Jack Russell terriers are cute, easy to groom and make excellent watch dogs, which is why many people buy or adopt one or more. Jack Russells are commonly seen in adverts, movies and television programs. The most famous Jack Russell of recent times was Moose, who played the indomitable Eddie on the hit American comedy Frasier.
But Moose wound up in the pound before his trainer saved his life and got him the job of a lifetime. Sadly, many Jack Russells wind up being relinquished to animal shelters and dog rescues because most people do not realize what Jack Russell terriers are like. Many of those Jack Russells wind up getting euthanized because there are no homes for them.
They Bark
D. Caroline Coile, PhD, author of Parson and Jack Russell Terriers: A Complete Pet Owner’s Manual (Barrons’; 2010) emphasizes that Jack Russells bark and bark and bark and bark. This is because they were bred to. The terriers originally went out on a hunt with their masters or mistresses. The terriers were small enough to go deep into the underbrush and flush out game. In order for the hunters to know where their dogs were, they listened to the barks. The terriers would keep up a constant chatter to lead the hunter to the right place.
Jack Russells can be trained not to bark, or not to bark so much. But you have to start when they are a puppy. Barking may not be problem if you live on a huge farm in the middle of nowhere, but it will be a huge nightmare if you live in an apartment. Although you may have been told that there is a “debarking” operation, this does not always work and is considered cruel by many veterinarians, who will refuse to perform the operation.
They Need Lots of Exercise
Many breeds of dog the size of a Jack Russell do not need a lot of exercise because of their short legs or pushed-in faces. A half-hour walk and a game of fetch every day and they’re set. But this is not true of the Jack Russell. Think of them as the Energizer Bunny of the dog world.
They need at least two walks a day, plenty of play time and, when left alone, have plenty of toys in order to keep them busy. Many Jack Russells get along very well with other dogs, so some people get another dog to keep the Jack Russell entertained. But this only works if the two dogs get along. Also, the Jack Russell is smart enough to teach the other dog bad habits like barking all day, destroying the furniture or digging a hole under the yard fence and escaping.
They Have a Strong Drive to Hunt (needs writing – no previous version exists)
Jack Russells were not only bred to bark – they were bred to hunt. Hunting includes escaping wherever they may be, running around quite a large patch of territory, scenting, capturing and dispatching prey. Since the Jack Russell has continued to be used as a hunting dog or for a scent hound (which utilizes hunting skills), the drive to find and kill prey is still strong.
JRTs need fenced-in areas to deter escape. They will escape, especially if tempted by a fleeing cat or squirrel. D. Caroline Coile, PhD notes that they are prone to chase cars. JRTs have been successfully housed in homes with pet rodents, but it is generally not a good idea to bring a JRT home if you already have small pets like rabbits or rodents. The sight of a small fleeing animal may trigger their predatory instincts.
Additional References
- ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs. Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, VMD. Chronicle Books; 1999.
- Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D. Barron’s; 2005.
- The Howell Book of Dogs. Liz Palika. Howell Book House; 2007.
- DogBreedInfo.com
