Monday, January 16, 2012

Treeing Feist ( aka Mountain Feist )

TREEING FEIST  ( aka Mountain Feist )
Terrier Group






History

    The word "feist" is an ancient one referring to a small, often noisy, dog. Like the Cur breeds, the Feist breeds were developed in the rural South by breeders who needed low-maintenance dogs to hunt small game and to eliminate vermin. Feists were often the result of crosses between hunting hounds and terriers. Today's Treeing Feist is the result of generations of breeding for performance and it is still primarily used to hunt squirrel, although they are also used to hunt raccoon, rabbits and flushing game birds.

    The Treeing Feist was recognized by U.K.C. on November 1, 1998.

General Appearance
    The Treeing Feist is an agile, active, small tree dog. The body is slightly longer than tall. Regardless of the size of the individual dog, the legs must be long enough to allow the dog to move quickly and with agility in rough terrain. The head is blocky, with a broad skull, a moderate stop, and a strong muzzle. The tail is straight, set on as a natural extension of the topline, and may be natural or docked. The coat is short and smooth. The Treeing Feist should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work. Scars should neither be penalized nor regarded as proof of a dog's working abilities.

Characteristics
    Treeing Feists are used most frequently to hunt squirrel, raccoon, and opossum. They hunt using both sight and scent and are extremely alert dogs. On track, they are virtually silent.

Head
    The head is proportionate to the size of the body. When viewed from the side, the muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and joined by a definite stop. The planes of the skull and muzzle are parallel.

    SKULL - The skull is flat and broad, tapering slightly toward the muzzle. Cheeks are muscular, but not over-developed.

    MUZZLE - The muzzle is long and sufficiently broad and deep to balance the skull. Lips are tight. Lip pigment matches nose pigment and eye rims.

    TEETH - The Treeing Feist has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

    NOSE - Nose color is black or self-colored.

    EYES - Eyes are brown, ranging from dark to amber. Eye rims match nose pigment.

    EARS - Ears are set at the outside edges of the skull and may be erect or button, but not pendulous.

Neck
    The neck is clean, muscular, and of moderate length. The neck gradually widens from the nape and blends smoothly into the shoulders.

Forequarters
    Shoulders are well laid back. The upper arm is long and forms an apparent 90-degree angle with the shoulder blade.
    The forelegs are strong, straight, and moderately well boned. The elbows are set close to the body, but able to move freely in action. The pasterns are short, powerful, slightly sloping, and flexible. "Bench legs" are acceptable but not preferred.

Body
    A properly proportioned Treeing Feist is slightly longer than tall. Chest is moderately wide and deep, with the brisket reaching to the elbow. Ribs are well sprung and extend well back. Back is of moderate length, and level, blending into a muscular, slightly arched loin with slight to moderate tuckup.

Hindquarters
    The hindquarters are strong and muscular. The bone, angulation, and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground, and viewed from the rear, parallel to one another.

Feet
    The feet are round, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.

Tail
    The tail is set on at the end of the croup. The natural tail is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip or it may be a natural bob. When the dog is alert, the tail is carried in an upward curve. When relaxed, the tail may be carried straight out behind the dog.

Coat
    The coat is short, dense, and smooth.

    Disqualification: Long or shaggy coat.

Color
    Any color or color pattern.

    Disqualification: Albinism.

Height and Weight
    Height ranges between 10 to 18 inches. Weight ranges between 12 and 30 pounds. Treeing Feists are working dogs and should be presented in hard, muscular condition.

Gait
    Treeing Feist gait is smooth and effortless, with good reach of forequarters. Rear quarters have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward centerline of balance. This breed is capable of great bursts of speed when needed.

Disqualifications
    Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Long or shaggy coat. Albinism. Deafness. Blindness. Overshot bite. Undershot bite.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Goodman Hound / Outlaw Cur Cross

We will have a few pups available out of our Goodman running Hound and our Outlaw Cur.
Give us a call if interested.

