Jack Russell's

[altermetoday]

So…why does everyone tell me not to get a Jack Russell? I really like the look and the big dog personality in a little package… I do agility wiht my large poodles and I’m tired of the grooming. I’m aware of the training needs of dogs as I am in a dog club… The JRT’s there are great…

Everyone seems to own one in horse country so I’m not sure why everyone tells me not to own one! haha…They seem like pretty bright comical dogs who are athletic…

Any thoughts? I’m a pretty active person with a farm and do alot with my current dogs.

[maunder]

I adore Jack Russells. I’d recommend Catherine Romaine Brown’s book “Jack Russell, Courageous Companion” to read. If you still like them after you’ve read the introduction then you are on your way.

They are wonderful little dogs, but can be a handful. Mine have always done best with a job. My first was a working terrier who hunted.

My second is dog-aggressive and willful. They are also very loving, very intelligent little dogs.

Here is a link to Catherine’s book. I hunted my first terrier with her for years.

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Russell-Terrier-Courageous-Companion-ebook/dp/B00DNL41M6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390597709&sr=8-1&keywords=jack+russell+courageous+companion

[kasjordan]

If you look up the definition of “terrier” in the dictionary it will show a JRT They are hard headed, driven, hunting machines. They will not back down from a fight. They have endless energy. They will amuse themselves and exercise themselves if you don’t, results may not bode well for your house/yard. That said, if you like the terrier personality- they’re good little dogs. My daughter’s best friend growing up was a 3/4 JRT and 1/4 Rat Terrier mix…he was all terrier. Never could be trusted off leash, actually was gone for two days hunting on his own one time…flew on top of a loose tom turkey that strutted past his cable when he was outside, no fear. If he smelled something or saw something that he wanted to get, there was no distracting him! He was super smart, hand signals as a pup but his hunting drive was just so high it overtook anything. Had to keep that in mind as we had him, it was doable but took some thinking! Everytime I picked him up from the boarding kennel, there was a story…she said she had him in the exercise yard for a half hour went to get him and he was halfway through the hole he dug under the fence to go get her cat that was laying on a rock…other time, he coaxed neighboring dog’s blanket thru the fence into his kennel and chewed it up overnight…They can be handful, thus the nickname Jack Russell Terrorist. I would get another

[canadianbacon]

Jacks need a job, many people don’t research the needs of the breed before getting one and then end up with problems which may be why you get warned off frequently. I loved my Jacks, they were great little companions but they needed a lot of exercise and consistent training. They are really too smart for their own good sometimes!

Educate yourself and then talk to some breeders, if you can honestly say that you can provide what a Jack needs then go get one, or two

[altermetoday]

well, I have standard poodles…one with a very high prey drive believe it or not… :-)… so I am used to giving my dogs lots of things to do… i really want to see if I can do some flyball with a jrt… my dogs aren’t into it!

[caevent]

I’ve always loved the breed and don’t see myself owning anything but a JRT! My female is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. But she does go to work with me, so she’s always got something to do. I think you sound like a potentially great owner, since you’re used to training and giving your dogs something to do.

[SquishTheBunny]

Had 3, wonderful dogs. Treat them like big dogs (train them!) and they are the best. Loyal, friendly and smart as heck.

Don’t treat them like little dogs - they are terriers, need boundaries, work and consistency. If you do this from the start, you will undoubtedly have an amazing JRT.

[pinkpony321]

I grew up with jacks, and have one now.
If you are a “dog person,” and experienced, PLUS you already have a structured activity planned with the potential dog, i think you’ll do great with a
Russell!! Good luck!

[mroades]

I am so lucky, my jrt is the “anti-jrt”. I call him the Labrador in a Jack Russell suit.

[fourmares]

Go ahead, get one. You sound like a good candidate for a JRT owner… but do be warned, they are like potato chips. You can’t have just one… seems everyone I know with a JRT has at least two. I have one… just one. He’s a lot of dog in a little package.

