Feist Dogs – Everything you need to know directly from the mouth of the breed itself!
I’m a breed that lives up to my name because people describe me as one thing: feisty! That’s because I’m playful and full of energy! I’m Wesley the Feist dog and I think my breed could be your future best friend.
Feist dogs are a small breed of dogs that are known for our hunting and tracking skills. We were brought to America by English immigrants in the early 1700s, and have been winning hearts and minds ever since.
If you haven’t heard of my breed, that’s ok. Here’s a rundown of some of my traits and characteristics, so you can get to know me better.
My Physical Qualities
You can consider me a small to medium-sized breed. I have an average height of 10 to 18 inches and weigh around 15-30 lbs. I have a short coat that’s usually white, brown, black, or a combination. I have long legs that are perfect for hunting and tracking, running around, and playing! These are all my favorite things to do, by the way.
My eyes are small and dark-colored and I also have long ears that sometimes point up and are folded down at other times.
Because of the way I look, humans often mistake me for a Jack Russell Terrier. But if I’m being honest, I think I’m a bit better looking. Seriously! I have long legs and a softer coat that makes for nicer rubs. Plus, unlike Jack Russel Terriers I don’t get so aggressive when I’m not hunting. Those dogs have dare I say, “no chill.”
Many sub-types of Feist dogs have been recognized over the years, but the most popular type is the Treeing Feist dogs, which is what I am.
We’ve been called Treeing Feists because of the way we hunt. When hunting, we chase our prey until they have no choice but to get stuck waaay up in a tree. This way, it’s easier for our humans to catch them. We’re smart like that.
I’m a Southern Icon
I know my kind isn’t on the list of the most popular dog breeds right now, but we’re actually a southern icon! Not to brag about it, but some of my ancestors even appeared in movies and were companions of famous owners! How cool is that? I may be biased, but I think we’re due for our moment in the spotlight once again.
We were brought here in America by English miners during the 1700s. My ancestors were born and grew up in the South where they lived in farms and explored the land of the new frontier. And because we were bred for hunting, we were entrusted to hunt and track down pests that were making a mess on the farms.
The South was our land and we became part of the South. So much so that our breed is proud to have been loved by famous humans like Mr. George Washington and Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln even wrote a poem for us called “The Bear Hunt”. Pretty cool is you ask me!
I’m an Expert Hunter and Tracker
In the early days, we were bred to be a working dog. Our humans needed us to help them with the farm work. As new lands were discovered, and you expanded your civilization, we were bred to hunt pests or track small game for food. Until now, we still help our humans with hunting.
My size, long legs, and agility make me an expert hunter. I’m light on my feet too, so I can track those rats, squirrels, and rabbits with ease. But I’m no retriever, nor do I kill the prey. Rats are gross! Since I’m an excellent tracker, I’ll hunt and trap the target for my humans and they can do the dirty work.
This is one big difference that sets me apart from retrievers. Retrievers can become very aggressive because of their nature to hunt and retrieve prey. They need to stalk, attack, and subdue the prey before bringing them back. This natural behavior of retrievers requires humans to properly train them to control their behavior to attack prey.
I, on the other hand, am free of those aggressive tendencies. So you don’t have to worry about me pouncing on other animals or people. I would rather attack my dinner or a chew toy!
I’m Easy to Train
Since I don’t have the behavior of retrievers, you won’t have a hard time training me. You see, hunting dogs need to be intelligent enough to be able to track down prey and not attack. Lucky for you, I’m a hunting dog! Because I’ve been bred and trained to hunt and track, learning and obedience are already in my genes. It comes naturally to me to follow commands.
Though sometimes, I’ve been known to get territorial. As a hunter, I make sure my turf is not invaded by anything foreign. But it’s something that proper training and socialization can address. I also have a pleasant personality but I might become a handful if I get older without training. So it’s a good idea to tackle that early, while I’m still young.
Our breed also has sharp senses, honed by many years of hunting and tracking. You can expect that we’ll be on alert for pests squirreling around the house.
But generally, you won’t have a hard time with me. I just love impressing humans, especially mine! It makes me happy to see my family proud of me when I follow commands or do cool tricks! It’s one of the best feelings ever. This makes us Feist dogs a great pet for first-time dog owners.
I’m a Loyal Companion
Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or a veteran, we Feist dogs are one of the most loyal companions you’ll ever have. That loyalty has been bred into our genes since the early days, which stem from working closely with humans and being part of their family.
This is why we make great companions and family pets. We love kids too and we know how to behave and act around them. You can trust us to protect them and play with them. I consider them puppies too!
