| Info on Jack Russell Terriers |
| The only similarity between a true Jack Russell and Wishbone the TV dog is when Wishbone digs up the neighbor's flower bed. Jack Russells have too much energy and are full of too much mischeif to behave all the time like Wishbone does. Even Wishbone only behaves long enough to film the show and sometimes not even that long. So if you are looking for a nice white lap dog forget it. JRTs are only lapdogs for a few seconds at a time. They are busy little dogs. I will list some pros and cons about owning a JRT. I will also tell you a little bit about this obnoxious dog. |
| 1. The first thing you should know is that Jack Russells are first and foremost hunting dogs. They were bred to hunt. They are not particular about what they hunt either. Cats, fox, rats, socks, ferrets, squirrels, etc., whatever moves and sometimes whatever doesn't is fair game. 2. JRTs were bred to go underground . They have been known to go hunting alone and get stuck in a burrow or just plain refuse to leave one as long as there was another animal present. Some have died doing this. Sometimes they find a skunk in the burrow. This is dangerous because if the skunk should spray underground the dog could suffocate to death. It's for that reason that a JRT should not be allowed to roam. Even the city has places a small dog can get stuck. 3. JRTs are not aware that they are small dogs. A jrt thinks it's bigger than a rottweiler. That means that it can get itself into some very bad situations. 4. JRTs can be quite aggressive with other dogs, small animals, and misbehaving children. 5. JRTs shed. If you get a JRT be prepared to never wear black again. JRTs leave little white hairs all over everything. It has been said though that the more hair a JRT has the less it sheds. 6. They need firm and consistant training. JRTS are very intelligent and very mischevious and stubborn. Kind of like a genious toddler. Beware. 7. JRTs can be very possessive of anything they consider to be theirs including their owner(s). 8. JRTs never grow up. JRTs can live to be 15+ years and can remain active about as long. An adult JRT is basically a highly energetic, mischevious pup in a bigger body. 9. They do best with room to run. They do not do well in apartments or condos with the rare exceptions of course, although those dogs are usually given plenty of exercise walking, jogging, and playing at dog parks. 10. They need a securely fenced yard. JRTs are known to be escape artists. They were bred with tiny squishy chests so they could squeeze through tight places. They can also climb quite well. A female I know who is only 11 1/2" at the shoulder can scale a 6 foot fence like it is nothing. 11. A jack russell will not tolerate even unintended abuse from a child. Children and JRTs should be supervised together and children should be taught how to properly treat a JRT. |
| Jrts are wonderful dogs with great personalities, but they are not for every home. The kind of home a JRT is good for is one where they will have plenty of supervision, the owners have lots of patience and humor, the owners are firm and consistent, and the owners are active. They JRT also needs a job to do, be it guarding the home from stray cats or catching mice, sniffing out drugs, or, preferrably, hunting its normal prey (fox, groundhog, raccoon, or possum). JRTs can be very sociable dogs if they are around plenty of people from a young age. JRTs are great for digging holes in the yard for you to fill up. And they are great for building up your throwing arm, throwing tennis balls over and over and over. JRTs are bed stealers too. They also make great paper shredders. JRTs should have been used in those big business cover-ups. They would have had all those incriminating files shredded in no time flat. JRTs are great for when you need a little humiliation. They will drag all your undies out into the yard or just bring one to the preacher when he comes to visit. JRTs are dogs who bring alot of love and laughter into a home. |
| Later I will try to add info on history of the jrt. I will also try to give some basic grooming info. |
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