Bench Legged Feist Dog Breed

Bench-legged Feists were originally bred to hunt squirrels and other small game that would climb trees to attempt escape. Although these dogs don't climb trees, they do "tree" them for a hunter. They were found on farms and were also trained to work a number of tasks. They are small dogs that are nevertheless very strong, very smart and very family-oriented — so much so that they were even the basis for a series of children's books by Helen Powell White. They are not for first time dog owners, but people who have just a little bit of experience with dogs should have no problems.

Here are some basic things you should know about Bench-legged Feists:

PROS

• Loves children
• Highly devoted
• Excellent hunter
• Relatively easy to train
• Great pest exterminator
• Minimal grooming needs
• Works well with other dogs

CONS

• Not hypoallergenic
• Lot of exercise needed
• Very hard to find breeders
• May not tolerate non-canine pets
• Not good for apartment living or city life

The Bench-legged Feist is a Terrier that is a bundle of characteristics from a great many breeds such as the Manchester Terrier, the English White Terrier (extinct) and the Whippet, among many others. Hunters and farmers crossed and interbred other breeds with their Feists according to the talents they needed in a dog. Ultimately, the Bench-legged Feist came to resemble a larger Jack Russel Terriers (JRT).

These dogs have acquired a significant intelligence over the decades. They are easy to train, but they prefer one master. They need to be socialized from a very early age if they are to live with other dogs and any kids. Cats and other non-canine pets can present challenges, but these dogs are smart enough to be taught the differences between prey and pet.

These Feists tree their prey rather than chase them into burrow like JRTs and other small Terriers. They have short,s powerful legs that are powered by a remarkable endurance and boundless energy. They aren't as excitable as JRTs, but when on the hunt, they are practically unstoppable.

As with most Terriers, these dogs need a great amount of exercise if they are not taken out for hunting on a frequent basis. Long daily walks and a lot of space to run as well as a fair amount of visits to the dog park are essential to keeping these dogs from tearing things up at home.

Although the Bench-legged Feist has been around for about 150 years (under different names and constantly changing), there has apparently been no health study that is available for these dogs. Still, there are reports that these Feists are basically healthy but do have a few heritable illnesses as well as are prone to certain injuries. There is also the fact that these dogs are Terriers and are known to occasionally develop certain issues.

Some of the health problems that the Bench-legged Feist may face are:

• Obesity
• Allergies
• Hip dysplasia
• Skin allergies
• Ectopia lentis
• Patellar luxation
• Elbow dysplasia
• Cardiac diseases
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
• Malocclusions (bite problems)

Despite the possible problems that may crop up from having the bloodlines of so many breeds involved, the Bench-legged Feist is said to have a remarkably long average lifespan of 14 to 16 years.