The Jack Russell Terrier is the embodiment of what a hunting terrier should be. These dogs are energetic, happy, smart and loyal. The popularity of the Jack Russell has grown in the past years due to the media attention the breed has due to television shows like ‘Frasier’ and ‘Wishbone. But this is not a dog that everyone can welcome into his or her homes.
When seriously looking towards a Jack Russell terrier as a pet, be certain you are getting a true Jack Russell. There are different breeds that fall under this category. At the top of the list is the Parson Russell terrier, which is a variant of the Jack Russell that was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2001. This is primarily a show dog and not a working dog like the Jack Russell. There are also other variants of the original Jack Russell such as the Australian Jack Russell terrier and the Russell terrier which are judged under a different breed standards that the Jack Russell terrier. So if you are looking for a Jack Russell, be certain of what you are getting.
History. The Jack Russell has been bred strictly as a hunting dog since the 1800’s. The breed takes its name from the Reverend John ‘Jack’ Russell who bred one of the best classes of dog to hunt fox. The Reverend Russell bred out the tendency for his terriers to be aggressive and therefore hunting or killing the fox. His line of terriers became the most popular working terrier in England during the 1800’s.
Appearance. The Jack Russell terriers are mostly white with either black, tan or, what is referred to as, tri-colored markings. Their chest size is small so that they can burrow underground after their favorite prey, the fox. Their ears are V-shaped and lay down. Their body shape is usually square. The Jack Russell comes in three different types of ‘coats’; smooth (as seen on ‘Wishbone’), rough (as seen on ‘Frasier’) and broken. Their tails are straight and stand upright. They are usually cut or ‘docked’ at five inches in length. It is said that it helps keep their balance but it also is handy when they are chasing their prey underground. The short, hand-length tail makes it easier to pull them out of a prey’s hole!
Temperament. Even though Jack Russells appear to be the perfect family pet, there are things that a prospective buyer should examine. This dog is a working dog and, because of that, they have been trained to bark so that their owner can find them underground and dig them out if necessary. Even though you may not intend to use your Jack Russell for hunting, they will still vocalize when coming upon cats, squirrels or even a stranger.
Jack Russells love to dig. It is in their nature! They can sense a mole several feet underground! So if you don’t have a yard and don’t want your prize-winning roses dug up, you might want to either consider another breed or training for your Jack Russell.
These are a feisty, energetic and active dog. They love to sit in laps but are not to be considered lap dogs. They need exercise on a constant and consistent basis. They are not good apartment dogs or city dogs if left alone all day. Some Jack Russells are more hyper than others. If they aren’t trained or giving the activity that they require, they do take on very bad habits which include excessive digging and barking, uncontrollable behavior and escaping. There are many Jack Russell rescue groups that always have to find temporary and permanent homes for these dogs due to owners who did not know what they were getting into. So do your homework.
Jack Russells get along well with older and well-behaved children. They cannot only be friendly but quite gentle. However, young children who tend to hit or pull dog’s ears are not advisable to be around a Jack Russell. They have little humor about such abuse and will retaliate with growling and biting.
This breed of dog is also not very tolerant of smaller animals such as cats, hamsters or rabbits. Remember that this is a hunting dog and small domestic pets, in their eyes, are prey just like a fox or squirrel. Some dogs also have, what is called a ‘Napoleon complex’ and will take on larger animals without hesitation. Sometimes their fearlessness can scare off such an animal but it can also lead to fights. Jack Russell terriers do not realize that they are a small dog!
A good case of this is the incident that occurred in April 2007, when a Jack Russell fought off two Pit-bull terriers from attacking 5 New Zealand children. He held the two dogs offs long enough for the children to escape. Unfortunately the Jack Russell died because of his wounds but the New Zealand SPAC gave the dog a posthumous medal usually reserved for humans and a former US Marine donated his Vietnam Purple Heart to the dog’s family.
If you are still interested in owning a Jack Russell, there are several sites with wonderful information to help you understand the breed. These are special dogs that need special care. Owning a Jack Russell, like any other breed, is a big responsibility and should not be taken lightly. But they are one of the smartest, funniest and most loyal dogs around today. You will, no likely, be saying the same thing as was said the film, ‘Crimson Tide’. They are the ‘smartest breed’ around.
