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Jack Russell Terrier, also called Jack Russell, JRT, Russell, Jack Russell Terrier. A truly spectacular breed, the Jack Russell Terrier is, as its name suggests, a terrier-type dog.
It is an intelligent, active, agile and fast-working dog. It is specially created for fox hunting and is an excellent companion dog. In addition, it is a cheerful and determined dog; let’s discover all its characteristics.
- Jack Russel Terrier. General description
- Appearance and Attributes of the Jack Russel Terrier
- Price and maintenance Jack Russel Terrier
- Jack Russel Terrier. Character and sociability
- The adaptability of the Jack Russel Terrier
- Care and Health of the Jack Russel Terrier
- Jack Russel Terrier Learning
- The Jack Russell Terrier Needs Exercise
Jack Russel Terrier. General description
It is said that the Jack Russell terrier appeared in the late 1800s in Devon County, England. The Reverend John Russell was looking for a small hunting dog that he could carry inside his horse’s saddlebags and only let down when the larger dogs had found the den of the wild animal to hunt.
He could then take advantage of the JRT’s small size and get it into the den to bring out the fox or badger on duty. This is why the colour of the JRT must be predominantly white so that it does not conform to the coat of the prey.
It is said that the reverend fell in love with the small, rough dog of the village milkman, from whom he managed to get her as a gift. From that moment, John Russell (known as Jack to his friends) officially began the selection of the splendid breed to which we have arrived today. The Jack Russell dog adapts easily to a balanced life but needs space outdoors for daily activities.
He dislikes being alone and shows great affection towards his family. If well-socialised, he can behave appropriately towards strangers and other dogs. It enjoys good general health. It likes to be in “proximity” with its owner at times of relaxation.
Appearance and Attributes of the Jack Russel Terrier
Jack Russell is a small dog. It is a strong, active, agile working terrier of great character with a flexible, medium-length body. Its lively movement is accompanied by its thoughtful expression. Cutting the tail is optional; the coat may be smooth, rough or broken. The white of the coat must be predominant.
The JRT, as a whole, is longer than tall, i.e. rectangular. The height of the chest, from withers to sternum, must be equal to the length of the front from elbow to ground. The chest circumference, measured behind the elbow, must be between 40 and 43 cm.
Physical characteristics permitted by the standard:
- Height: 25 to 35 cm
- Weight: 5 to 8 kg
- Longevity: 13 to 16 years
- Colours: fawn, white, black, brown
- Fur: smooth, rough
- Coat: two-coloured, three-coloured, split
Price and maintenance Jack Russel Terrier
The price of a pedigree-tested Jack Russell Terrier puppy is between £600 and £1,000. Buying a puppy only from serious breeders who test their breeding stock for diseases that can affect the breed is advisable. The cost of maintaining a Jack Russell is ideally average with that of many other dogs of its size.
The expense for quality food for an adult Jack Russell is around 30 euros per month. It does not present any problems with coat care, although professional grooming is necessary if it has a rough coat. It generally has good health.
Top 5 characteristics:
- Health and disease
- Salivation and slime containment
- Energy level
- Tendency to play
- Tendency to hunt prey
The five most problematic characteristics:
- Not Suitable as a first dog
- Care and shedding
- Ease of cleaning
- Loyalty and shedding
- Tendency to bite
Jack Russel Terrier. Character and sociability
Character and temperament
“It has a bold and confident attitude and temperament.”
The Breed Standard defines him as: “A lively, alert and active terrier with a sharp and intelligent expression. Bold and fearless, friendly but confident. All these adjectives qualify his character and his strong temperament. In addition, he is a very daring little fellow with a great temperament. Thanks to these qualities, he can adapt to various activities such as den races, agility, flyball, dog dancing, truffle hunting, etc.
Affectionate towards the family
“Great affection towards the family.”