I have always teased Danny about his hog dogs when asked what breed they are. He called them " Outlaw Cur". His only explanation to that was: Don't know what he has in him but he dang sure can hunt.
Here is an article on the Goodman Hound and I also found this article interesting on the curs:

The history of the Goodman Hound should not be told without mention being made of Ben Robinson. He was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky about three miles north of Mount Sterling in 1805. Robinson was a dealer in horses and mules and made many trips to the eastern States. He became friends with and hunted with the Maryland hunters and their Irish hounds. In about 1850 he brought Tickler and Jake to Kentucky. Many other hounds were brought to Kentucky from around 1850 to 1870. Some of these were Fury, Whitie, Wag (a Virginia hound), Eagle, Old May, Highland and Lady. From Whitie and Fury came Cunningham's Ben.
Willis Goodman, he cannot be given full credit for developing this strain of hounds, but he was the guiding influence. Mr. Goodman was born in Albemarle County, Virginia. As a young man he moved to Paris, Kentucky and took with him some of his hounds of Virginia breeding. He served in the Confederate Army and it was after the war between the States was over that he began his strain of hounds. We will begin with what is said to be the first mating that originated this strain of hounds.
Goodman had a female named Goodman's Lizzie. She was of Maupin breeding. You would probably know this particular bloodline as Walker. Her Maupin blood consisted of the imported English breeding crossed with the great Tennessee Lead. Tennessee Lead was a major contributor the the development of the foxhounds as a whole. Lizzie also carried a trace of Ben Robinson breeding. Cunningham's Ben was straight Ben Robinson breeding. Both his sire and dam came from the Irish hounds of Maryland that traced back to the original importation of Mountain and Muse by Governor Ogle in 1812. Mountain and Muse were the famous pair of hounds that were bred extensively from 1812 until their death and are considered to be the single greatest contributing breeding pair to the development of the foxhound breeds. The Robinson hounds were highly regarded all over the country and their reputation as excellent red foxhounds became mythical. About 1876 Lizzie and Ben were bred. These pups are considered to be the first litter of pups born that would later be called Goodman Hounds.
Goodman should be given credit for supplying and supervising the early outcrosses of this breed. He was able to do this effectively because of his vast knowledge of the various bloodlines. Virginia Bolivar was whelped about 1878. He was bred by Sam Yates of Virginia and given as a present to Goodman by his cousin, William Durrett of North Garden, Virginia. Goodman used Bolivar as a stud dog with good results. Goodman later sent him to New England after he was used extensively as a sire in Kentucky. Scully was purchased by Goodman and Colonel Clay from Colonel William Johnson of Nashville, Tennessee. Scully was used with great success on the females having Bolivar as a sire. Their was much debate among the foxhunters of that day on whether or not Scully was a July hound. Scully shows the Durrett and Cole hounds of Virginia up close in his pedigree. In his third and fourth generation pedigree he shows practically the same blood as does Bolivar. Scully was said by Goodman to be, "A good game hound with plenty of speed and guts which he imparted to his pups". Mollie Trevis may be considered to have been one of the foundation brood matrons. She was owned by Asa Spahr of Winchester, Kentucky. She had several crosses of Maupin's Imperial Rifle and Tennessee Lead in her bloodlines and was definitely a hound that represented Goodman's ideas of proper breeding. She is found quite frequently coming into the pedigrees from crosses on Fidler, a son of Cunningham's Ben out of Goodman's Lizzie.
Mr. Goodman made no claims that his hounds were superior to any others. He was not one to brag on hounds of any breeding. Most of the foxhunters of that day believed that speed was the thing to breed for. Goodman was of the opinion that speed alone was not the important thing. He tried to breed for courage, endurance, speed, a good nose and fox sense. He wanted hounds with good feet and plenty of bone. A necessary factor if they were to pass his test of being able and willing to run five consecutive days and give a good race each day. He believed that no other hunters, with the exception of the Walker brothers, put their hounds through such a severe test as did he and his hunting companions.
The honor of naming this strain of hounds does not belong to Goodman, but rather to Dr. W. E. Wyatt of Cyrene, Missouri. Dr. Wyatt had heard of hounds sent by Goodman and his friends to Captain Bowles and Dr. J. W. Norris of Palmyra, Missouri. He wrote Goodman asking for some of these hounds that were making quite a name for themselves in Missouri and did received them. He later secured permission from Goodman to use his name in a letter intended for the American Field. Goodman had no idea that his name would be used for this purpose and was against commercializing the fame of his hounds.

