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So, just what are these versatile "feisty" little dogs?
History:
The word "feist" is an ancient one referring to a small, often noisy, dog. Like the Cur breeds, the Feist breeds
were developed in the rural South by breeders who needed low-maintenance dogs to hunt small game and to eliminate vermin.
Feists were often the result of crosses between hunting hounds and terriers. Today's Treeing Feist is the result of generations
of breeding for performance and it is still primarily used to hunt squirrel, although they are also used to hunt raccoon,
rabbits and flushing game birds.
The Treeing Feist is recognized by both the UKC and the NKC.
General Appearance:
The Treeing Feist is an agile, active, small tree dog. The body is slightly longer than tall. Regardless of the size of
the individual dog, the legs must be long enough to allow the dog to move quickly and with agility in rough terrain. The head
is blocky, with a broad skull, a moderate stop, and a strong muzzle. The tail is straight, set on as a natural extension of
the topline, and may be natural or docked. The coat is short and smooth. The Treeing Feist should be evaluated as a working
dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work.
Scars should neither be penalized nor regarded as proof of a dog's working abilities.
Characteristics:
Treeing Feists are used most frequently to hunt squirrel, raccoon, and opossum. They hunt using both sight and scent and
are extremely alert dogs. On track, they are virtually silent.
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