The Jack Russell Terrier was bred for a different purpose, but its cheerful and lively temperament makes it an excellent companion dog for the whole family. It loves to be in the company of its nucleus and always shows affection and a robust temperament, full of affection for close interaction. He will love all family members very much, but like all dogs with an important character, he will prefer the person he considers to be the head dog.
Friendly with children
“Not entirely suitable for children.”
The Jack Russell Terrier is often called a ‘breed for children’. However, the JRT is better suited to the company of active, sporty people as it likes to interact with adults. That is not to say that it cannot be a good playmate, as it wants to entertain itself in play, but it is not among the most suitable breeds for small children due to its very pronounced Terrier temperament. Although small in size, the interaction between children and Jack should only take place under the careful supervision of an adult.
Relationship with strangers
“Not very tolerant of strangers.”
The Jack Russell is a dog with a high level of reactivity. As a good member of the family, Jack knows how to demonstrate his talents in activities such as guarding and controlling the perimeter of the house. Obviously, given his size, he cannot be considered a guard dog, but he is a perfect spotter who, when necessary, will not fail to lash out at the intruder. It has no particular aversion to strangers but will still be alert.
Sociality with other dogs
“He must be well socialised to have good relations with other dogs.”
Jack Russell is a terrier and, due to this, is not extremely friendly towards other dogs. He may also be a brawler, although, in earlier times, he was selected for hunting in the company of dogs more significant than his own. Good socialisation and education will be essential if the Jack Russell is to share its space with other dogs and animals.
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The adaptability of the Jack Russel Terrier
Adaptability to flat life
“Medium adaptability to a flat life.”
The Jack Russell is a small dog that adapts well to a balanced life with a garden or courtyard where it can vent its hyperactivity. He needs to exercise and relieve his vigour, which could cause discomfort if not vented properly. The owner of a Jack Russell is deeply committed to entertaining and exercising his pet.
Tolerance of being alone
“Tolerant of being alone if well trained.”
Jack Russell has very little tolerance for being alone. A dog enjoys contact with its family and venting its liveliness in play and interaction. Jack Russell is not without a reputation as a terrier and has a vibrant personality. Leaving him alone for too long means undermining his psychophysical state and allowing him to do much damage in the home.
Suitable as a first dog
“Unsuitable as a first dog.”
Raising a Jack Russell is a great responsibility. Contrary to popular belief, the Jack Russell is a demanding breed on a character level and is not necessarily suited to every family. It needs to be educated and looked after from the very first months of life, and in this regard, the breeder’s work is fundamental. Socialisation is an integral part of the education project, which may be difficult.
Tolerance to cold temperatures
“Prefers mild temperatures.”
The Jack Russell has a shaggy coat, which does not help it withstand the cold. Despite having a muscular little body, in winter, he will need to be provided with a warm, sheltered place to take refuge when spending a few hours outside. If the outings are dynamic, he will not require a coat, but if he has to stand still on the leash for a long time, it may be helpful to cover him up.
Tolerance to hot temperatures
“Medium tolerant to hot temperatures.”
Thanks to its short coat and long snout, the JRT can tolerate the heat. So he will not have to go outside during the hottest hours of the day and will have a suitably cool place to take refuge. But, of course, fresh water must always be left available for him.
Care and Health of the Jack Russel Terrier
Care and hair loss
‘Hair loss difficult to clean.’
The JRT has average hair loss for those with sparse hair, which is more difficult to remove from fabric clothes and sofas, and those with broken or rough coat, for which stripping may help.
Salivation and drool containment
“No drooling.”
The JRT’s salivation is very limited, resulting in excellent drool containment. However, as with many other dogs, the Jack Russell may have a slight excess of drooling if there is an ongoing infection and inflammation of the oral cavity. In the case of drooling, ensure that everything is normal.
Ease of cleaning
“Doesn’t require much attention.”
