Mountain Feist vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison

Mountain Feist vs Australian Terrier - Breed ComparisonMountain Feist is originated from United States but Australian Terrier is originated from Australia. Mountain Feist may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than Australian Terrier. Mountain Feist may weigh 46 kg / 102 pounds more than Australian Terrier. Mountain Feist may live 3 years more than Australian Terrier. Both Mountain Feist and Australian Terrier has almost same litter size. Mountain Feist requires Low maintenance. But Australian Terrier requires Moderate maintenance

History

mountain feist - historyIn the Southern portion of North America, the Mountain Feist was developed. It is the Ozarks and Southern Appalachia that the Mountain Fiest calls his ancestral home. The breed dates back centuries and looks very much like a Jack Russell or rat terrier. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and William Faulkner all featured the breed in their writings. For Washington it was his diary, Lincoln the poem “The Bear Hunt” and Faulkner “Go Down Moses”. These dogs, much like the Curs, were an important part of the early pioneer days in America.

The name Feist means a noisy, small dog in ancient languages. The Feist was developed in the South, the rural areas, in order to hunt and eliminate vermin and small prey animals. The breed was originally a cross between British terriers and hounds from Native Americans. Many others think the feist is not a breed but a type, a working dog which can vary individual to individual.

The Mountain Feist of today has been bred for hunting performance over generations of time. They hunt racoons, squirrel and rabbits among others. They can track even larger game. Other varieties of the feist include the Bench Legged Feist and the Pencil-tail Feist. This is an energetic working dog, curious, intelligent and alert. It is a loud, barky dog that needs to learn a “no bark” command or it may drive you crazy. The breed make good hunting dogs, watch dogs and companions.

The breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2015, but not by the AKC or American Kennel Club. Other breed organizations include the National Cur & Feist Breeder’s Association, The National Feist Breeder’s Association, The American Treeing Feist Association, and the Shadowtails Outdoors Group.

australian terrier - historyThe Australian terrier, the little terrier, is a breed developed to control vermin. The nature of this dog is very spirited. They are alert, courageous and self-confident but still very human-friendly.

Australian terriers were breed by the mix of the Terrier with the rough coat and Scotch Dog of Great Britain. These breeds were mixed until they produced the muscular and fearless dog for the Australian settlers. Their primary job was to control the number of rodents and snakes. They were taught to tend flocks, be an excellent guard dogs but remain friendly. This breed is still very popular as a working dog, loyal companion and dogs for show, city, home or a farm.

Description

mountain feist puppy - descriptionThe Mountain Feist is a medium sized dog with pointy ears that are long and fold over. With their sharp nails that are curved they can climb. Their hind legs are strong to support that activity as well. They have small, dark eyes, a black nose and a muzzle that is medium length and a round skull. The neck is strong, and they have a pretty deep chest. The Mountain Feist tail is bushy, high and erect. There coats come in a variety of colors including blue, black, white, red and brown with the brown being the most common.

There is a lot of variation of make up and type within the breed itself. Until the last decade or so the breed was fairly isolated among squirrel hunters and there was little cross breeding with other dogs. On the other hand, dogs in the regions where the Mountain Feist was isolated were crossed with them to give them the tree climbing ability, change their size, sharpen their senses or one particular sense and change their appearance.

This is why in different regions you will find Mountain Feist with attributes of the Curs, or the Elkhounds, the Terriers, Spitz or Coonhounds. This accounts for the various types of Mountain Feist Dogs.

australian terrier puppy - descriptionThe Australian terrier has body longer than they are tall. They are small dogs with the long and thick coat with silky undercoat and short little legs. This smart-eyes breed is perfect for persons who live indoors. But, you must know that they really like to bark and communicate that way with everybody. They also have a high need for activity so it will be necessary to take him out so he can run, play and be social with other dogs. They are very intelligent, but not very responsive. They will quickly learn how to fetch, but they will have days when they just feel like fetching.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

mountain feist dog - characteristicsYes, they very much enjoy playing with children.

Special talents

Tree climbing and stamina.

Adaptability

They need space and land on which to run every day. If you are in an apartment, make sure you have access to a dog park.

Learning ability

They are very intelligent and learn quickly. They love to please but can also be stubborn.

Around children

australian terrier dog - characteristicsThe Australian terrier is very good breed to choose if you have children. They are active and always ready to play, and they will protect the children since they have watchdog gene.

Special talents

Excellent watch dog. This breed will keep your garden and home vermin free.

Adaptability

They are generally very polite towards strangers and highly adaptable among other dogs, but their adaptability in social life is totally up to the human and the training. They can grow to be adaptable dogs that fit well into almost any environment; city or country, house or apartment.

Learning ability

Since they are an intelligent breed, the Australian terrier may surprise you with their ability to learn new tricks and shock you with their ability to be very strong willed about doing what is told. It’s not that they are not the type to obey and be “a good dog”, they are so playful and silly that they will often forget that they are the god and not the human. You must start training them while they are still pups.

