Have you ever known anyone to raise "cur dogs" and/ or "feists"?

Question

My grandfather was a farmer, and he kept two "cur dogs." The cur dogs had various jobs around the farm. For example, when my grandfather was loading cows up the chute and one didn't want to cooperate, he'd send in one of his cur dogs to nip at the cow's legs and get it to move. When I was a kid, I remember my grandfather talking to other farmers about cur dogs and feists (feists were mostly used to hunt squirrels and rabbits) at stock auctions, at the supply store, etc. I haven't heard any mention of them for ages, though. I don't think any of the cur dogs I was ever around were any kind of recognizable "breed," just mutts that were bred solely for work (and I do realize "cur" is another word for a mixed-breed, Heinz 57 kind of dog). I'm not an old timer --- I'm only thirty-two --- so surely a few people still breed these dogs, as useful as they were. Have you ever known anyone to keep these utilitarian animals? Thanks, and have a good day.

? · Accepted Answer

I had a feist. I adopted him from the animal shelter. Now, I'm originally from New Jersey, and have a background as a vet tech and worked for the SPCA, and when I moved to North Carolina I kept seeing classified ads for something called a 'feist''. Apparently they still breed them like crazy here. I had no idea what they were, until one day I finally Googled feist, and lo and behold, my dog was one! And here I had thought I had a little Aussie mix mutt. 

So, yes, lots and lots of feists in North Carolina still.

WyrDachsie · Answer

Visit the UKC (United Kennel Club) website http://www.ukcdogs.com  They have a message board for Curs and Feists.  Yes, they are still around and still do the work.

edit:  I did find a great website with old time photos of Mountain Cur.  Apparently there is some sort of assocation and has the history of this type of dog.

? · Answer

I've never heard of a dog being referred to as a cur or feist, but at the ranch the horse ranch that I sometimes ride at, they breed their best working dogs to make better working dogs, and they're definitely not one specific breed of dog.

? · Answer

The Feist are still around mainly in the southern states and are not a specific breed (as in looks) but more for their actions (hunting).  I had never heard of them before your post - so thanks!!  Check this out:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feist_(dog)  there are also some other sites that list breeders etc.

Anonymous · Answer

Here are a couple links that might be useful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cur

http://www.baydog.com/purebreds.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feist_%28dog%29

http://pets.oodle.com/all/for-sale/pet_breed_feist/

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Have you ever known anyone to raise "cur dogs" and/ or "feists"?

5 Answers