Mountain Feist vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison

Mountain Feist vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed ComparisonMountain Feist is originated from United States but Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic is originated from Croatia. Both Mountain Feist and Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic are having almost same height. Mountain Feist may weigh 27 kg / 60 pounds more than Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic. Mountain Feist may live 6 years more than Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic. Mountain Feist may have less litter size than Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic. Both Mountain Feist and Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic requires Low 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.

istarski ostrodlaki gonic - historyThe Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic, also referred to as the Istrian wire-haired or short-haired scenthound is a very ancient dog breed. Apparently the dog has been found in paintings that go way back to the early 1700s.

The dog can either have a short, smooth coat or a rough, wiry longer coat. He has always been popular with hunters, used for hunting rabbits and fox.

An interesting fact with this dog is the correlation between the Dalmatian dog and the Istrian short-haired hound. According to veterinary investigations, there are strong likenesses between the two breeds.

The truth is, the origin of the Istrian has been a matter of dispute for some time but in 2003 the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed as hailing from Croatia.

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.

istarski ostrodlaki gonic puppy - descriptionMedium in size, the Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic stands at roughly 43 to 60cm at the withers and weighs roughly 12 to 27kg. The chest of the dog is broad and deep, the skull slightly rounded while the muzzle is strong and rectangular shaped. The nose is dark brown or black.

The ears are floppy and are nearly always in the orange color while the tail is long and is carried low. The coat of the rough haired dog is of medium length. In fact the coat can either be short and smooth or longish and wiry with a woolly undercoat. The color of the coat is white with orange markings.

Temperament:

This breed of dog is sought after for his cheerful personality. He is loyal to his human family and is a social dog, loving to spend time around his family.

He is energetic, confident and strong-willed and this is why, as with most other dogs, he will benefit from training and socialization, as this makes him obedient and responsive to his owner. He is evenly tempered, being gentle and docile.

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.

istarski ostrodlaki gonic dog - characteristicsThe Istrian Wire-haired Scenthound or Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic as he is also referred to is a strong, well built hound which is elegant in appearance.

He has a remarkably striking coat - bright white with orange markings. He has always been an excellent hunting dog, even to this day. This background hunting of his will require that he receives ongoing exercise as well as mental stimulation.

Treat this beautiful dog well - exercise him, groom him, feed him well and love him and you will be rewarded with the loyal and devoted friendship of an amazing dog.

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.

Dental Disease:

istarski ostrodlaki gonic puppies - health problemsThere are people who don’t take dental disease seriously in dogs as they think that it simply affects the teeth, when in fact dental disease can affect the dog’s entire body.

Dental- and gum disease is to be regarded with concern as it can be painful and even life threatening. It affects many dogs, and unfortunately your Istarski is also likely to have problems with his teeth. Tartar build-up and infection of the gums can lead to tooth loss but also damage to the kidneys, heart and joints.

Dogs need to have their teeth attended to regularly and if this is something new to you, speak to your vet and find out about special canine toothpaste and toothbrush and how to use them.

Infections:

Dogs can be susceptible to bacterial and viral infections such as rabies, distemper and parvo, and that is why visits to your vet are so important. These life-threatening diseases for your Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic are preventable through vaccinations.

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.

istarski ostrodlaki gonic dogs - caringTaking care of an Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic dog is much like caring for a child – doing everything you can to keep him healthy and happy, after all, he is a member of your family.

You want to be watching his diet and making sure that it is the best quality there is, full of vitamins and minerals to keep his eyes bright, his nose wet and his tail wagging.

There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market today and the best ones ensure excellent nutrition for your dog to keep him in optimal condition through each stage that he goes through. Try to include some home-made food into this kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables and it can be to his benefit to just to include some raw meat from time to time.

Make sure your Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic is well exercised, that you check his teeth and ears to ensure there are no infections and to call the vet immediately you suspect something is wrong. Make sure you have him examined as a puppy and that he gets his necessary injections as there are diseases that can kill your dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Hound dog
Origin:
United States
Croatia
Height Male:
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
43 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
Height Female:
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
43 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
12 - 27 kg
26 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
12 - 27 kg
26 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
6 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Istrian wire-haired or short-haired scenthound
Colors Available:
black, white, blue, Brown
White with orange markings
Coat:
smooth, short
Short and smooth or medium length and wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
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. Pharaoh Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  32. Podenco Canario vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Andaluz vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  34. Podenco Galego vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  35. Kanni vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  36. Lithuanian Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  37. Hungarian Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  38. Hygenhund vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  39. Norrbottenspets vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  40. Polish Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  41. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  42. Russian Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  43. Sabueso Espanol vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  44. Schillerstovare vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  45. Schweizer Laufhund vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  46. Schweizer Niederlaufhund vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  47. Serbian Hound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  48. Silken Windhound vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  49. Smalandsstovare vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison
  50. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds