Mountain Feist Images: Explore Breed Characteristics, History, and Traits

The Mountain Feist is a small, energetic breed that originated in the southern United States.

They typically weigh between 20-40 pounds and stand between 10-18 inches tall at the shoulder.

With their short coats and compact bodies, they're well-suited for hunting small game in tight spaces.

Their intelligence and strong prey drive make them a joy to train, but also require consistent exercise and mental stimulation.

The Feist's temperament is quite unique. They're known for being bold, confident, and trusting with their masters.

This breed is also fearless, which is great for hunting and treeing. A strong treeing and hunting instinct is a defining characteristic of the Feist.

Feists are highly intelligent and curious, making them a joy to watch and interact with. They love learning new things and having a job to do.

These dogs require a lot of mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom and anxiety. They need plenty of walks and playtime to work off their energy.

Consider reading: Treeing Feist Pictures

Feists form strong bonds with their families and love playing with them. In fact, they don't do well when left alone for hours at a time.

Their intelligence and energy levels also mean they can get a bit barky, especially when watching the front door. A Feist will likely bark whenever someone comes to the door.

Discover more: When to Neuter a Bernese Mountain Dog

The Mountain Feist is a small to medium-sized dog breed that originated in the rural South and Appalachian mountains. They typically weigh between 10-35 pounds.

These dogs are known for their short hair and come in six different color variations: red & white, red brindle, black, black & tan, blue & white, and black, tan & white.

Feists are often described as alert, well-muscled, and eager to please. They have a strong instinct to hunt and track, making them excellent at keeping down vermin like rats and mice.

The height standards for males are 10 to 18 inches, and females 10 to 17 inches. Weight limit for male or female dogs are up to 30 pounds. Oversized dogs are considered a fault.

Here are the six color variations of the Feist breed:

The Mountain Feist has a rich history that dates back to ancient times, with the word "feist" referring to a small, often noisy, dog that was developed in the rural South and Appalachian mountains by hunters and farmers.

These dogs were bred to be low maintenance and excel at hunting small game and eliminating vermin, often resulting from crosses between hunting hounds and terriers.

The Mountain Feist is a "vintage dog" that was once all the rage in Southern America, particularly in the Ozark Mountains and Southern Appalachian Mountains, where they were found by the heel of most people living off the land.

Their strong instinct to hunt and track made them excellent at keeping down vermin, such as rats and mice, but also rabbits, raccoons, and opossums.

The Mountain Feist is a "vintage dog" that originated in the rural South and Appalachian mountains. They were developed by hunters and farmers who needed low-maintenance dogs to hunt small game and eliminate vermin.

These small dogs were tough characters that thrived on the outdoor lifestyle. They excelled at keeping down vermin, such as rats and mice, but also rabbits, raccoons, and opossums.

Their reputation for climbing trees and chasing squirrels earned them the name of the Treeing Feist. They were also known for their strong instinct to hunt and track.

The Mountain Feist's bloodlines are descended from the many types of terriers that accompanied early migrants from England. They were mixed with bloodlines like the Greyhound for extra speed and the Rat Terrier for added toughness.

The Mountain Feist accompanied the first settlers as both companions and hunters. They are even mentioned in the diary of George Washington and included in a poem by Abraham Lincoln.

The breed's appearance stabilized over time, but they have fallen out of favor in recent decades. This is not due to any fault of the dogs, but rather people's changing lifestyles.

Mullins' Feists are a type of dog that weighs between 16-40 pounds.

Their unique feature is that they never have erect ears.

Their coats come in three colors: yellow, yellow with white trim, and black, but never brindle.

Mullins' Stock Feists are crossbred and must be at least one-quarter Mullins' Feist.

They can be a mix of feist or cur in the other parts of their breed.

Thornburg Feists originated with Farrell Thornburg, who described them as smart, easily trained, and mild mannered.

They are known for their distinctive appearance, with a more "blockily structured head" than other Feists, and a short, smooth coat that comes in several colors.

Their ears are mostly erect, and they have long legs, weighing between 12-25 pounds.

Thornburg Feists are persistent while treeing, sometimes staying treed for hours on raccoon-sized game.

They are aggressive towards small game but not so towards other dogs, livestock, and people.

As they mature, they increasingly use their noses to hunt, making them a skilled and effective breed.

The Mountain Feist is a small, compact terrier-type dog that's longer than it is tall, making it well-suited for navigating rough terrain.

They have powerful hindquarters, which are essential for climbing trees and other physical activities. Their muzzle is of good proportions for breathing, allowing them to take in plenty of oxygen during exercise.

The Mountain Feist's coat is short and smooth, but it can come in a variety of colors, including white, light brown, and black. This coat type makes them easy to groom and maintain.

Their legs are long enough to allow for quick and agile movement in rough terrain, which is crucial for their treeing abilities. The head is blocky, with a broad skull and a strong muzzle.

The tail is straight and set on as a natural extension of the topline, and it may be either natural or docked. Scars should not be penalized or seen as proof of their working abilities.

Their overall muscular build makes them well-suited for active working roles, and their muzzle is designed for optimal breathing.

On a similar theme: Bernese Mountain Dog Coat

Treeing is a unique aspect of the Mountain Feist breed. They are known to tree small game, such as rabbits and squirrels, with ease.

This behavior is a result of their strong prey drive and instinct to chase. Mountain Feists will often follow their quarry up a tree, where the game will be cornered and easier to catch.

Their small size and agility make them well-suited for this type of hunting, allowing them to climb trees with ease.

If you're looking for a breed that shares the Mountain Feist's squirrel-chasing enthusiasm, you might consider the Mountain Cur. They're just as crazy for squirrels as Feists, but they track their prey by scent only.

Mountain Curs are a great option if you're looking for a similar breed, but if you want something a bit more unique, you might want to check out the Cajun Squirrel Dog. This breed is a mix of Feists and Mountain Curs with a natural treeing ability.

The Cajun Squirrel Dog weighs between 20-35 lb and has a short coat that's either red, yellow, white and red, or brindle.

Consider reading: Treeing Feist Dog Breed