 


Historically, the words cur and feist
Feist (dog)
A Feist is a type of small hunting dog, developed in the rural southern United States.- Description :Feists generally are small , short-coated dogs with long legs, a pointed nose. The ears set high on the head and are button, erect, or short hang ears...

were used in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

to refer to small hunting dogs, where "feists" were the smaller dogs and "curs" were 30 lbs or larger. The Elizabethans may have used the word "cur" to denote "terrier
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...

".

The word cur appears to be colloquial in nature. In 1790, Thomas Bewick wrote:

The Cur Dog is a trusty and useful servant to the farmer and grazier; and, although it is not taken notice of by naturalists as a distinct race, yet it is now so generally used, especially in the North of England, and such great attention is paid in breeding it, that we cannot help considering it as a permanent kind. They are chiefly employed in driving cattle; in which way they are extremely useful. They are larger, stronger, and fiercer than the Shepherd's Dog; and their hair is smoother and shorter. They are mostly black and white colour. Their ears are half-pricked; and many of them are whelped with short tails, which seem as if they had been cut: These are called Self-tailed Dogs. They bite very keenly; and as they always make their attack at the heels, the cattle have no defence against them: In this way they are more than a match for a Bull, which they quickly compel to run. Their sagacity is uncommonly great. They know their master's fields, and are singularly attentive to the cattle that are in them: A good Dog watches, goes his rounds; and, if any strange cattle should happen to appear amongst the herd, although unbidden, he quickly flies at them, and with keen bites obliges them to depart.


Cur also appeared in the Scottish periodical, Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...

in 1819. The article, Species and Historic lineage of Canine derivations, penned by Sir P. Sean Lacey of London (1776–1842), cites "separating the miscreants and cur breeds from those of honorable standing".

An early Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary is the name given to a common type of English language dictionary in the United States. The name is derived from lexicographer Noah Webster and has become a genericized trademark for this type of dictionary....

definition cites a "worthless dog, or a dog descended from a wolf".

Curs and cur breeds


Cur is also a type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....

of hunting
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...

and all-purpose dog developed in rural areas of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Cur is used to describe this type of dog, although it does not describe a specific breed. Breeds of cur are usually not recognized by major show registries, so selection for certain looks hasn't been a main factor in their development. They are normally selected mainly for hunting or work ability, although some breeds of cur are also known for herding ability. Consequently, most cur breeds have extremely flexible appearance standards; enough so that a complete breed appearance standard is difficult to create. The resultant diversity in appearance and selection for physical ability result in breeds that tend to be genetically sound and healthy.

They are descended from European dogs brought over by immigrants, possibly mixed with native American dogs. Unlike the true mutt which is random-bred with no human involvement, the curs' breeding is intentionally planned by people.

A related variety of breeds are the feists
Feist (dog)
A Feist is a type of small hunting dog, developed in the rural southern United States.- Description :Feists generally are small , short-coated dogs with long legs, a pointed nose. The ears set high on the head and are button, erect, or short hang ears...

, small terrier-like dogs bred in the same areas of the United States for hunting small animals and keeping vermin out of farms. The feist breeds are slightly more unified in appearance than the curs, presumably because they were developed solely for working purposes.

