Finding the perfect dog breed for you can be like finding a needle in a haystack. With so many different breeds out there, it might be hard to find the right one for you. It might also be that there are just too many that you like. If you love small, lively dogs that are sure to keep you on your toes, then Jack Russell Terriers might be the perfect pooch for you.
Originally from Britain, Jack Russell Terriers were first bred to hunt foxes. These energetic and lively dogs still love to hunt today, so if you have a fondness for little critters, this dog might not be best for you. Here are some quick facts about Jack Russell’s:
- They are considered small dogs and are roughly 13-14 inches tall.
- They usually weigh between 13-20 pounds.
- Have a lifespan of 13-16 years.
Behaviour
Friendly and loyal, these small pets are sure to be loving companions to you and love to cuddle and play. These little pals are typically very active. They like to run and bark a lot, and they can be very sociable.
They respond well to games like fetch. These dogs are very active and will either require a good-sized garden they can run around it, or long walks that can let them run wild, preferably both. If you are looking for a more docile pooch, a Jack Russell is not for you.
While they are younger, you may experience some nipping and chewing behaviour, but this will hopefully die down as they grow older. One thing to possibly look out for is that they can be overly friendly, leading to jumping up to greet you. This behaviour can be undesirable if they get muddy often as they could get dirt all over you. Another thing to look out for is this same behaviour around children. They are perfectly friendly around children but look out for them accidentally knocking over a child in their excitement.
If you do decide to get one, keep in mind that a lot of patience and training might be required.
Training
Jack Russell’s are very active, needing lots of space for running around and exercise. On top of this, they need consistent training to make sure they don’t exhibit bad behaviours like excessive barking, digging or chewing furniture:
- Provide them with plenty of chew toys! They love a good antler or something to chew on and trying them with treats is a good way to get them to behave.
- If your pup tends to bark a lot when put to bed at night, this could be because of excessive energy that they need to burn off. Make sure your pooch is ready to sleep when putting them to bed.
- It may also be a good idea to have them in a puppy crate at night for a while.
- Jack Russell’s can be easy to train with commands such as sit but often have an attitude towards wanting a reward, so be sure to keep that in mind.
It might be a good idea to give some thought to how you will train them before you decide to adopt. While they can be easy to train, their energetic and lively behaviour can easily make them a handful.
Differences in Appearance
Jack Russell’s don’t have different breeds; however, they can have a distinctly different appearance. The coat of a Jack Russell can either be short, broken, or rough-haired.
- Short-haired Jack Russell Terriers tend to have a smoother, cleaner coat. This short coat is easier to care for compared to the other coats.
- Broken hair is somewhere between short and rough-haired. They retain the short undercoat but will have patches of the rough-wiry hair that terriers are known for.
- Rough-haired Jack Russell Terriers will have a full coat of rough hair. They may need to be groomed more often to make sure the hair doesn’t go out of control.
Conclusion
Jack Russell Terriers are loving pets. They are a bit wild and full of energy but don’t let that out you off! While they can be a bit much sometimes, with just a little patience they can be trained to behave better. They are very loyal and are sure to be perfect companions.
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