#Feist dog full#
#Feist dog free#

They bond strongly with their families and are devoted companions. They are also highly predatory towards small animals and pocket pets, so leaving them in a room together unsupervised is not recommended. Unlike terriers, they get along well with other dogs in their “pack” or family, but they can become quarrelsome with new dogs. However, in the right situation, they can thrive in events such as agility, 'fly-ball,' and even small dog weight pulling. Their high drive, energy, and instincts can make them less than perfect for every family setting, as the combination of boredom and high energy can often develop into problem behaviors.

If provided enough exercise and sensory stimulation, they also serve as excellent companions. They are notoriously silent when they have found a track. These dogs are energetic and enjoy daily outings where they can exercise their senses and hone their hunting skills. Temperament: One of the last true hunting dogs, the Treeing Feist breed is instinctual and reliant on senses of sight, sound, and scent. The feists were used in the development of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier and the Rat Terrier breeds. As a result, there are several prominent feist strains that have come about through stringent breeding regimes that bred only the best hunting dogs. Unlike many terrier breeds today that haven’t been used for hunting for generations, the vast majority of feists are produced solely for the purpose of hunting. They have been bred for generations throughout the Ozarks and Appalachians, eventually coming to be known as Mountain Feists, while dogs raised outside of the more mountainous areas were called Treeing Feists.

#Feist dog free#

These little dogs were also great at keeping the homestead free from disease-carrying pests. While hounds and curs were used to hunt and bay large game, such as wild hog, the smaller dogs were used to hunt small game, such as rabbit and squirrel. Accompanied and assisted by their dogs, the settlers were able to eke out a living. Many settled in the area of the Ozarks and Southern Appalachian Mountains. Therefore, there can be many variations within a single feist breed.ĭogs accompanied settlers as they spanned westward from the East and from the South. Dedicated hunters and breeders keep dogs that are true to the original purpose and have little regard for appearances. Within each breed, there are several strains or bloodlines. Today, there are several different types, or breeds, of feist. These little dogs were developed to serve several purposes, including hunting, pest eradication, and companionship. The word “feist” is of German origin from the word fice, or fyst, meaning “to stink” or a “foul smell.” How these dogs have come to be known as such is believed to be due to their early name of fisting or fysting curres, which meant “stinking dog.”

Hunters in their truest form, unspoiled by the gleam of conformation shows or celebrity fads, are bred and kept by those who still use them for their original purpose: hunting and companionship.

#Feist dog full#

Click here for FULL BREED STANDARD Originsįeists are a family of dogs developed in the Southeastern United States from old-time hunting dogs brought over by German and Irish immigrants.