American Feist
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
"Feist" is an old word for a small, noisy dog, and the feist breeds were put together in the rural American South from hound and terrier crosses by people who needed a low-maintenance dog to hunt small game and keep vermin down. The American Feist, recognised by UKC in 2025, is an agile little tree dog of 30–46 cm with a blocky head, a short to medium smooth coat and any colour except merle. The standard says feists hunt by both sight and scent, are extremely alert, run virtually silent on track, and are bold rather than timid.
Facts
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Height | 30.5–45.7cm |
| Weight | 5.4–13.6kg |
| Role | Terrier |
| Coat | Short coat |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Deafness and merle colour are disqualified
The UKC standard lists deafness as a disqualification and also disqualifies albinism and merle colour, along with watch (blue) eyes — the merle pattern is associated with hearing and eye defects in dogs. Ask your vet about a BAER hearing test if you are unsure of a puppy's hearing.
Behaviour
Alert, silent on track, bold
The UKC standard says American Feists are used most often on squirrel, raccoon and opossum, hunt using both sight and scent, are extremely alert dogs, are virtually silent on track, and are bold, not timid. It asks that the breed be evaluated as a working dog and that honourable scars neither be penalised nor taken as proof of working ability.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
United Kennel Club — American Feist breed standard
UKC Terrier Group standard (recognised 2025): history of the Southern feists, characteristics, coat, and a height range of 12–18 in with an ideal working weight of 12–30 lb.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]American Feist — Official UKC Breed Standard — United Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.