Instructions
Check out local animal shelters and animal rescue groups. These are the best places to find a dog in need. You'll also be helping out a great organization with a cause by obtaining your animal this way. Ask about the feists that they may have.
Learn the history of this adorable dog type. There are almost a dozen different kinds of feists. Some different kinds include the Charlie feist, mountain feist and treeing feist. They are not a new breed. In fact, these dogs were written about in a poem by Abraham Lincoln. One variation of the breed was named the "rat terrier" by Roosevelt.
Compare the needs and personality of a feist against what you want in a pet. Make sure you can give a feist all he needs. The ideal situation for these dogs would be a house with a fenced-in backyard. Installing a doggie door to allow your dog access to the house and yard as he pleases is ideal. An apartment would do for a feist, but this dog must get at least a half an hour of exercise per day.
Assess your long-term commitment to this dog. Feists typically live around 15 years. It's a perfect dog to get when your child is young. His growing companion can see him through his childhood and teenage years.
Bring every member of your family to meet your feist. Everybody needs to be able to bond and get along with this dog. Small children are especially important in this process. You do not want a dog that doesn't get along with your two-legged little one.
Take the dog for a medical exam to check his health. You may opt to do this after adoption, but it's probably the wisest choice to do it before so you have all his information up front. The organization likely does have his health history on file. Ask to see it.
Fill out an adoption application if all goes smoothly. You'll have to pay an application fee. Expect to pay one or to two hundred dollars for application fees, adoption fees and medical expenses upon adoption. This is still much cheaper than adopting a full-bred dog. It's a much better choice for you, your pocketbook, the animal organization and the adorable animal in need that will now share your home.
Have a microchip placed in your dog. Buy a name tag for your dog. Although you may keep him only inside, or perhaps you have a secure backyard, anything can happen. Protect your dog by getting him a tag and a microchip.
Bring your dog to the vet for regular check-ups. Give him medicine to prevent heartworms. Make sure he gets regular exercise. Enjoy your new friend.
How to Adopt a Fiest
A feist is a gorgeous mutt that has been bred for certain qualities that owners originally wanted. Many were bred to be "hunting" dogs, but not all feists are blood thirsty. Quite the contrary, they make a fine pet for a child, teenager or adult. The elderly also bond quite easily with this special kind of mutt.