Pastor Garafiano vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison

Pastor Garafiano vs Mountain Feist - Breed ComparisonMountain Feist is originated from United States but Pastor Garafiano is originated from Spain. Mountain Feist may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Pastor Garafiano. Mountain Feist may weigh 19 kg / 42 pounds more than Pastor Garafiano. Mountain Feist may live 4 years more than Pastor Garafiano. Mountain Feist may have less litter size than Pastor Garafiano. Mountain Feist requires Low Maintenance. But Pastor Garafiano requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Companion dog
undefined
United States
Spain
Height Male:
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
55 - 64 cm
21 - 26 inches
Height Female:
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
55 - 64 cm
21 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
24 - 35 kg
52 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
24 - 35 kg
52 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
8 - 12
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Garafian Shepherd, Spanish Collie
Colors Available:
black, white, blue, Brown
Golden, tawny
Coat:
smooth, short
Long, thick double-coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
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, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate 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.

pastor garafianoHailing from the Canary Islands, the Pastor Garafiano is a dog which was once used for working purposes but which is essentially a pet today.

Also known as the Spanish Collie, it is not really sure if the dog really has any links to the Collie.There are dog experts who claim that there are actually very few pure specimens of this dog because of interbreeding with other breeds such as the German Shepherd.

There was a time that the breed almost disappeared but a working group was established to further establish breeding centers for the dog. Today the Pastor Garafiano is a recognized breed and he has been registered since 1982.

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.

pastor garafiano puppy - descriptionThis is a medium to large dog, with its hindquarters being a bit higher than the shoulders. The body is strongly built with a deep chest. He stands at between 55 to 64cm in height and weighs between 24 to 35kg.

The nose is black and the eyes brown. The ears are slightly erect. The double coat is long and thick and the color is almost golden or tawny, much like a lion. Puppies are born brown and the color changes as they get older.

The tail is long, and when the dog is in motion or alert the tail is lightly curled. He is an active dog requiring a lot of intensive physical exercise. It is therefore not recommended that he be kept on a small city property but that he be on a farm or have a large garden.

Temperament:

This is a good looking, confident sheepdog who is also intelligent and therefore easily trained. He makes a splendidly obedient pet when he has been trained and socialized.

He is docile, calm and friendly and good with children in the home who have been taught to be kind and gentle with him. Apart from regular play, make sure he gets his regular exercise and he is constantly allowed to be part of the family.

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.

pastor garafiano dog - characteristicsThe Pastor Garafiano is such a wonderful docile and friendly pet that he is guaranteed to make a wonderful companion for any family.

He is a dog that simply loves spending time with his human family and won’t do well when left alone in the backyard day after day. Take good care of this beautiful tawny dog and give him your attention and you will have a wonderful canine friend that is difficult to beat in terms of loyalty and devotion.

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.

pastor garafiano puppies - health problemsYour Pastor Garafiano can reach anything from 10 – 14 years of age if he is happy and well taken care of. Every dog however, can fall prey to one of the many common dog illnesses there are. Some of these are -

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited inflammatory disease of the skin, blood vessels and muscles. Signs of dermatomyositis can vary from mild to severe skin lesions and inflammation of muscles and even a decrease in muscle mass. Severely affected dogs can even have difficulty with swallowing. Symptoms of the disease are usually seen before the dog is 6 months of age.

Progressive Retinal atrophy:

This is an eye disease where there is a gradual deterioration of the retina. Dogs can become night blind early in the disease and as the disease goes on, they can even lose their daytime vision.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a very common dog ailment – the abnormal formation of the hip socket can cause pain, arthritis and even lameness. It is severe enough to know that dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred.

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.

Grooming:

pastor garafiano dogs - caringGroom your Pastor Garafiano at least twice a week. Your dog’s coat is fairly long and it sheds too and you want to make sure it doesn't become all matted. There are different brushes you can use for his beautiful coat.

You can also use this grooming session to check other areas of your dog. Check inside his ears, check his eyes and feel for new or unusual lumps. Make sure to keep his nails trimmed.

Exercise your pet every day. Take him on walks or hikes and provide him with ball or frisbee games. Exercise keeps him fit and healthy but also happy and content.

Diet:

Nutrition is of critical importance to your pet's wellbeing. It is important to know what your pet needs to stay healthy and have a strong immune system which can ward off disease.

There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market but it is important to choose the one that doesn’t come filled with toxic colorants, preservatives and fillers. Protein should be high on the list of ingredients listed on the pet food packaging. Also make sure to feed your pet food that had been made for his size, his breed, his age and his energy requirements.

To provide some variety to your pet’s diet, give him some tasty home-made food. Dog’s do well on simplicity and consistency. Some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots all chopped up and added into his dry kibble occasionally will keep him bright eyed and with his tail constantly wagging.

He’ll thank you for not varying his diet with things that can give him an upset stomach such as coffee, tea, popcorn, grapes, onions and chocolate.

Comparison with other breeds

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