We just really love being around humans, we always want to be the best dog! Maybe because we’re really friendly. Our history with humans dates all the way back to the 1700s. We’ve spent so much time together playing, hunting, sleeping, and eating.
Or maybe because we’re intelligent. As I said, we’re smart enough to hunt and track for you, we’re also smart enough to learn new tricks. Giving us treats as a reward helps also!
Or it could be that we’re a dependable companion. When we’re out for a walk, I’m always on alert for anything suspicious that needs to be hunted down.
Either way, if you get a Feist dog, I’m pretty sure we’ll be best friends forever.
I Love the Outdoors
I was born to run out in the fields, chase critters, or just play. It’s so much fun! I think it’s because we’ve been bred to be outside, hunting and tracking. I have this natural love for the outdoors.
This makes me such a perfect match for humans who are active and love the outdoors too! I’m a very energetic breed. I love to run, play fetch, go on walks, and of course, chase squirrels! Knowing that you might want to keep me on a leash at all times unless you want to chase me down every once in a while.
If you love outdoor activities, you can count on me to be there by your side every step of the way.
Just a little heads up, though…I might get a bit noisy at times. Especially when I see a cat or squirrel that I can’t chase. I really just can’t help but get excited and I want to run after them when I see them!
But don’t worry, because of my super-sharp senses, I’m in tune with my environment and can adapt easily. I know when it’s time to play and when it’s time to wind down and rest. Owners that take the time to train me can mold me into exactly the kind of dog they want!
I Help Keep Rodents Away
This is a result of my nature to hunt. We’ve been hunting small prey for the longest time so even if I’m in the city, I chase rodents away. This is especially handy for you, whether we live in a small house or apartment in the city or on a farm out in the country.
In a small apartment, I’ll be able to sense those mice even if you don’t know that they’re around. I’ll make sure they don’t go near our food.
In a farm where mice can be a bigger problem, I’ll make sure to chase them out of our property. Just don’t expect me to bring them to you dead on arrival. I’m not like that. Besides, rats are gross.
Either way, you won’t have a rat problem with me around! Yummy treats for my hard work would be greatly appreciated, though.
I Live a Long Life
I think among all the breeds, we Feists are one of those who live the longest. Normally I’ll live until I’m at least 13, but don’t be surprised if I live to 18, especially if you keep me in tip-top shape and take care of my nutritional needs.
One of the reasons we live so long is because our breed grew up in the harsh elements of the great outdoors. That made us tough, durable, and with an immune system strong enough to adapt to different kinds of environments.
But like any other breed, we still have our fair share of possible health concerns. You might want to watch out for the common health problems we encounter like allergies, hip or elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation.
A variety of allergens can make me feel sick. Some types of foods and environmental allergens like pollen can cause allergic reactions. Like other dogs, chocolates, avocado, and these other foods are bad for me too.
So in case this happens, it’s always best to take me to the vet so we can find out the cause of my allergies. Don’t forget to take note of my symptoms, where we went, what I ate, and other information that can help the vet.
Hip or elbow dysplasia happens when bone joints grow abnormally, a disease that catches smaller dogs. This causes rubbing and friction which can be painful for me. When this happens, there’s going to be a loss of function on my hip joints. This disease usually shows itself early when we’re still pups. Luckily for us, this can be treated easily and effectively.
Patellar luxation is similar to hip or elbow dysplasia, but this time it affects my knees. Obvious signs are pain and lameness on my knees. But it’s something that can be treated through surgery.
Overall, it’s not difficult to keep me healthy. I’m a low maintenance dog. Aside from proper nutrition, it would be wonderful if you can give me lots of space for exercise since I’m a small bundle of energy. I also love toys, but who doesn’t? And of course, your love and attention are my favorites and the best thing you can give me.
I Come With a Higher Price Tag
I know I said I’m low maintenance, which is true, but getting me might cost you a bit more than most other dog breeds, especially from a breeder. If you can find me at a shelter, humans usually pay around $300 to adopt me. If you get me from a breeder, the price can range between $400 – $3,000. If you decide to go through a breeder, it’s always a good idea to do some research on the breeder first to make sure my parents were always in good health.
Because I’m known to live a long life, it also means you’ll have to provide for me longer than other dog breeds. It’s important that when you adopt me, you’re fully aware of the costs associated with my care so you know what you’re getting yourself into. I want us to be friends for life!
And it’s not just about the financial aspect, but more important is the love and care that I hope you can give me. We may not be one of the most popular dog breeds, but Feist dogs and humans go way back and I love humans like no other.
Being with me is a long term relationship. I hope you’re ready because I am!