Cur breeds include:
  • Blackmouth Cur
    Blackmouth Cur
    The Blackmouth Cur is "a dog that is multitalented. Primarily BMCs are herding dogs able to hunt big or small game, and still be loving, gentle family dogs willing to protect the home" that has its origins in the Southern United States of America....
  • Catahoula Cur
  • Mountain Cur
    Mountain Cur
    The Mountain Cur is a type of working dog that are bred specifically for treeing and trailing small game, like squirrel and raccoons. They're also used for hunting and baying big game like bear and wild boar as well as being just an all-purpose farm dog. Curs are a member of the Hound group, and...
  • Mountain View Cur
    Mountain View Cur
    Mountain View Curs is a specific cur founded by Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Bloodgood, of Bonnieville, Kentucky. It is a type of working dog used for treeing and trailing game; mainly squirrel and raccoon, but also large game. It is a member of the Terrier group.-History:The Mountain View Cur was...
  • Stephens Cur
    Stephens Cur
    The Stephens Cur , is a scent hound that belongs to the Cur dog breed. They were originally bred by the Stephens' family in southeastern Kentucky. The dogs known as "little darkies" were bred by generations of that family for over a century. In 1970, they were recognized as separate and distinct...
  • Treeing Cur
    Treeing Cur
    The Treeing Cur is one of the cur dog breeds that originated in the Southern U.S.A. It is used to tree raccoons and opossums.-External links:*...
  • Leopard Cur
  • Blue Lacy
    Blue Lacy
    The Blue Lacy or Lacy Dog is a breed of working dog that originated in Texas in the mid-19th century, the only dog breed to have originated in that state. The Lacy was first recognized in 2001 by the Texas Senate. In Senate Resolution No. 436, the 77th Legislature honored the Lacy as "a true Texas...
  • Camus Cur
  • Canadian Cur
  • Feist
    Feist
    Feist may refer to:* Feist , a specific class of small hunting dogs, though not a recognized pedigree* Feist Publications, a United States telephone directory publisher acquired by Yellow Book in 2004...
  • Florida/Cracker Cur
  • Henderson Cur
  • Kemmer Stock Cur
  • Kemmer Stock Hybrid Squirrel Dog
  • Kemmer Feist
  • Parnell's Carolina Cur
  • Southern Blackmouth Cur
  • Tennessee Treeing Brindle
    Tennessee Treeing Brindle
    The Tennessee Treeing Brindle is a rare breed of dog that was formerly recognized by the American Rare Breed Association. It is in the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service Program in the hound group. It is an American breed, with a brindle color that trees game...


Registry


Several lesser-known kennel clubs register various cur breeds based on their ancestry (bloodlines), and several lines are recognized within each breed. The National Kennel Club has registered these breeds for decades and is famous for their organized hunting competitions.

Today the United Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
The United Kennel Club is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. According to the website, the club records 250,000 registrations annually. The UKC is not part of the International Canine Organisation, Fédération...

has an active registration program and competition hunting program for these dogs.

In popular culture


Old Yeller
Old Yeller (1957 film)
Old Yeller is a 1957 Walt Disney Productions film starring Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire and Beverly Washburn, and directed by Robert Stevenson. It is about a boy and a stray dog in post-Civil War Texas. The story is based upon the 1956 Newbery Honor-winning book Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. Gipson...

was a cur, and his intelligence and utility are typical.

New Orleans Pup at new Home

One of our pups is at her new home in New Orleans with the Bruzeau's.
Here is what they had to say. I am sure happy she is with a family that will love her.
Thank you to the Bruzeau's from the Westbrook's

Hey Danny and Joyce,

Thanks for the pictures, pup is real cute.  Can't wait to meet her on
Tuesday when Jay brings her home.  Hannah our 7 year old daughter wants to
name her "Patches".  Thanks for all your help in getting everything together
so that we could get her, especially the courier service. That really helped
a great deal.  Thanks again and may God bless you.

Jay, Karen, Justin, Travis and Hannah
The Bruzeau's


Danny and Joyce,

The puppy is precious, we named her Gody, (like Cody but a G).  She has a cute
personality and we already love her
.


Monday, November 7, 2011

Weimaraner / bull dog mix pup

This is one of our Weimaraner / bull dog mix pups at her new home. Nicole came to Frankston and got a Mountain Feist pup for her Dad and fell in love with her. And now she is at home with the Tull's. Below is a note from Nicole. Thank you to the Tulls for giving her a wonderful home. She is a beautiful dog.


