Mountain Feist (original) (raw)

Mountain Feists were bred in the southern United States as a small game hunting dog. To this day, they are often used to hunt rabbits, raccoons, and especially, squirrels.

Mountain Feists are small, yet muscular dogs, initially bred by mountain pioneers to help with hunting vermin and other small game in rural areas of the United States to keep the rodent population under control. While they are still often used for hunting, especially squirrels, their temperament also makes a Mountain Feist a wonderful companion dog or family pet. They are very affectionate and loving to the members of their family and have a fun and playful personality.

However, Mountain Feist dogs can also be a bit challenging to train and do best with more experienced owners. With proper training, though, and sufficient exercise to match their higher energy level, a Mountain Feist can do very well in homes with children. Mountain Feists are relatively small, weighing just 12 to 30 pounds. Their coat can be a variety of colors including black, gray, white, brindle, blue, brown, red, or silver.

Ownership: 3 Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Good with children: With proper training, Mountain Feists can make a good family pet. They have a friendly and affectionate temperament. High exercise needs: Mountain Feists have a lot of energy and will require multiple long walks each day.
Low maintenance: Mountain Feists don’t require much grooming. Can be difficult to train: Mountain Feists can be challenging to train and are best suited for homes with experienced owners.
Unique appearance: Mountain Feists are small and muscular. Their coats come in a range of colors including black, brown, gray, red, white, brindle, and cream. High prey drive: Mountain Feists have a high prey drive and may try to chase small animals outside or cats.

Size and Weight

Cute Mountain Fest playing in the garden.

Mountain Feist dogs are small to medium in size weighing 12-30 pounds.

©Mgray84 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – Original / License

Mountain Feists are a small to medium size dog breed. Males and females are generally between 12 and 18 inches tall and weigh between 12 and 30 pounds. Puppies will gain muscle as they develop into full-grown dogs.

Height (Male) 12 inches to 18 inches
Height (Female) 12 inches to 18 inches
Weight (Male) 12 pounds to 30 pounds
Weight (Female) 12 pounds to 30 pounds

Common Health Issues

Overall, these dogs are a very healthy breed. They typically enjoy a very long lifespan. However, there are still some potential concerns owners should be aware of if they have one of these dogs.

Some Mountain Feists may develop hip dysplasia. This is a condition where the hip bone doesn’t form correctly and becomes dislocated. It can make walking very painful for dogs, and surgery may be required to correct it.

A Mountain Feist may also be a bit more likely to develop an ear infection than some other breeds. Be sure to keep your dog’s ears clean and contact your veterinarian if you notice your dog scratching at his ears.

Bloat is another potential concern for the Mountain Feist dog. Also known as gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV), bloat is a condition in which a dog’s stomach is filled with gas and twist. It can be life-threatening, and you should bring your dog in for immediate care if you suspect it has developed bloat. It is not completely clear what causes bloat in dogs, but it commonly occurs after the dog eats a large meal and then exercises. So, take care to limit your dog’s activity following a meal.

Mountain Feists may also suffer from atopic dermatitis, a condition caused by the inhalation or ingestion of any substances they are allergic to. Symptoms include licking, rubbing, or scratching due to the itching caused by the illness. Allergen specific immunotherapy which serves to boost the immune system can prove especially beneficial in alleviating symptoms caused by airborne allergens. Atopic dermatitis can also be treated using essential fatty acids and antihistamines, or steroids. The former takes longer to act (about two months) while the latter acts promptly but may cause an increase in appetite and a decrease in immunity.

As a review, some of the potential health concerns to be on the lookout for with one of these dogs include:

Temperament and Behavior

These dogs are a very active breed with a very curious and playful personality. They enjoy playing outdoors and need long walks to make sure they get their energy out. As long as their exercise needs are met, the dog’s behavior should stay under control. Their personality traits can make this breed a wonderful family dog.

However, if the dog isn’t given the exercise it needs, it may get bored and exhibit destructive behaviors. Mountain Feist dogs may also bark or growl more than many other breeds. Due to their higher intelligence and potential stubbornness, they typically do best in a home with an experienced trainer.

Care

Mountain Feists are a unique dog breed with unique needs. Keep their temperament, exercise requirements, health concerns, training needs, and all other relevant characteristics and information in mind when caring for your dog.

Best Dog Food

As a very active breed, it is important to make sure your dog gets enough food to keep it healthy. These dogs should eat around 400 calories of high-quality dog food formulated for active breeds. Since this breed is also susceptible to bloat, feed them two smaller meals each day rather than one large meal.

Puppies have smaller stomachs than adults. Therefore, it is important that you feed them between three and four meals each day until they are around six months old. Your veterinarian is an excellent resource to consult if you are not sure how much food to feed your dog or how frequently they should eat each day.

