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Step 1
Because of the independent nature of Jack Russells it's important that you establish yourself as a strong leader. The stronger the leader you are, the better your Jack Russell will listen to you.
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Step 2
Start training your Jack Russell early. If you get a pup start training as young as eight weeks old. Use positive reinforcement to train. Too many negatives when you are training can result in aggressive behavior.
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Step 3
If you get a Jack Russell as a pup socialize your new pup as much as possible. Bring your puppy to a puppy class, let your pup play with other puppies, bring her to the beach, the city, the woods, around as many different people as possible. The better you are at socializing your pup, the more stable she will be as an adult.
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Step 4
Jack Russells were bred to hunt for small animals and they will dig and have a strong desire to follow a scent. These behaviors are often looked at as bad behaviors. It's important to substitute activities for your Jack Russell. Tug games (see Resources below), retrieving, tricks and obedience are all great things to do with your Jack Russell.
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Step 5
Jack Russells need exercise. They have a lot of stamina, and too much pent-up energy will result in a lot of behavior problems.
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Step 6
Most Jack Russells love to roam and run and hunt. Because of this it is a good idea to fence in your yard or invest in some type of underground electronic fence.
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Step 7
A Jack Russell, like any other breed of dog, is a long-term commitment and you will need to provide enough exercise, training and activity for this busy little dog.
