Pharaoh Hound vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison

Pharaoh Hound vs Mountain Feist - Breed ComparisonMountain Feist is originated from United States but Pharaoh Hound is originated from Malta. Mountain Feist may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Pharaoh Hound. Mountain Feist may weigh 27 kg / 60 pounds more than Pharaoh Hound. Mountain Feist may live 4 years more than Pharaoh Hound. Both Mountain Feist and Pharaoh Hound has same litter size. Both Mountain Feist and Pharaoh Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Hound dog
undefined
United States
Malta
Height Male:
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
53 - 63 cm
20 - 25 inches
Height Female:
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
53 - 63 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
18 - 27 kg
39 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
18 - 27 kg
39 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
11 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Kelb tal Fennec 
Colors Available:
black, white, blue, Brown
Tan or red
Coat:
smooth, short
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, 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.

pharaoh houndThe Pharaoh Hound hails from Malta and is the national dog there. These dogs are rare and are looked upon as endangered. Because they are a primitive type dog, they enjoy good health.

It has always been used as a hunting dog for rabbits. The dog has been recreated from mixing a combination of other breeds. It certainly seems to be an ancient dog breed, having existed for more than 2 000 years.

It is thought that the dog was imported to Malta by Phoenician traders. The dog has been classified as a member of the sighthound group, and arrived in England in the 1930s and to the USA in 1967. The breed was also officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1984.

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.

pharaoh hound puppy - descriptionThe Pharoah Hound is an elegant looking dog standing at roughly between 53 and 63cm and weighing 18 to 27kg.

They are sleek dogs without any bulkiness about them and the coat is tight fitting with short smooth hair. The coat is a tan or red color, the eyes bright and the color of amber. The ears are fairly large and erect and the long tail slim with sometimes a white tip. The skin can be thin so the dog can be sensitive to the cold.

The neck of the dog is long and lean, as are the legs. An interesting aspect with this dog is that when the dog becomes excited its ears and nose become bright pink.

Temperament:

Pharoah Hounds are calm dogs and they can live in the city or in the countryside. They love kids and will be a wonderful playmate for them. Once he has had a lot of exercise and play, he is the kind of dog that will settle down happily with his human family for some quiet time.

Just as with any other dog, he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and better behaved.

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.

pharaoh hound dog - characteristicsThe Pharaoh Hound is quite interesting in a number of ways and he is independent, strong-willed and able to entertain and amuse himself.

He loves to join in with the children and be part of their games. He’s intelligent and easily trained and he is also low maintenance.

While he’s not the most attractive dog to many people, others look at him as a true beauty. Whatever your opinion is, he will still make you a good family friend.

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.

pharaoh hound puppies - health problemsPharaoh Hounds are uncommon outside of the Maltese Islands and with very little irresponsible breeding, these dogs are virtually free of genetic diseases. A common dog illness to look out for includes -

Patellar Luxation:

Your Pharaoh Hound can suffer from patella luxation, and in more severe cases it can be painful and even be disabling for a dog. This ailment comes about when the kneecap is dislocated from its normal position. You’ll find your dog lifting his hind leg quite a bit. Unfortunately this problem can lead to arthritis developing.

Other illnesses to look out for are bloat, cancer, skin allergies and ear infections.

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:

pharaoh hound dogs - caringThe Pharaoh Hound’s short coat is easy to groom and it will require a brushing at least twice a week just to get rid of loose hairs.

At the same time trim his nails, check inside his ears for infection and look inside his mouth for any rotting teeth.

Exercise:

Your Pharaoh Hound is an active, energetic dog and he will need a good dose of exercise every day. Take him with you on your walks or allow him to join you with your hikes, jogging or cycling. At home involve him in some ball games.

Diet:

How much any adult dog eats will depend on a number of factors such as size of dog, age and his activity levels.

You get some excellent dog kibble these days on the market but the idea is to choose one of the high quality ones which have minerals and vitamins in them. Home-made food is also good for your pet and this should be kept simple, consistent and nutritious.

Every now and then you can add in some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potato, carrots and spinach to the kibble. Some raw meat added in can also be of benefit to your dog’s health.

Stay away from spicy, exotic foods and keep your dog's food easy like suggested so as to avoid digestive problems

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. Pharaoh Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Pharaoh Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Pharaoh Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Pharaoh Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Pharaoh Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Pharaoh Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Pharaoh Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Pharaoh Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Pharaoh Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Pharaoh Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Pharaoh Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Pharaoh Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Pharaoh Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Pharaoh Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Pharaoh Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Pharaoh Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Pharaoh Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Pharaoh Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Pharaoh Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Pharaoh Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Pharaoh Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Pharaoh Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Pharaoh Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Pharaoh Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Pharaoh Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison