Schipperke vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Schipperke vs Mountain Feist - Breed ComparisonMountain Feist is originated from United States but Schipperke is originated from Belgium. Mountain Feist may grow 23 cm / 10 inches higher than Schipperke. Mountain Feist may weigh 45 kg / 100 pounds more than Schipperke. Mountain Feist may live 3 years more than Schipperke. Both Mountain Feist and Schipperke has almost same litter size. Both Mountain Feist and Schipperke requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Companion dog
undefined
United States
Belgium
Height Male:
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Height Female:
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
2 - 7
Size:
Medium
Small
Other Names:
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Spitzke
Colors Available:
black, white, blue, Brown
Solid colors - chocolate to apricot to black.
Coat:
smooth, short
Shortish and thick
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, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

mountain feistIn 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.

schipperkeThe Schipperke is a small dog which hails from Belguim and where he is known as a Spitz.

There are however different theories regarding the Schipperke’s origin. It was however during the late 1800s, that Belgian Schipperke fanciers set a standard for the breed.

It was in 1888 that the first Schipperke was imported to the United States and a specialty club for the breed founded in 1905.

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.

schipperke puppy - descriptionThis little Belgian dog stands at between 25 and 33cm in height and weighs between 3 and 9kg.

The double coat of the dog is fairly short, but thick and it comes in a range of colors, but always solid, from chocolate to apricot to black.

A typical characteristic of his is the longer-haired ruff around his neck. He also has this longer hair around the hind legs. He has sharp, erect ears and the tail is a natural bobtail or long. Most people choose to have the tail docked.

Temperament:

These little dogs are no pushover. He is stubborn, strong-willed and confident. They are lively, intelligent, curious and energetic and will require plenty of exercise.

Small though he is, he will certainly need training and socialization, otherwise he just goes his own way. Training him will ensure he is obedient and not so strong-willed. They get on well with children, but they tend to be aggressive with other dogs that they haven’t grown up with.

Bring him up the right way and he makes a splendid pet.

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.

schipperke dog - characteristicsWith his bright little face, the Schipperke dog is a surprising dog, being fearless, confident, protective and devoted – everything people looking for in an excellent pet want.

His small size makes him able to slot into life in the city or the countryside. He is also looked upon as low maintenance. Add to this the fact that he is intelligent too. He is a feisty dog, and that’s why we say he is surprising because while he can be your sweet companion dog, he can turn into a robust, feisty, daring little panther. He’s got everything going for him to make you a splendid pet.

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.

schipperke puppies - health problemsThe Schipperke has no real health problems that he specifically gets, and he can live to be 13 years or older.

Over-feeding, bad food choices and lack of exercise are going to shorten the lifespan of this dog. Some dog illnesses to be aware of with the Schipperke is cancer, bloat, epilepsy, dental problems and luxating patella.

Luxating Patella:

This is a condition where the knee cap of the dog moves out of its natural position. The patella moving out of the normal groove of the thigh bone can be because of genetic or traumatic reasons.

The symptoms of luxating patella include limping, skipping along as well as an abnormal sitting posture. Arthritis can also set in. Strangely, many small dogs live all their lives with luxating patella and they live like that free of pain. However for many other dogs it can mean pain and it can require surgery.

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.

Diet:

schipperke dogs - caringDry kibble is always a good choice for dogs as its helps to keep the dog’s teeth clean. You want to make sure you buy one of the best quality foods, full of minerals and vitamins as opposed to fillers, colorants and preservatives. The food you give your Schipperke can have a huge impact on his health.

Your puppy will require 4 meals a day but later this becomes 2 bowls of food. To add some variety to your pet’s diet, feed him some home made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your Schipperke.

Try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off horrible skin diseases. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

General care:

Ensure regular vet checks for your dog, particularly when he is showing signs of being sick.

Check your pet for ticks and fleas. Parasites can be very bad for your pet’s health. Your dog will need all his vaccines to stave off deadly canine illnesses.

Brush your Schipperke twice a week to make sure you get rid of loose hairs. A Schipperke doesn’t shed a lot.

Keep his nails trimmed. If you are unsure on how to do this, professional groomers can do this for you.

Ears and eyes should also be checked.

He’s an energetic little dog so make sure that he gets lot of excellent forms of exercise from walking to hikes to ball games, frisbee – you name it, you won’t tire him out easily.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schipperke vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Schipperke vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Schipperke vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Schipperke vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Schipperke vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Schipperke vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Schipperke vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Schipperke vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Schipperke vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Schipperke vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Schipperke vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Schipperke vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Schipperke vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Schipperke vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Schipperke vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Schipperke vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Schipperke vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Schipperke vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Schipperke vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Schipperke vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Schipperke vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Schipperke vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Schipperke vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Schipperke vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Schipperke vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Mountain Feist vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Mountain Feist vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Mountain Feist vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Mountain Feist vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Mountain Feist vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Mountain Feist vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Mountain Feist vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Mountain Feist vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Mountain Feist vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Mountain Feist vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Mountain Feist vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Mountain Feist vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Mountain Feist vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Mountain Feist vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Mountain Feist vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Mountain Feist vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Mountain Feist vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Mountain Feist vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Mountain Feist vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Mountain Feist vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Mountain Feist vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Mountain Feist vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Mountain Feist vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Mountain Feist vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Mountain Feist vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison