Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison

In 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.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a rare toy breed which was developed in Moscow.

It is believed that the dog’s ancestors are the Toy Poodle, Pekingnese, Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu. The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka has also become more well known since the British royal couple, Willam and Kate, have them as pets.

The 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.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a small dog standing at 22 – 27cm in height and weighing between 2 and 4kg. He has been developed to be a companion dog.

The long coat of the dog is wavy or curly and is a grey color, brown, red, white or black. The males have a beard and mustache.

Allergy sufferers appreciate that the dog doesn’t shed but the coat will need to be brushed to prevent matting. The ears are medium length and the tail curls up over the back.

Temperament:

These dogs are sturdy, happy, social, playful little dogs with a loving, loyal temperament. They’re balls of fun and make super playmates of disciplined children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are well balanced, amicable dogs with a streak of independence. They’re intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.

He isn’t aggressive and isn’t a yapper either. He is a friendly dog, even with strangers but he can still prove to be a good watchdog. Small and compact, he can do well in the countryside or the city.

Children friendliness

Yes, 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.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a true companion being even-tempered, intelligent and friendly. He has been specifically developed as a companion dog whether you live in the city or the countryside.

He gets on well with children and with other pets in the home and even towards strangers. Just remember that wherever you choose to live with your sweet little pet, he will still need regular exercise to remain the feisty, happy little dog he is.

Like 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.

This breed may get some of the typical small-dog health conditions. These can be things such as dental problems, obesity and Patellar Luxation.

Small dogs often have problems with their knees, and patellar luxation is a common orthopedic condition for small dogs. You’ll see your dog walking on 3 legs.

A luxated kneecap can move out of place, but in some more serious instances, it can dislocate completely. Treatment will require a visit to the vet. Sometimes surgery is required.

Small dogs are more prone to dental disease than large dogs. Tartar and plaque form, there is gum recession, and loss of teeth is common with these little dogs.

Check inside his mouth regularly. Brushing the teeth can be of value to the dog and you get special canine dog and toothpaste. A tooth infection can be serious for your pet and cause him to have toxins circulating in the bloodstream that can make him sick.

Side effects can mean eye infections and even organ failure.

Feeding the puppy

These 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.

Exercise:

These little dogs will need a walk each day. They also love all sorts of games both indoors and outside.

Grooming:

Brush the hair regularly to avoid matting. Many people tie the hair around the face into a ponytail. If the hair becomes dirty, it can be gently shampooed with a mild, natural shampoo and conditioned. The wet hair will require a wide-tooth comb to comb the hair.

Diet:

Feed your dog the best dry kibble that there is. Check the packaging and make sure the ingredients are the best, full of vitamins and minerals. Try to give him some tasty home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember to chop it up very finely. Never give your dog foods such as chocolate, popcorn, peanuts, and spicy food. It can upset his stomach. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

General:

Get your little pet to the vet if he shows signs of illness and make sure his vaccines are up to date to avoid deadly canine illnesses.