[S1969]

If you are going to choose performance sports, try to find a good breeder that dogs that are sound and good temperament. I was in my 40s before I ever saw a good specimen of a Jack Russell/Russell Terrier - I have seen many that had bizarre “fiddle fronts” and thought that their legs were supposed to be sort of deformed looking. So I think there are a lot of not so great ones out there…and I suspect that many of those might include “crazy” temperament rather than “driven”. There is a difference.

Oh, I tried to find a picture, but here is a website that discusses this: http://rollinghillrussells.homestead.com/AboutRussells.html

Scroll to the middle of the page where it says “Crooked Legs: Why they are bad”

Aside from that, they seem like a nice choice for someone who is prepared, and having done agility with poodles it seems like you are far more prepared than most people who have seen them at a barn.

[SquishTheBunny]

I definitely agree find a breeder and tell then what you want in a jack. There are SO many different lines and “types”.

Jack #1 was a total agility type. She was ball crazy. She was also a drug dog, and was able to search out anything. Smart…too smart. If not chasing a ball, she was very quiet. Well tempered, great with other dogs and children. She was from a breeder. Lived to 16 years old, and continued her traits right to the end.

Jack #2 is not ino agility at all. He hunts rats. He is a digger, you point and he will dig until he finds what you are pointing at. He will run through any hole (or create one himself) to get that rat! He was also from a breeder and more working dog type. He has always needed less exercise, is fine with other dogs and children (but I do believe that came from training not natural instinct). Currently 15 years old, and will still find the rats.

Jack #3 was a rescue jack - probably had some other breed in there somewhere (border terrier?). No drive…period lol.

[Nezzy]

we had 2 and raised a litter of their pups. They are great dogs, but mine were dog-aggressive. I loved them, but they were very intense. Please do the research into what a JRT is all about. then if that is ok, go and get one!

[grayarabpony]

It is kind of funny that people are telling you not to get one. :lol: Also agree with Squish that there are different types.

I had one of the very high energy high drive Jack Russells. A ton of fun but also very high maintenance. Her most frustrating trait was that she hated to be left alone. I don’t know how common that is in the breed though. It’s not that common in terriers except perhaps Scotties. I always just thought that was her particular quirk. She was always happy and loved everybody. Very healthy until she was 16 years old, when her back went out. The week before she was still doing somersaults catching balls. She had amazing jump and was crazy athletic. Except for the back she remained healthy for a long time and lived to be 20.

Be aware of the self destructive qualities of some Jacks. The really enthusiastic ones tend to jump into situations and think later, and this poses obvious risks.

[horsepoor]

[QUOTE=fourmares;7392869]
Go ahead, get one. You sound like a good candidate for a JRT owner… but do be warned, they are like potato chips. You can’t have just one… seems everyone I know with a JRT has at least two. [/QUOTE]

We have two, and I adore them! But we were well prepared as I had a JRT when I was a kid and also did a lot of research and soul searching before getting one as an adult. I would never have gotten mine if still working at an office (gone 9 or 10 hours a day), boarding (another multi-hour absence), or unwilling/unable to provide exercise they need. We both work from home, my horses are here, and we have both a large fenced yard and are able to take them on daily walks. We spend time every day playing with them, and have to just ignore how scratched my floors are getting from them running each other around at times. They also got to doggy daycare once a week to really burn off done energy and socialize.

Lots of JRTs are adopted by people who are not prepared and quickly overwhelmed, which is why our regional rescue is currently overloaded right now (all fosters are beyond full, and we are thinking of helping out now that our youngest is finally mature enough to consider it). They aren’t a dog to throw out in the yard and ignore, as they will get your attention in bad ways then! Other dogs often don’t like them as the JRTs can be so energetic and don’t always back off.

But they can be the most loving and cuddly dogs ever as well. Mine sleep in bed, under the covers, and right now are snoozing next to me in the sun on the couch.

