They are not well-suited for small yards or apartment living. Since the feist has been bred as a hunting dog, it has what seems like unlimited amounts of energy and requires room to run around and exercise, when not out in the field hunting. They are very vocal and will not hesitate to communicate through baying, barking, and growling. The feist is an alert, curious and highly intelligent dog breed, and has guarding instincts when it comes to her owner and family. The color their coat comes in a large variety and include red and white, blue and white, black and tan, red brindle, red, black, and spotted tricolors.

They have a height range of 12-17 inches at the withers, with a short, dense and smooth coat. Physically, feists are small- to medium-sized dogs, ranging in weight from 10-30 lbs. Despite being classified as terriers, unlike other breeds in this category, they usually stay above ground when hunting, even though they are highly interested in chasing rabbits, and other rodents. When hunting, feist dogs work quietly, generally working to tree their target prey (generally squirlls), and keep it in the tree until their human hunting companion arrives. Written records of the feist breed, in the United States, go back several centuries, and are even mentioned in George Washington’s diary, in 1770, as “a small foist looking yellow cur.” They have been mentioned in poetry and prose, and are a distinct part of southern rural life.

The feist breed (sometimes also spelled as fice or even less frequently, fyce) is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, but is, oddly enough, recognized by the United Kennel Club (as a terrier), even though they are mostly found in the Southern parts of the United States, especially around the birthplace of the American Feist, the Southern Appalachian regions. The feist is a hunting dog, and is specifically bred to be high energy and feisty. Feist dogs are of mixed breeds, and mostly known in the Southern United States, even though they have been traced back hundreds of years.

Arkansas feist dog breed