Jack Russell Terrier

Spunky and full of boundless energy, the Jack Russell Terrier (JRT) is a compact dog with a keen hunting sense. They are tough and sturdy, as well as stubbornly independent.

JRTs were bred by Reverend John Russell in the 1800s, when he purchased a small, white-and-tan terrier from his milkman. He named her Trump, and included her in his efforts to breed a dog that would have high stamina and be fearless enough to chase foxes out from underground. They were also bred to scare up other ground-dwelling animals, such as groundhogs and badgers.

Because of their intelligence and trainability, several JRTs have become famous animal actors. Uggie from 2011′s “The Artist” won a Golden Collar award. Moose and Enzo both played Eddie on the hit TV series, “Frasier.” They also shared the coveted title role in the feature film, “My Dog Skip.”

Personality

• Extremely intelligent, athletic and assertive
• Confident, bold and courageous
• Feisty, mischievous and high energy
• Large dog in a small dog’s body
• Because they are bred to alert hunters to quarry, JRTs are extremely vocal dogs who love to sound the alarm (with proper training, their bark can be reduced to a manageable level)
• Cheerful, loyal and fun!

Size

• 13-18 pounds
• 12-15 inches tall (at the withers)

Lifestyle

• Not the best companion for apartment dwellers unless you are prepared to provide the enormous amount of exercise and mental stimulation they require, without a yard to exhaust their energy
• Great with children over the age of 6, but will not tolerate any abusive behavior and may defend itself, harming a child in the process
• Don’t do very well with smaller pets such as cats, rabbits and gerbils because they’ve been bred to chase down small animals
• The yard must have a secured fence since  JRTs will bolt after potential prey at the drop of a hat

Training

• Because they are extremely intelligent and stubborn dogs with an assertive nature, who calls the shots must be established right away
• Training should begin as early as possible; untrained JRTs can become destructive
• Great at agility training
• Socialization is key since they have a tendency to be aggressive towards other animals and humans
• Since they love to dig, they should be trained to do it in a specific area so they can relieve that instinct without destroying your lawn
• Careful – the very intelligent JRT has been known to his pet parents before they even know it!

Coat

• Three types: smooth, broken and rough
• Mainly white with black or tan markings, or a combination of these (also known as tri-color)
• Should only be bathed as needed since excessive bathing can irritate their sensitive skin
• Their coats should be brushed regularly

Health

• Prone to dislocation of the kneecaps
• Some may inherit eye diseases and deafness
• Also prone to Legg Perthes, a disease of the hip joints

Lifespan

• 15-17 years

Rescue

• To bring home a feisty but loving Jack Russell Terrier, visit Russell Rescue, Inc.

PHOTO: Steve-65

i Love Dogs, Inc.

i Love Dogs, Inc.’s three websites – ilovedogs.com, ilovedogfriendly.com and findavet.us – provide information and up-to-the-minute news to keep pet parents aware of all things dog. A premium canine vitamins and lifestyle company, i Love Dogs is famous for its line of diamond dog collars. The name says it all — at i Love Dogs, we are committed to the health and happiness of our canine companions.

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