accounts, possibly as early as the 17th century. I love them. Although they will learn to walk/run/jog on a leash and many enjoy doing so, they are happiest with an open space to run. Feist is an old word meaning a small noisy dog. They make ideal dogs for farmers or small holders, where the dog can accompany them as they go around their land. Disqualification: Viciousness or extreme shyness. The muzzle is long and sufficiently broad and deep to balance the skull. Cropped ears. We're thrilled to be her mom, and dad! The Mountain Feist should always be presented in hard, working condition. She was the runt of the litter, and free from friends. Because of their frequent and intense drive to follow their noses and chase potential prey, it is recommended that they are only let off leash in fenced areas unless remarkably well-trained. When viewed from the side, the muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and joined by a definite stop. Eye rims match nose pigment. Celebrating the dog/human bond through family-friendly events and programs for dogs that do more. Bathing is rarely necessary unless they get into something particularly foul smelling or dirty and they otherwise self-maintain quite well. Toes are well-arched. A list of the Mountain Feists attributes include being Olympic gold medal grade chewers, diggers extraordinaire, vocal barkers, and possessed of a strong urge to chase. So, if a noisy dog would sit badly with the neighbours, then perhaps a Mountain Feist isnt for you! Undershot bite. Chest is moderately wide and deep, with the brisket reaching to the elbow. Overshot bite. 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