Fortunately, Mountain Feists are a rather healthy breed. But it’s still best to find dog food that provides robust nutrition to support a long, active, happy life.

With this in mind, A-Z Animals thinks the best dog food for Mountain Feists is Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Adult Canned Wet Dog Food.

The grain-free wet recipe is easier to digest than kibble, with 30% protein for your Mountain Feist’s non-stop, energetic lifestyle. The real meat offers glucosamine for mobile joints that don’t slow your dog down, while omegas and antioxidants fortify the immune system, skin, and fur.

Follow this link to get Purina ONE Smart Blend Canned Dog Food on Chewy and Amazon.

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Mountain Fest sitting in the grass

Mountain Fest dogs are bred to be low-maintenance and don’t need much grooming, though they are prone to shedding.

©Kyler Mitchell/Shutterstock.com

Maintenance and Grooming

These dogs were bred to be low-maintenance dogs. They have short hair and do not need much grooming to stay looking their best. This breed does shed a fair amount, but the amount of hair they lose will be minimal because they have such short hair. So, you won’t need to worry too much about finding a pile of black, brown, white, or gray hair all over your furniture or floors. You should use a slicker brush or bristle brush about once each week to brush your dog and remove any loose hairs and dirt from their coat.

For the most part, a Mountain Feist will keep himself pretty clean, but they may require an occasional bath if they get very dirty. You will also need to keep your dog’s nails trimmed, their teeth brushed, and their ears clean.

Training

Training a Mountain Feist is not always easy. They have a pretty strong prey drive and a very high energy level, which can make training sessions more challenging. Generally, these dogs do best in homes with experienced owners. They do have a high intelligence level, so with the right trainer and training techniques, this breed can learn quickly.

Exercise

These dogs need a lot of exercise each day. They do best when they get to walk at least 14 miles each week, so don’t bring home a Mountain Feist unless you enjoy going for long walks or hikes each day. In addition to taking your pup for long walks, you can also give your dog playtime in a fenced-in back yard. These dogs were bred to be hunting dogs, and bringing your dog hunting with you can also help him or her meet exercise requirements.

Puppies

You may find it challenging to find a pure-bred Mountain Feist puppy since the breed is rare. However, a Mountain Feist mix may be easier to find. Some breeds that may be mixed with these dogs include Mountain Curs, Golden Retrievers, Jack Russel Terriers, and Labrador Retrievers.

Before bringing home a new puppy, make sure that you’re ready to commit to giving the dog the exercise it needs. This is a very high energy breed, and without proper exercise, dogs can become bored and destructive.

Children

If these dogs get proper training, they can do very well with children. They have a very playful and affectionate personality. However, they are a very active breed, so they may do better in a home with older children that won’t be injured accidentally. Always take care to supervise children around a Mountain Feist or any other dog breed.

Dogs similar to Mountain Feist

Jack Russell Terriers, Fox Terriers, and Rat Terriers are three breeds that are similar to these dogs.

Famous Mountain Feists

Follow some of these dogs on Instagram to get your daily fix of this adorable and fun-loving breed:

If you can’t seem to find the right name for your new dog, consider trying one of these popular names below.

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The cost to purchase a Mountain Feist from one of the breeders in your area can range from 200to200 to 200to600. However, keep in mind that there may not be any breeders local to you since this is a rarer breed. You may also be able to find a Mountain Feist or Mountain Feist mix-up for adoption through a local rescue organization. In most cases, it will be less expensive to adopt a dog through a rescue than to purchase from breeders.

Mountain Feists live a long life and will require quality care from you as their owner. Be prepared to spend 1,000to1,000 to 1,000to1,500 the first year you own your Mountain Feist to purchase all the food, supplies, training, and veterinary care they’ll need. The following years will likely be much less expensive, but could still cost between 500and500 and 500and1,000.

Yes, Mountain Feists can be good with children. They are playful and affectionate. However, they will do best in a home with a strong trainer to teach them proper behavior and may not be good for homes with very small children.

Mountain Feists can live a very long life. Their average lifespan is 10 to 15 years.

Mountain Feists have some characteristics that can make them excellent pets. They are affectionate, playful, and active. However, they also have a very high energy level and require a lot of daily exercise. This breed may also be a bit challenging to train for an inexperienced owner.

The exact breeds that were used to make a Mountain Feist are not known. However, it is clear that a mix of different terriers and scent hounds were used to make this breed.

Yes, Mountain Feists do shed. However, since they have very short hair, most owners don’t notice too much shedding.

Mountain Feists were bred to hunt squirrels and other small game in the rural south. Farmers wanted a dog whose characteristics would enable it to be a good hunting companion, while also making it low-maintenance and easy to care for the dog.