Mountain Feist vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison

Mountain Feist vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed ComparisonFranzuskaya Bolonka is originated from France but Mountain Feist is originated from United States. Franzuskaya Bolonka may grow 29 cm / 11 inches shorter than Mountain Feist. Franzuskaya Bolonka may weigh 49 kg / 108 pounds lesser than Mountain Feist. Both Franzuskaya Bolonka and Mountain Feist has almost same life span. Franzuskaya Bolonka may have less litter size than Mountain Feist. Both Franzuskaya Bolonka and Mountain Feist requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Miscellaneous dogs
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France
United States
Height Male:
22 - 27 cm
8 - 11 inches
26 - 56 cm
10 - 23 inches
Height Female:
18 - 24 cm
7 - 10 inches
23 - 55 cm
9 - 22 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 5 kg
6 - 12 pounds
24 - 54 kg
52 - 120 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
22 - 52 kg
48 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 3
5 - 8
Size:
Toy
Medium
Other Names:
Bolonka Zwetna, Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, , Russian Lapdogs
Treeing Feist • American Treeing Feist • American Feist • Mountain Terrier
Colors Available:
white
black, white, blue, Brown
Coat:
curly, wavy
smooth, short
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

franzuskaya bolonkaThe Franzuskaya Bolonka in France is known as the Tsvetnaya Bolonka in Russia and in Germany as the Bolonka Zwetna. All of these translate to Colored Bolognese. It is known as the “Pride of Russia” and was rediscovered by the Russians following the thaw of the Cold War. It is also sometimes translated as a colored lapdog.

The Bolonka is a rare breed in the toy category with ancestors in the Bichon Friese line. This little dog looks very much like the national dog of Cuba – the Havanese. In addition to the Bichon other small dogs in this ancestral line include the Shih Tzu, Toy Poodle, and Pekingese as well as the French, Italian and German Bolonka. They are often confused with the Bolognese as both breeds appear in various countries and have many similarities.

In all countries the common name for this dog is the Bolonka. They have a variety of names and nick names depending on the country. In addition to being the “Pride of Russia” he is called a Russian colored Bichon, Czechs call it the Bareyny Bolonsky, the Germans since 1980 have called it the Bolonka Zwetna but the Nordic Kennel Union does not recognize the Zwenta only the Russian Twetnaya.

The French version is seen to be the original with its ancestry dating back to the 18th century when Russian nobles were presented with a Bolonka by Louis XIV of France, and others migrated with the army of Napoleon to Russia. They were still known as the Bolonka of France. Small dogs were not popular in Russia due to the need for dogs that could work on farms and/or hunt. Particularly during the Soviet years, they were considered unnecessary. No Bolonkas were imported to Russia during the Soviet regime, so only localized breeding took place. The goal of breeders in the Soviet Union was to develop a toy dog, lap sized with an apartment living temperament.

During the cold war the Russians sent a pair of breeding Franzuskaya Bolonka to East Germany and they began to develop the breed there as well. At the same time the colored versions of the Bolonka were being bred. The Franzuskaya Bolonka is recognized by the Verband Dur Das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDF) while the other colored breeds are not. The white Bolonka is not recognized by the Federation Cynoloqique Internationale as a breed separate from the Bolognese but as simply another version. Individual clubs throughout the world recognized one or more versions of the Bolonka. They are thought to be the rarest within the Bichon family.

Today’s Bolonka is owed by Prince William and Princess Kate, giving the breed more publicity than it has had in many years.

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.

Description

franzuskaya bolonka puppy - descriptionThe Franzuskaya Bolonka is neither heavy boned nor fine boned. They are a toy breed with a moderate bone structure. The ears are neither long nor short and they have tails that touch the back at the tip. Like others in the Bichon family the Franzuskaya Bolonka does not shed. He is a sturdy little dog and the male has a distinct beard and moustache that the females of the breed do not. They have long coats that are wavy and curly. The Franzuskaya Bolonka is of course only white. The Russian version might be brown, red, black, wolf-gray, gray and of course white.

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

Children friendliness

franzuskaya bolonka dog - characteristicsThe Bolonka is great with kids, just avoid too intense play.

Special talents

The Bolonka is a playful, lap dog with a lot of love to offer

Adaptability

Good adaptability great in the city in apartments and great in the country as well

Learning ability

They are very smart and love to learn. Being firm but beyond firm is also kind.

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

The Franzuskaya Bolonka is susceptible to dental issues as well as

  1. Luxating Patella
  2. Can cause lameness and arthritis
  3. Hip Dysplasia
  4. Can cause lameness and arthritis
  5. Liver Shunts
  6. Serious and sometimes fatal bypassing of the liver by the circulatory system
  7. Thyroid Issues
  8. Difficult to diagnose but easy to treat with medication
  9. Corneal Abrasions

franzuskaya bolonka puppies - health problemsMedical issues are not fully documented because of the rarity of the breed and the years of isolation in the Soviet Union.

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

Feeding the puppy

franzuskaya bolonka dogs - caringFeed at least 3 meals a day. Feed one fourth of a cup daily split into three meals of a high quality puppy food.

Feeding the adult

Feed at least 2 meals per day. Feed one half of a cup daily split into two meals of a high quality dry food.

Points for Good Health

Fairly healthy breed due to isolation during cold war

Games and Exercises

The Franzuskaya Bolonka is developed as a lap dog but that does not mean he doesn’t need daily exercise. He loves to play but play gently and not for any length of time. They like to chase balls, play hide and seek and any tricks you want to teach them.

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

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