They are not well-suited for small yards or apartment living. Since the feist has been bred as a hunting dog, it has what seems like unlimited amounts of energy and requires room to run around and exercise, when not out in the field hunting. They are very vocal and will not hesitate to communicate through baying, barking, and growling. The feist is an alert, curious and highly intelligent dog breed, and has guarding instincts when it comes to her owner and family.

The color their coat comes in a large variety and include red and white, blue and white, black and tan, red brindle, red, black, and spotted tricolors. They have a height range of 12-17 inches at the withers, with a short, dense and smooth coat. Physically, feists are small- to medium-sized dogs, ranging in weight from 10-30 lbs. Despite being classified as terriers, unlike other breeds in this category, they usually stay above ground when hunting, even though they are highly interested in chasing rabbits, and other rodents. When hunting, feist dogs work quietly, generally working to tree their target prey (generally squirlls), and keep it in the tree until their human hunting companion arrives. Written records of the feist breed, in the United States, go back several centuries, and are even mentioned in George Washington’s diary, in 1770, as “a small foist looking yellow cur.” They have been mentioned in poetry and prose, and are a distinct part of southern rural life. The feist breed (sometimes also spelled as fice or even less frequently, fyce) is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, but is, oddly enough, recognized by the United Kennel Club (as a terrier), even though they are mostly found in the Southern parts of the United States, especially around the birthplace of the American Feist, the Southern Appalachian regions. The feist is a hunting dog, and is specifically bred to be high energy and feisty. Any dog, irrespective of the breed, will get cranky if he cannot find physical and mental stimulation, and may resort to destructive behavior.Feist dogs are of mixed breeds, and mostly known in the Southern United States, even though they have been traced back hundreds of years. If you’re a city dweller who obviously won’t keep a Feist for its hunting abilities, do make sure that you schedule long walks on a daily basis. Exercise is extremely important to them, as it acts like an outlet for the oodles of energy they possess. How they exerciseįeists love the outdoors, they love long walks, they love to run, and they love to chase. This quality makes Feists excellent watchdogs who are alert in fending off intruders. There will be times when their terrier instincts will take over, especially when they encounter strangers. To that, add their eager-to-please nature, and you get a very receptive and adaptable dog. Their intelligence is an asset, which makes them quick to learn basic commands. They are loving and affectionate, and obviously expect the same from humans. They come with a gentle disposition, and can do well with older children. That said, they’re also energetic and enthusiastic, but are nowhere as noisy, as say, a Jack Russell terrier. How they behaveĭespite their rural origins, Feists love to snuggle up with their human family and spend a quiet day at home. Nevertheless, it is always advisable to keep them leashed while taking them for a walk, as there’s no telling when the urge to chase may strike them. Now, remember that no two dogs can behave alike, and for every Feist who is an expert hunter, there will be others who will be quite sedate. They don’t let anything discourage them during a chase, easily executing jumps and maneuvers in the process.

They make use of their sense of hearing, sight, and smell to spot squirrels, following which they bark uproariously, chasing the rodent until they lose sight of it. Feists usually tend to chase their target, unlike terriers, who mostly aim to kill.įeists are pretty quiet until they spot a squirrel―but it’s really hard to contain them once they have. They are, on the contrary, identified mainly by their style of hunting, rather than their looks. These dogs have been traditionally bred for hunting and not as show dogs, which explains the lack of a rigid uniformity in their physical features.

Feist dog breed info