Shetland Sheepdog vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison

Shetland Sheepdog vs Mountain Feist - Breed ComparisonShetland Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom but Mountain Feist is originated from United States. Shetland Sheepdog may grow 15 cm / 5 inches shorter than Mountain Feist. Shetland Sheepdog may weigh 42 kg / 92 pounds lesser than Mountain Feist. Shetland Sheepdog may live 4 years less than Mountain Feist. Both Shetland Sheepdog and Mountain Feist has almost same litter size. Shetland Sheepdog requires Moderate maintenance. But Mountain Feist requires Low maintenance

History

shetland sheepdog - historyThe Shetland Sheepdog was crossed with working collies and brought to the islands. They were bred on the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom.

These little dogs have always been particularly valuable to farmers who used them to herd their sheep.

During the early 20th century other crosses occurred an in 1909 and the little dog received recognition by the English Kennel Club. The first Sheltie to be registered by the American Kennel Club was in 1911.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Miscellaneous dogs
Origin:
United Kingdom
United States
Height Male:
33 - 41 cm
12 - 17 inches
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
Height Female:
33 - 41 cm
12 - 17 inches
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 12 kg
13 - 27 pounds
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 12 kg
13 - 27 pounds
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
5 - 8
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Sheltie
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Colors Available:
Mix of colors - golden, black or a steel grey color with white
black, white, blue, Brown
Coat:
Long and thick
smooth, short
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

shetland sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe small Shetland Sheepdog stands at between 33 to 41cm and weighs roughly between 6 and 12kg for both males and females. The long double coat of this dog sheds consistently, he will need to be brushed regularly.

The coat is golden, black or a steel grey color with white. The ears are erect and the tail long and feathery and the expression on this dogs face is sensitive, alert and gentle.

Temperament:

Shelties make wonderful pets for their human families and are great with children too. They’re protective, making good watchdogs. They are somewhat wary around strangers.

Smart and alert, you can train this little dog plenty of tricks because he is quick to learn. They’re such agile little dogs and are great athletes. It’s always a good idea to keep such a smart little dog busy so he doesn’t become bored.

He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he is kept busy, otherwise he takes to a piercing kind of bark.

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.

Characteristics

shetland sheepdog dog - characteristicsYou’re certainly not going to have one dull moment with the Shetland sheepdog – its such a lively, intelligent, entertaining, playful and also eager to please - that's your Sheltie.

They also have a gentle, quiet side. They love the company of their human family and are able to adapt to life in the city or countryside, so long as he gets lots of attention and exercise.

They’re highly strung dogs, and an excitable child can get them barking in a high pitched way which wont be good if you live close to your neighbors.

Shelties are essentially peaceful dogs who prefer a home where its quiet and orderly. If you give this dog what it needs, just like you would for any family member of yours, you’ll be blessed with an awesome pet and companion.

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.

Health Problems

shetland sheepdog puppies - health problemsEvery dog, no matter how healthy, can succumb to any one of the many dog illnesses there are.Some of the dog illnesses to look out for include cancer, bloat, ear infections, dental problems, hypothyroidism, skin allergies and obesity among others.

Hypothyroidism:

This illness occurs when the dog’s body doesn’t maintain sufficient levels of thyroid hormones. Your pet will be sensitive to the cold, the thick hair will be thinning and there will be weight gain. It will be wise to have your dog checked out by your vet as this is an ailment which can be managed with medication.

Collie Eye Anomaly:

This is an inherited condition that can lead to blindness in some dogs. It can occur in both eyes. It can be diagnosed by your vet but regrettably there is no treatment. Not spaying or neutering your dog will mean that if the have puppies the gene can be carried down to the puppies.

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited disorder that can cause skin lesions but also affect the muscles. Skin lesions can appear on the head and the front legs and there can be hair loss.

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.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

shetland sheepdog dogs - caringThese little dogs have always been farm dogs and they will need a lot of exercise. Even so, with their small size, they can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, but will always need exercise.They love going for walks and playing games with the kids.

Grooming:

Your Sheltie will need brushing every day because the hair can so easily pick up leaves, twigs and burrs. In the warmer months some people prefer to trim the coat themselves or take the dog along to a professional groomer.

Diet:

It is best to feed adult dogs two meals a day instead of one. One can make your dog want to gobble up his food too quickly and this can result in a life threatening condition known as bloat.

How much any adult dog eats will depend on his size, his age and his activity levels.The quality of dog food you buy also makes a huge difference – the better quality the food, the more satisfied your Sheltie will be.

Some of the best commercially manufactured dog foods are convenient and they can be good if you go with the best brands that have high levels of vitamins and minerals in them. Dry kibble can be made more enticing when you add some homemade food into it.

Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will do him the world of good. Chop it up and add small portions to the kibble about twice a week. His wagging tail and prancing antics will be all the thanks you need.

Some raw meat added in occasionally will also contribute to your pet’s heath. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

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.

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. Shetland Sheepdog vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  27. Shetland Sheepdog vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  30. Toy Australian Shepherd vs Shetland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  31. Welsh Corgi vs Shetland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  32. Shetland Sheepdog vs Pomeranian - Breed Comparison
  33. Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  34. Shetland Sheepdog vs Pug - Breed Comparison
  35. Shetland Sheepdog vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Shetland Sheepdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  37. Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  38. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  39. Shetland Sheepdog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  40. Shetland Sheepdog vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  41. Shetland Sheepdog vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  43. Shetland Sheepdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  45. Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  46. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  47. Shetland Sheepdog vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  48. Shetland Sheepdog vs Papillon - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds