Just About Jacks

BoSox2525:

VERY hyper, VERY active, when you walk them, they walk you! lol ummm they always sit at the window and wait for something to freak out for, they do cuddle at night, they are great dogs, I own one that is now 6. also got a new pug, maybe the most loving kind of dog Ive ever owned. But my jack russel is crazy.. Good luck to you!.. oh and when they want to go outside, half the time they just want to hunt, eat bugs, etc…

?catinboots?:

I have a 3.5 month old one! And yes she is extremely hyper and active. They need a very high level of mental and physical stimulation every day. I wake up 2 hours earlier ever since I got her to take her for an hour walk in a park in the morning, but that’s not enough. She needs at least an hour more of walks the rest of the day. They are not dogs that can sit indoors contently for a long time. She is not mean, but she does try very hard to establish herself as the dominant one and you can’t let that happen. They are diggers, and mischievous. She LOVES strangers. She is ok with other dogs she briefly meets, but she would not do good with other dogs in the same home. I have cats, and she wants to always play fight with them, so the cats have a safe refuge they can escape to.
I can’t stress how much stimulation she needs enough, lol.
That all said, I have no regrets about getting her and she gives me so much happiness and love. If you’ll laugh at a dog who will, say, proudly pull out every shoe in your closet and somehow climb on your table and place all the shoes there, then you’ll laugh at that and all the other antics this dog breed is famous for. But they do require alot of your time and energy. And they are prone to separation anxiety.
They can’t be taken off their leash unless you are 100% sure they’re trained, because theyre hunting dogs they’ll run after a rodent and get under fences easy.
My pup has a very gentle side to her, and a very wild side no matter how much i exercise her comes out.
Like others here said, the first night I got her she just sensed where my bed was and when she was finally tired she crawled up there. I layed down and she’s snuggled at my side ever since.
I could not crate this dog breed, she would be miserable, so the potty training is slower than other dogs, but with positive reinforcement shes on the right track and doing well.
Oh and they are healthy breeds, don’t let the pet insurance thing scare you, if you look up common health probs with this breed you’ll see there’s really only some eye problems.

Julie M:

Jack Russells are incredibly intelligent (sometimes too intelligent!) and are incredibly hyper! They seem to mature a lot later than other breeds (mine was around 2, when he got past the hyper, puppy stage, despite getting him done.) Also, they seem to have this thing where they think they are a lot bigger than they actually are! I’ve heard it refered to as ‘Jack Russell Syndrome.’ My male JRT used to go for dogs as big as GRs and Boxers! I won’t lie to you, because they are very cute when they are still babies, but a bored JRT is one of the most destructive forces on earth! I reccomend lemon juice on any items that take the dogs fancy, as this will tell him/her not to chew your belongings! If you chose to get a JRT, be prepared to keep him/her entertained 24/7! And there is no instinct as strong as the hunting instinct of a JRT! By the time he passed away earlier this year (from cancer) my JRT boy had logged many war wounds that included; spitting cobra attacks (2,) bee stings (which led to shock and airway swelling,) attacks from other dogs (both were much bigger than him!) and nearly getting hit by a bus, when he slipped his lead and went after yet another bigger dog! If you live in a country that is tropical (like myself) I’d invest in repellent to keep the harmful beasties out of your garden and PET INSURANCE! Would have been *so* helpful to have pet insurance, but they didn’t introduce it here until my dog was past the cut-off age…and when taking your dog out, I’d walk him on a harness, not a collar, as those this are so easy for a JRT to slip out of (they have this chunky neck, which means that the collar can often slip over their little head. And get the pup to obedience lessons as soon as he/she has had her shots! They really do help in reigning in that destructive energy! Hope you choose a dog that is just right to fit into your lifestyle! If it is a JRT; the best of luck, I’m sure there will be points when you do despair, but so many more will be intensely rewarding!