Given its size, cleaning the Jack Russell Terrier is very easy. Brush it once a week and bathe as required. The rough coat needs to be stripped. Once a week, the ears and eyes, as well as the oral cavity, will be inspected to ensure that there is no infection or inflammation.
Health and diseases
“Generally enjoys good health.”
Jack Russell is in good health. Diseases that may afflict him are oculopathy, luxation of the patella and necrosis of the femoral head. For this reason, the breeding stock must have exemption certificates. It may also be prone to deafness in completely white animals, which are, in any case, not allowed as breeding stock.
Tendency to put on weight
“May tend to put on weight.”
This breed does not tend to show any particular inclination to put on weight but may gain weight quickly if indulged by a life characterised by too much sedentariness and an incorrect diet. In addition, prize treats and food sharing from the table should be limited to keep them in excellent physical shape.
Jack Russel Terrier Learning
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Intelligence and training
“Great intelligence in training.”
Jack Russell is, first and foremost, an alert dog with great intellectual capacity. This condition is expressed in the many activities he can develop while interacting with his owner. He loves interacting with objects and working. This aptitude must be exploited in training. Although it can be rather complex in certain specifications, it can help the unexpressed potential of one of the dogs most valued for its dedication to working.
Loyalty and escapes
“Tending to follow orders.”
Like all hunting dogs, the JRT tends to follow odours, so appropriate education is essential in the first months of life.
If there is a dog born to be an actor, it is the Jack Russell Terrier. There are numerous appearances in films and advertisements, but not only.
Tendency to bite
“Good bite control if well socialised.”
A dog’s ability to control its bite depends on the owner’s ability to educate it. The Jack Russell is a dog that loves to interact in many ways and may also choose to do so using its bite, but it knows perfectly well what the levels of force should be. Unfortunately, this condition is not systematic in Jack Russell, so interaction, especially in the presence of children, must always be entertained under the watchful eye of the owner.
Tendency to chase prey
“Tends to hunt prey.”
The Jack Russell is a breed trained initially only as a hunting dog. This type of atavistic condition is still present, albeit less evident. Like many other dogs, Jack Russell is attracted to the presence of animals moving in its vicinity. The use of a leash will be sufficient to limit his tendency to develop interaction with other animals.
Tendency to bark or howl
“High tendency to bark.”
Jack may bark for any reason, even if not of great interest. He must, therefore, be educated from puppyhood and accustomed to making himself heard only in cases of need, such as to warn of the arrival of guests or infringement of his territory. It has a powerful voice, by comparison with its small size, and is an excellent notifier.
The Jack Russell Terrier Needs Exercise
Energy level
“High energy level.”
There is nothing Jack Russell won’t do to show the excellent responsiveness that characterises him. His physical structure allows his great agility but is also characterised by a high energy level. Therefore, Jack Russell must have a daily physical activity dedicated explicitly to the consumption of stress accumulated during home life.
Vigour
“High level of vigour”
The muscular structure of a Jack Russell does not betray the extraordinary vigour of this dog. On the contrary, this breed can always display high responsiveness and power. It is, however, a dog that responds well to its owner’s needs, especially during work, where the latter finds excellent understanding and cooperation with his four-legged friend.
Need for exercise
“Very much in need of exercise.”
A Jack Russell’s need for exercise is daily and must be met on at least a couple of occasions. Therefore, one must be able to allow this dog to develop training for a few hours each day. The reasons for this type of activity are manifold. First, they are linked to the dog’s psychophysical health, both to overcome the daily stress accumulated during his stay at home and to allow him to dispose of any fat that may have been collected from his diet.
Tendency to play
“Great tendency to play”
Jack Russell is a very playful dog. He likes to play with anyone and will never stop having fun. He is lively and full of vitality, so his owner will be someone who enjoys entertaining his dog and carrying out daily playful activities. Jack must always do different activities because he might get bored. It would be best to engage him in a discipline so he can let off steam and enjoy having fun with him.
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