Hello Danny and Joyce! We have been wanting to send you a pic of our little girl whom we love so dearly and finally got a camera (the other had broken). So here she is! About a week before we came to pick her up, my 7 yr. old daughter had started making a list of potential names for the new puppy. The day we came to Frankston, we had 153 names to choose from....on the way home, we ended choosing one that hadn't even made the list: Brooke. We knew that we remind us of you guys :) Brooke is beautiful, sweet and quiet---we have maybe heard her bark 3 times since we got her back in August. However, when you let her out of her pen, her nose is to the ground sniffing. She digs and roots around often. My husband says she looks like her Mama and I think she looks so much like her Daddy (besides her color). We love her and thanks again for your help with 'dogs' this past year. God Bless, Nicole Tull

One of our pups - New home in McKinney Texas

This is "Easton". he went to his new home in McKinney Texas. Thank you, Jason for the picture.
Easton at 11 weeks old

Easton at 8 weeks old



Easton at 8 weeks old

Friday, October 21, 2011

Catahoula Bulldog

We have pups that are a cross between an America Bulldog and a Louisiana Catahoula. Read article below about the origins of this mixed breed. This is the Dam and Sire of the pups.

Catahoula Bulldog

CATAHOULA BULLDOG

By Al Walker, ARF Genealogist & Registrar

FOR THOSE WHO SEE AND FALL IN LOVE WITH A "CATAHOULA BULLDOG": These same individuals often will want to know, "What constitutes a "Catahoula Bulldog"? In short, a Catahoula Bulldog is a cross of two high quality breeds – one being an ARF Registered Catahoula [Order Tom D. Stodghill’s book: "History Of Catahoula Leopard Cowdogs", $20.00, post paid.], and the other being an ARF Registered American Bulldog [Order Dave Putnam’s book: "The Working American Bulldog", $55.95, post paid.].

In 1968, ARF welcomed Mr. Bart Perry, of Midlothian, Texas, as the first ARF Certified Breeder of "CATAHOULA BULLDOGS". Six years prior, Bart had been active in the raising of "American Bulldogs", and had decided to expand into the "Catahoula" line.

The ‘Catahoula Bulldog" was bred for two reasons. First, ranchers and hog-hunters have used "Catahoulas" for many years to herd cattle and hunt hogs, but, to catch hogs, they had to carry a "catch-dog" with them. It seemed that most "Catahoulas" were neither big enough, nor tough enough, to catch. The "American Bulldog" has an impeccable reputation as a catch-dog. Therefore, when the "American Bulldog" is crossed with a "Catahoula", you get a bigger, tougher dog which will work cattle and also catch hogs when needed. The second reason is that the "Catahoula Bulldog" is an excellent bear dog because it has the size and aggressiveness of the "American Bulldog", and the intelligence and hunting ability of the "Catahoula".


Did you ever hear that proverbial expression, "Always get acquainted with your dog"? Spend the first week of the dog’s education by just feeding, petting, and walking with him. You need to get acquainted with him as much as he needs to get acquainted with you. Most animals are part of a "pack order" psychological system. In the wolf family, order is enforced by the pack leader, and he usually is the strongest and fiercest male who has the ability to subdue any rival in battle, whether a wild dog pack, wild hogs, deer herds, etc. This strong instinct to be a leader, and, also, an equally strong instinct for submissive behavior is what a trainer exploits, to the best of his ability, in his dog. Keep in mind, even well-trained dogs can revert to their wild nature, and this is why it is an unwritten law of the range never to let your dog roam. If you do, never complain if he gets shot.

The "Catahoula Bulldog" is a rugged canine, full of life and independence. He will sacrifice all for his ability to work the ranging lands where herds and wild animals roam. His instincts are razor sharp, and his intelligence makes him a top working dog, and one of the best personal protection dogs one could want.

The "Catahoula Bulldog" is recognized as a 50-50 first generation cross between the ‘Catahoula" and the "American Bulldog", and up to a 75-25 cross in succeeding generations. It is desirable to keep the cross within the 75-25 limit in order not to lose the basic characteristics of these two fine breeds.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Updated pictures of pups available now

Updated pictures of pups available:
Dam: Red Girl    Sire: Amos





Both Males       Dam Red Girl  Sire Amos

Female         Dam: Betty         Sire: Amos
Pups are 6-8 weeks old and has had their first shot. They are available now. You can see pedigree on our website on the " Our Mountain Feist" tab. Check back often for updates. if interested give us a call or shoot us a note. Deposits can now be made via our PayPal.

Thursday, September 22, 2011