On shedding, one thing I was surprised by is that the smooth coated ones shed more. My oldest is a broken coat and sheds very little. When our corgi passed (now that’s a shedder!), we got a smooth JRT and I can’t believe the hair he leaves everywhere! Not corgi-ish, thank goodness, but much more than I expected from such a little dog!

Good luck, whatever you decide. You are doing research and actually thinking things over, which is a great start!

[Kryswyn]

As a breeder of JRTCA Jack Russells, the fact that you want to do agility with your new dog would be a big plus if you wanted one of my dogs.

The JRTCA has lots of valuable referance information on their website www.therealjackrussell.com. Take the Profiler, it will help you see if the JRT is for you: http://therealjackrussell.com/breed/jrprofiler.php

JRT puppies that have been ‘trained’ by their dams during the 4-12 week time frame who are then further socialized by their new owner are not usually dog aggressive. That being said, some lines are less dog tolerant than others. It’s a good question to ask the breeders you contact.

You’ll like JRT’s because they are smart like poodles, but with a difference. Where as a hunting dog, poodles were bred to look to their handlers for guidence, whereas JRTs were bred to hunt by themselves (after giving an over the shoulder “are you coming?” look LOL) and think for themselves. It’s the thinking for themselves part that doesn’t jive well with many people. But if you give them a job like agility and flyball you’ll likely not have much of a problem.

A really secure fenced yard is important. Because they can climb AND dig their way to freedom. My yard if 5’ wire with a board on top and a foot of wire bent down on top of the grass to prevent digging w/in 12" of the vertical fence.

Feel free to email me @ kryswyn@aol.com if you have more questions.

[Hannahsmom]

You’ve gotten lots of great advice already from the JRT folks here. I had Dalmatians all my life then got a Jack. She was a great dog. But that taught me a lot about Terriers and prey drive and digging and hunting and selective deafness. I loved a lot about the breed. But I admit when I decided I wanted a puppy for potential agility, obedience, etc I went with a Border Terrier as easier to train. I love my Terriers and would consider another Jack. I’m not a fan of Russell’s or Parsons which are the AKC version of JRTs. I would buy from a JRTCA breeder myself as they put the premium on working qualities.

[red_mares]

[QUOTE=altermetoday;7392012]
well, I have standard poodles…one with a very high prey drive believe it or not… :-)… so I am used to giving my dogs lots of things to do… i really want to see if I can do some flyball with a jrt… my dogs aren’t into it![/QUOTE]

My dad had toy poodles many years before, when he met Mom, she had a Dalmatian, which he absolutely hated. About 15 years ago he came home with a Jack. He’d saw her in a field and had to have her. He’d done no research at all.:lol: She was cute as a button. He knew so little that he didn’t even try to bargain for a lower price because she was marked like a beagle (black saddle & <50% white).

We laughed for many years because this little dog was so much like the Dalmatians he hated. Somehow, he did manage to almost turn her into a poodle. She was a fantastic dog though.

[HomelessPony]

They are great dogs!! But like others have said, they need training, exercise, and a job. I have a JRT/Chihuahua mix and he’s awesome, but even with only half JRT he needs a LOT of exercise or he will get into trouble when left alone. That said, he learns new tricks really quickly and loves to practice them. Can’t trust him off leash - I’m in the city so leash is the norm anyway, but can’t let him loose at my parents’ house or he would disappear into the woods chasing chipmunks. He is great with other people and other dogs, but if he feels something is not right he will definitely let you know by letting out a bark that sounds like he is 20x his size. While he loves his walks, he is a huge couch potato in the house, likes to sleep late, and loves a good cuddle. Wouldn’t trade him for anything!!

[Mali]

[QUOTE=mroades;7392692]
I am so lucky, my jrt is the “anti-jrt”. I call him the Labrador in a Jack Russell suit.[/QUOTE]

LOL - I have his alter-ego…my 70lb Labrador is a Jack Russell in a Labrador suit!
I love JRT’s though, so I just laugh it off. Hubby is not so impressed, since he once told me if I ever brought home a JRT, he would divorce me. I should’ve named the lab “Karma”