We are fortunate to have them to enjoy today as a link to our own shadowy past as a nation. How we ended up with these quirky little dogs doesn’t really matter in the end. So, a treeing feist could be a cross between a Beagle and a Jack Russell or a mountain feist and a Rat Terrier or a stock of dogs resulting from breeding for generations to other registered treeing feist. One way to think of it is a treeing feist can be a first-generation cross of two other recognized breeds or a mixed breed dog that fits a physical standard and used for hunting. In some areas, the terms are interchangeable, much to the chagrin of mountain breeders. “Mountain” was added in front of the catch-all term “feist” to distinguish the dogs originating from the Southern Highlands from those which may have been arisen elsewhere, such as the Low Country or Deep South by a high degree of outcrossing to other breeds like English Pointers and hounds.ĭepending on where you are and who you talk to, these dogs are referred to as “treeing feist” commonly. The mountain feist is an artifact of the pioneer age that serves as a direct link to a time when many Americans lived off the land. What is known is that the breed became greatly reduced in numbers as rural people abandoned farmsteads to take jobs in towns and larger cities. Geographic isolation and personal preference of the owner must have influenced the development of the mountain feist. No one knows for sure how the various sections of the country developed their own distinct lines that are now being crossed widely given advances in communications and transportation. Yes, “feist” is like “deer”-the term is both singular and plural, never “feists.” The origin of the variant from Appalachia, the mountain feist, is somewhat convoluted. With the main feist-type dogs that are the focus of my book ( The Mountain Feist-available by contacting me at or social media), we are watching in real time and there is potential for the dogs to be drastically different, for better or for worse, in another 20 years. Just as Coonhound breeds radiated from common Foxhound ancestors and Fox Ferriers split into predominantly white-coated variants of working Terriers such as the officially-recognized Fox terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier and Russell Terrier we are at a crossroads. Many dozens of dog breeds were developed in Victorian times and the process is largely lost. Whatever type of dog you prefer, my hope is that this article will serve as a reminder and a celebration into the resurgence of a hunting dog that could have been forgotten. Increasingly, there are subtle developments happening as feist are tailored to fit the needs of a new generation of owners. Changes in land use patterns, an aging hunter population and the adaptability of the dogs have all contributed to an exponential resurgence in their numbers. The term encompasses breeds and dogs of mixed or unknown origins but perform the job. Feist is an umbrella term to describe a smooth-coated canine, under 30 pounds, used for squirrel hunting. Over the last 20 years, a small dog has grown in popularity despite being around in one form or another for centuries. Take a dive into the history and world of the Mountain Feist and squirrel hunting dogs in America

Feist dog breed temperament