Jack Russell Terrier Dog Breed Facts and Information (Jack Russell Terriors)
All About
Jack Russell Terrier Dogs and Puppies
The Jack Russell Terrier Dog Breed in Brief:
Origin: England
Height: 10 - 15"
(25.4 -
38.1cm)
Weight:
12 - 18
lbs (5.4
- 8 kg)
Exercise Needs: High
Grooming Needs: Minimal (Lots of dirt removal, though! :-)
Life Expectancy: 14 to 15 years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability:
Common Misspellings: Jack Russell Terrior, Jack Russell Terriors
Other
Names
for The
Jack
Russell
Terrier:
JRT,
Dirt Dog
Jack Russell Terrier History
The Jack
Russell
Terrier
is a fox
hunting
dog,
developed
in
England
in the
19th
century.
There
were
terriers
of all
descriptions
hunting
earth
dwelling
creatures
for
hundreds
of years
before
the
Reverend
John
(Jack)
Russell
developed
his
particular
"strain"
of
hunting
terriers.
The
Reverend
lived in
the
mid-1800's
in
Devonshire.
He
maintained
his dogs
with a
certain
body
style
and
temperament
best
suited
to do
the job
of fox
hunting.
Our
present
day Jack
Russell
Terriers
came to
be
solely
by the
efforts
of this
fox
hunting
parson.
The
conformation
of the
Jack
Russell
Terrier
follows
it's
original
function.
Early
British
fox
hunters
used a
black
and tan
type
terrier,
rather
than the
Fell or
Welsh
Terrier,
whose
colouring
was too
similar
to the
quarry
it was
hunting,
namely,
the fox.
Difficulty
in
telling
the
terrier
from the
creature
it was
bolting
out of
it's den
brought
about
the
desire
for a
more
white-bodied
dog. In
all
probability
the
English
Black
and Tan
Terrier
was
crossed
with the
Old
English
White
Terrier
(both
now
extinct)
to
achieve
the type
of coat
and
coloring
we have
today in
our Jack
Russell
Terriers.
The Jack
Russell
Terrier
of today
is still
able to
perform
the
functions
it was
originally
bred to
do. It
has
longer
legs
which
allow it
to
travel
on foot,
it has a
light
flexible
body
that
allows
it to
squeeze
into
underground
dens,
and it
has an
engaging
terrier
temperament
that
allows
it to be
both a
wonderful
companion
and an
excellent
hunter.
Jack Russell Terrier Appearance
Coat:
There
are two
varieties.
The Jack
Russell
Terrier
can be
either
smooth-haired
or
rough-haired.
They are
usually
white
with
tan,
black,
or
lemon,
or with
markings
in three
colors.
Markings
restricted
to the
head and
base of
the tail
are
preferred.
Jack Russell Terrier Temperament
Character:
This dog
is brave
(sometimes
excessively
so),
boisterous,
watchful,
a
self-starter,
and very
self-confident.
Temperament:
This dog
gets
along
well
with
children,
other
dogs,
and any
household
pets. It
is
however,
still a
hunting
dog, so
it
sometimes
can't
resist
the urge
to chase
the
family
cat. It
may try
to be
dominant
over
other
dogs,
regardless
of size.
Visitors
will
always
be
announced
with a
distinctive
bark Jack Russell Terrier Exercise Needs
This
breed
has a
seemingly
inexhaustible
supply
of
energy.
It must
be given
many
opportunities
to burn
it off.
It needs
to run
and
play,
and
enjoys
agility
skills
and
playing
catch.
Digging
is among
its
favorite
activities.
It is
happiest
on a
farm or
a home
with a
large
backyard
where it
can
frolic.
Jack Russell Terrier Grooming Requirements
Minimal.
A
regular
brushing
will
keep the
coat
clean
and free
of dead
hairs.
Training Your Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier Health Concerns
As with many pedigreed breeds of dogs, there are a variety of hereditary
conditions that may affect your pet, as well as other various health issues that
are more common amongst the Jack Russell Terrier dogs. These are not limited to, but
may include the following:
Is the Jack Russell Terrier the Right Breed For You?
Energetic and tenacious, intelligent and eager to "do stuff", "chase
stuff" and "dig, dig, dig", the Jack Russell Terrier makes for a lively
and fun canine companion. While the Jack Russell Terrier's antics are
charming and amusing, this is not the breed for everyone. If you are a
high energy person who loves to get out and enjoy fresh air and
sunshine, a Jack Russell Terrier is a good match for you. However, if
your butt is basically tied to a piano and you love to loaf on the couch
eating chips, then you may want to consider another breed, say an
English Bulldog. Jack Russell Terriers need lots of exercise and
playtime every day and can suffer (and make you and your belongings
suffer) if said activity is not offered regularly. Just because this
breed is small, doesn't mean that his needs are in keeping with his
size. The Jack Russell Terrier was bred to "go to ground" after foxes
and other small animals and that strong drive to chase and conquer prey
has not diminished despite the breed's change in job duties.
Jack Russells are not a good choice if you have cats or other small
pets in your home - even small toy dog breeds can pique the Jack
Russell's "chase and kill" instinct. Jack Russells also do not do well
in situations where they need to be left alone at home for long periods
of time. If you work long hours and have nobody at home to care for and
provide companionship to your Jack Russell Terrier puppy, then you
should consider either a doggie daycare service or regular visits from a
dog walker or pet sitter.
Jack Russell Terrier enthusiasts engage in a wide range of sports
with their tiny terriers - all of which provide both dog and owner with
fun, exercise, and a sense of community with other Jack Russell Terrier
dog owners. You can find out more about Jack Russell Terrier dog sports
and activities on the JRTCA
web site.
Buying a Jack Russell Terrier Puppy
Now that you have decided that the Jack Russell Terrier is the right breed for
you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Jack Russell Terrier
breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are
alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy
the first Jack Russell Terrier puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy
a puppy from a responsible Jack Russell Terrier breeder, you may need to pay more and
wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a
puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll
likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you
will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral
problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a
responsible, caring Jack Russell Terrier breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee
and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Jack Russell Terrier breed and is
in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well
assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt
to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and
sell healthy, home-raised Jack Russell Terrier puppies to carefully screened buyers.
There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a
Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders
whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Additional Jack Russell Terrier Resources:
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