They are trying to make them an official breed for all registries by tightening the registration rules, requiring pedigrees, etc. but they can be registered in some hunting dog registries as either a Mountain Feist, a Treeing Feist, or just Feist. To me, if they can be registered in any registry, they are a breed. LOL They are actually a “type” of hunting dog.
As an example, I had an Appaloosa horse that was half Appaloosa and half Quarter Horse. I was able to register him as an Appaloosa but not a Quarter horse. Same thing with Feists. Even though they have other terrier breeds in their DNA they can be registered as a Feist but not a Jack Russell or a Rat Terrier. They meet the breed standards of a Feist but not either of the other two. The reason I could have registered Abby was because she met all the breed standards of a Feist. It’s confusing.
IMO, being what they are is better because they are healthier than dogs that have been overbred. I’m not a fan of some breeders. I’m afraid they would ruin them.
You sound like you really know what you are doing. Good for you . Whatever they call your dog, she’s a beauty.
That principle works both ways, though. Some people have crossed dachshunds with other breeds with disastrous results. I knew one in FL whose long legs couldn’t really hold up his heavy body. Poor little guy was always in pain.