The Feist breeds descended from the terriers carried over by English miners and other working class settlers. It is assumed that the terriers included crosses between the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Manchester Terrier and the now extinct white English Terrier. Some of these dogs were crossed with Beagles for greater hunting ability and others were bred with the Italian Greyhound for better speed. Ultimately, these sturdy little terriers advanced into today's squirrel hunting Feists.