How to Select a Jack Russell Terrier

By eHow Pets Editor

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Jacks are popping up everywhere. Eddie from "Frasier," Milo from "The Mask" and Wishbone are all Jack Russell terriers. But remember that those dogs are trained and work in short segments. The Jack Russell terrier is a hunting dog and not for everyone.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Choose a Jack Russell if you want a smart, loyal and energetic companion. They're good watchdogs.
Step2
Remember that while they're easy to train, Jacks have short attention spans. They require consistency and a great amount of patience.
Step3
Reconsider buying a Jack if you have children. They won't tolerate rough treatment and are a poor choice for families with kids under 10.
Step4
Adopt a Jack Russell only if he will be your only dog. While some puppies will do fine with a cat already established in the home, they tend to be very aggressive with other dogs, even those much larger than themselves. They won't willingly share food, toys and so forth.
Step5
Expect your Jack Russell to weigh between 15 and 18 lbs. and stand 10 to 14 inches at the shoulder. There are short- and long-legged varieties.
Step6
Keep in mind that while he looks like a small dog to you, the Jack is essentially a 130-lb. dog in a small body. These dogs are extremely intelligent, very bold and have no sense of their small stature.
Step7
Expect to pay between $400 and $800 for a good-quality dog.
Step8
Consider adopting from a rescue group. Many of these dogs are already housebroken and finished with the chewing stage. There's usually nothing wrong with the dog; the owners didn't research the breed and later discovered that they and the dog were incompatible.
Step9
Note that terriers require a lot of attention. This is an extremely active dog. The main reason people give up a Jack Russell is that they weren't prepared for the activity level of the breed. The second reason is that the Jack nipped at the children.
Step10
Be prepared to enjoy a full 15 years with your terrier, as this is the average life expectancy of a Jack Russell.

Tips & Warnings

  • Make sure you or someone in your home is willing to spend at least 60 minutes a day playing with and exercising the dog.
  • Keep your Jack Russell in a secure yard - this breed will dig under and jump over 5-foot fences. Don't underestimate the escape skills of this terrier. If he sees something he wants to chase, he will do everything he can to go after it.
  • Remember that terriers are bred to dig. Expect this behavior, particularly if you leave your dog alone all day.
  • Keep a roll of tape handy; the Jack sheds constantly and a vacuum will get most, but not all, of the coarse hairs.
  • This is a dog that will test your limits. You must be able to be firm and kind to him. If you tend to be the doting type of pet owner, the Jack is not for you.
  • Most Jack Russell terriers don't do well in apartments or condominiums. They need more space than that and require a lot of exercise.
  • This breed is not good with children or other pets.

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on 11/22/2005 Since these dogs are so smart, teach them as much as you can. Before mine was one year old she knew 4 tricks and up to 10 commands. Make sure you have small bits of treats to give them, but don't give them a treat after every single command or trick (they will expect it every single time).Use a certain tone of voice when teaching and use that same tone after they have learned the trick.

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on 11/22/2005 Take it slow when introducing the Jack Russell. Be sure to give the old dogs the same amount of attention that you give the new addition. I highly recommend putting the resident dogs in crates or on leashes when bringing the new one home, at least until they sniff each other and aren't growling or raising the hair on their backs. Later, you can release the resident dogs. Let one at a time go, and let them meet in different rooms. Too many all at once will scare the new dog. Talk to the resident dogs and tell them this is their new friend who will be living with them. Tell them that they will need to be nice and not trample it (in the case of larger dogs). Offer treats to the resident dogs and the new dog. Pet them all and talk lovingly to them. Finally, bring out some toys and start a play season. Good luck!

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on 11/22/2005 My 5 1/2 year old Jack Russell is the love of my life. He is extremely smart and funny, very energetic and tender at the same time. You will be surprised to know how much they enjoy snuggling with you. To calm him down after a long walk, I massage him and caress him for over 15 minutes. This works amazingly. He already knows the routine and loves to be touched.

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on 11/22/2005 Don't forget that Jack Russells copy everything you do because they are so smart! Be prepared that they will pick up your habits before you realize that you had that habit. Fantasic friends - love them!

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on 11/22/2005 I have two JRTs and rescued my female, then introduced my male to the picture. If supervised during the introduction, groups of JRTs can easily live and play together. Supervision and quick correction will help curb any problems.

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eHow Article:  How to Select a Jack Russell Terrier

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

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