How to Live with a Jack Russell Terrier

If you seek a quiet dog who will lay peacefully in your lap while you watch Wheel of Fortune, a Jack Russell terrier is probably not the dog for you. Jack Russell Terriers are highly animated and active dogs. They are curious, alert and have boundless physical energy. JRT's are problem solvers who enjoy puzzles and mental stimulation. If you want to live happily with a JRT, you must provide them with the sort of mental challenges and physical activity they thrive on, or they will find their own ways to amuse themselves, possibly in destructive and unacceptable ways.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• One of your dog's favorite toys.
• An old pillow case.
• A large plastic bottle, like a juice container.
• An ice cube tray.
• A small handful of training treats.

How to Amuse a Jack Russell Terrier

1. Take one of your dog's favorite toys and place it in a pillow case. Tie a knot in the end of the pillow case, and drop it on the ground. A JRT will work on this until he gets the knot untied and retrieves his toy. This game will allow them to problem solve.
2. Take a large empty container with a lid, like a milk jug, or juice container. Give it to your JRT, with lid attached. Your dog will turn the bottle in every direction, hold it down with his paws, use other objects to brace it against, and work on it tirelessly until he manages to loosen the cap.
3. Take an ice cube tray and put a small training treat inside each square. Freeze the ice and remove one cube and give it to your JRT. He will play with and chew the ice cube to retrieve the treat. This serves two purposes; to occupy your dog's desire for mental stimulation, as well as aiding in gentle tooth cleaning and hydration for your pet.

Tips & Warnings

• Walk your JRT often. The more exercise he gets, the happier he (and you) will be.
• Crate train your JRT - they like having a safe place of their own to relax -when they finally drop.
• Establish yourself as the dominant force in the relationship while your JRT is a puppy, or your pet will rule the home.
• Above all, lavish your dog with affection and time and you will find your JRT to be a loving, joyous, and endlessly amusing companion.
• Jack Russell Terriers are friendly, happy, social animals. They like companionship and do not do well when left alone for long periods of time. If you are in a household where everyone is gone all day -you should either consider another breed, or plan to enroll your JRT in Doggie Day Care.
• When A JRT does not receive adequate attention, exercise, or mental challenges they can become aggressive, or destructive.
• JRT's were bred for hunting and they dig after burrowing rodents. If you have moles in your yard, or squirrels in your trees, your JRT will try to hunt them. On the downside, if you also have a caged hamster or pet rodents of any kind in your home, your JRT will try to hunt them, too.