Health Problems

mountain feist puppies - health problemsLike most breeds that are isolated, the Mountain Feist does not have a lot of known genetic health issues. They are generally healthy and known to live as many as eighteen years. Perhaps the biggest threat to their lives is the hunting accident, harming joints or paws in hunting situations or being attacked by a larger animal. There are no real genetic threat. Of course, with any dog that has folded ears there is always the possibility of infection or allergies. Keep their ears clean. The other possible concern is hip dysplasia in such an active dog. This can lead to lameness or arthritis. Obesity is another concern that could also lead to hip dysplasia.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes (LCPD)

australian terrier puppies - health problemsA bone disorder, where the hip joint starts to rot caused by decaying of the femur bone which is located in the dog’s hind limb.

Luxating patella is a knee disease where one or both kneecaps can slip out of place.

Cruciate ligament rupture

Rupture of an important ligament in the knee (stifle) joints.

Epilepsy

The brain disorder that is characterized by seizures. There are several different types of epilepsy that can affect dogs.

Diabetes

A chronic disease of the metabolism which is characterised as high glucose amount in the blood. This happens when hormone insulin drops below the normal values. This condition results in malfunction of vital organs.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

mountain feist dogs - caringThese are very active pups who need a high protein, high quality dry food. Feed a cup to a cup and half broken down into three meals daily. Do not overfeed your puppy.

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult about two cups a day broken into two meals. Again, you are looking for a high quality, high protein dry food. Do not overfeed and watch for obesity.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active breed – a hunting dog with a lot of stamina, strength and energy. They need plenty of exercise as the terrier side of them is just a little hyper. They need at least two walks per day, and they are not great apartment dogs. They need both mental and physical stimulation. This little dog can keep going at a good rate for a long time.

Feeding the puppy and adult

australian terrier dogs - caringRecommended daily amount is usually found on the type of the food you choose. They like dry food, and if you are not quite sure what brand of the dry food you should choose, seek a vet’s advice. The Australian terrier has a healthy appetite, but he almost never overeats. How much your Australian terrier eats depends on his size, age, metabolism, and activity level.

Grooming

Their coat requires moderate maintenance. That means that you don’t have to groom your Australian terrier every single day, but being aware of the importance of grooming him at least twice a week is a key because lack of adequate care may lead to skin diseases. Make sure not to bathe them too much, but you can be free with their haircut. They can grow very sharp toenails, so they should be clipped regularly. Ear and teeth must be kept clean.

Points for Good Health

Lots of outdoor activity. They are lovable kind, so don’t be reserved towards them. It’s important to begin training and socializing your pup as soon as possible. Training sessions need to be consistent, firm, short and clear. Grooming is a must since you will want to prevent the tangles and mats.

The best type of activity

Find a place for them where you can take of the leash and let them run free. They love chasing birds, butterflies and anything that flies above. They will chase small rodents, other dogs and cats. After you thought you Australian terrier how to play with other dogs and cats, they will be the most wanted guest in the whole neighbourhood. Find a place where they can dig holes – and they will be so happy that they probably won’t hear you calling them home.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Terrier dog
Origin:
United States
Australia
Height Male:
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
23 - 26 cm
9 - 11 inches
Height Female:
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
20 - 26 cm
7 - 11 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
2 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Blue and Tan Terrier, the Blue Terrier, the Broken-coated Terrier, the Australian Rough Coated Terrier, Aussie
Colors Available:
black, white, blue, Brown
blue, tan, sandy and red variations
Coat:
smooth, short
rough long coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Sapsali vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  2. Peruvian Hairless vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  3. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  4. Mountain Feist vs Other - Breed Comparison
  5. Mountain Feist vs Olde English Bulldogge - Breed Comparison
  6. Mountain Feist vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison
  7. Mountain Feist vs Indian Pariah Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Mountain Feist vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  9. Mountain Feist vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  10. Mountain Feist vs Lottatore Brindisino - Breed Comparison
  11. Mountain Feist vs Carolina Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. Mountain Feist vs Jonangi - Breed Comparison
  13. Mountain Feist vs Kuri - Breed Comparison
  14. Spitz vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  15. Perro de Presa Mallorquin vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  16. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  17. Pomsky vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  18. Sakhalin Husky vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  19. Schnauzer vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  20. Puggle vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  21. Schnoodle vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  22. Pharaoh Hound vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  23. Redbone Coonhound vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  24. Portuguese Water Dog vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  25. Puli vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  26. Boston Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Jack Russell Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Miniature Schnauzer vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Cairn Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Border Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Rat Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Scottish Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Australian Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Patterdale Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. American Hairless Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Bull Terrier Miniature vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Norwich Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Norfolk Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. English White Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Parson Russell Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Russell Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Feist vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Manchester Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Fox Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Cesky Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Schnorkie vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Sealyham Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Chilean Fox Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds