I am considering adopting a jack russell terrier puppy, and I was wondering if any owners could give me advice? Is there anything important I should know? I'm just out of college, living in an apartment with my boyfriend, and we work most of the day. However, I do love animals, and I have owned dogs before; I understand the amount of attention they need.
Would this be the best decision for me?
The Jack Russell Terrier isn't for you.
Being that you live in an apartment and are gone most of the day.
Jacks are very high energy and need lots of exercise, walks, playtime and attention.
Also are you able to put the dog in training classes….I would recommend one if you get a jack.
I have a beautiful little Jack Russell mix and she is pretty mellow for the most part (we are lucky)
But if she doesn't get the proper exercise she gets destructive (We were couped up all weekend and today she dug a hole in my couch) and she runs zoomies (which results in things getting knocked over)
It helps that I am with her almost all day but still if you aren't going to be home you don't need such an active breed.
My mix is not half as active as the typical Jack Russell Terrier (some times they are referred to as Jack Russell Terroists)
I love my dog but I will never own a purebred Jack Russell Terrier
I love my dog and she is perfect for us but it helps that she is mellow….most jacks aren't.
I would suggest looking into dogs with less energy.
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April 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I have never personally owned one, but have walked both JRTs and Rat Terriers for the shelter.
My biggest amount of advice: remember, they are energetic little things. I have herding breeds–smart AND energetic–and the Rat Terrier wore me out.
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April 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm
They are VERY cute and a good size for an apartment, but know this:
Jack Russells can be (and usually are) extremely high strung, energetic and stubborn.
They MUST be taken to obedience training and have consistent training at home also.
The terrier in general is like this, but a Jack Russell has an extra dose of this streak.
If you are nervous about this - I wouldn't recommend the breed for a first time dog owner unless you are willing to pay for training and expert advice.
They are fun little dogs though. But they can be a nightmare if you don't work at training.
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April 1st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
When choosing a dog, it's important to choose the breed that's right for you. In order to do that, you need to know the characteristics and temperament of the breed you're thinking about adopting or purchasing before you do so.
Developed in England in the 19th century by a clergyman by the name of Rev. Jack Russell to hunt small game, particularly fox, by digging quarry (prey) out of its den, the Jack Russell terrier has good hunting and tracking ability and is considered a "working terrier."
Jack Russells are usually perky, happy, energetic, spirited, friendly, intelligent, loving, loyal, bold and assertive. They can make great companions but can become willful and need rules and limitations. They need a strong-willed owner who will be their "pack leader." They have strong hunting instincts and like to chase, bark and dig. If allowed to run loose in the country, Jack Russell terriers may chase small animals and dig down into their dens and stay underground with their "prey" for days, with no food or water.
This breed of dog enjoys games and playing with toys and is generally kind to children but will not tolerate abuse by them. They need plenty of exercise because of their high energy and tend to get restless and destructive if not occupied and well exercised. They are not usually lap dogs.
Jack Russell terriers are highly trainable, if shown authority, and able to perform impressive tricks but need an experienced trainer. They can be aggressive towards other dogs if they have been allowed to take over. Because of their strong hunting instincts, they can't be trusted with smaller animals. They can climb and jump. A Jack Russell that stands 12 inches tall can easily jump 5 feet. They are adaptable to most climates.
Some of the characteristics of a Jack Russell include being over 51% white (or all black) and can have black, brown or tan spots, found mainly around the face and at the base of the tail. The undercoat has a pattern of small brown and black spots that can't be seen on the outer coat. There are three different types of coats - smooth, rough and broken, and all coats shed. The ears fold downward, and the teeth are strong. The tail is held upright, high and straight and is usually docked shortly after birth to about 4 to 5 inches. Their full-grown height is usually 10 to 15 inches, and weight is 14 to 18 pounds.
Health problems that can occur in Jack Russell terriers are kneecap dislocation, inherited eye diseases, deafness, Legg-Perthes (a hip joint disease), epilepsy and skin conditions, but the life expectancy is about 15 years or more.
Grooming is fairly simple for Jack Russells. They should be combed or brushed regularly with a firm bristle brush, with bathing only when necessary.
Jack Russell terriers do okay in an apartment but are very active and need sufficient exercise or will become a nuisance. They do best with at least an average-sized yard with lots of space to run, hunt and play.
This breed of dog makes a great companion and is very loving, loyal and protective but needs a lot of attention and discipline, so it's best to determine if you have the time and energy for this breed before choosing it.
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April 1st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
The Jack Russell Terrier isn't for you.
Being that you live in an apartment and are gone most of the day.
Jacks are very high energy and need lots of exercise, walks, playtime and attention.
Also are you able to put the dog in training classes….I would recommend one if you get a jack.
I have a beautiful little Jack Russell mix and she is pretty mellow for the most part (we are lucky)
But if she doesn't get the proper exercise she gets destructive (We were couped up all weekend and today she dug a hole in my couch) and she runs zoomies (which results in things getting knocked over)
It helps that I am with her almost all day but still if you aren't going to be home you don't need such an active breed.
My mix is not half as active as the typical Jack Russell Terrier (some times they are referred to as Jack Russell Terroists)
I love my dog but I will never own a purebred Jack Russell Terrier
I love my dog and she is perfect for us but it helps that she is mellow….most jacks aren't.
I would suggest looking into dogs with less energy.
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April 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I have had four. They are wonderful dogs, very loving and protective. they do seem to be very bright, but they are a handful. Super energetic and they do suffer from seperation anxiety, so they like to have company. If you got time to put into it, they will train well and be a fantastic friend. If you don't the can be a nightmare. In time you will belong to the dog, not the other way around. Good luck
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April 1st, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I've owned a Jack Russell, and I even have a cousin who used to breed them. They are awesome. Their high energy level is very common, but my Jack was so adaptable that even when I lived in a studio apartment with my girlfriend she was still an angel.
With proper basic training your Jack Russell will adapt to how you live very well. I'd have another one right now if it weren't so hard on me when I lost her.
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April 1st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
They are rascals. They have tons and tons of energy so make sure you have the money and time to train them or send them to training classes. They are small and have scruffy fur. You should probabaly get a trash can with a lid that when you press a button opens just in case they get in the trash. But over all they are probobaly a nice puppy to have. You should probably not get a jack russel for an apartment. But maybe you should get a smal house before. And you need a nice large backyard. They sure do have a lot of energy and love to run. Also for all dogs make sure you know what they are allergic to and by healthy food. Make sure you walk them alot and try to taim them on a leash, but with that you are ready to by a dog.
p.s. a chihaha would be best if you want a small dog and a lab or bulldog would be amazing. Bulldogs are really lazy. Get a bulldog. But if not threw my dog owning experiences you see to really want a russel and they are adorable i agree. Hope i helped.(:
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April 1st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I live in an apartment, and I have a dog but it is well adapted to living in an apartment and the dog is walked three or more times per day. This dog, the Jack Russell Terrier is a hyper, energetic dog so I do not think it would be a happy dog with you working most of the day. I would consider another type of dog more adaptable to an apartment.
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Living in an apartment with a dog. My Thoughts.
April 1st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I have a jack russell who is six years old named Chloe. I rescued her four years ago out of a bad situation. She is very loving and very laid back, which is very unusual for the jack russell breed. My friend thinks that the reason Chloe is so laid back is because she was kept in a small cage most of her life. My mom has a male jack russell. She got him from a breeder when he was a year old. He is very smart and learns very quickly to tricks. But he is very hyper. My mom walks him at least two miles everyday. If she doesn't walk him, he gets into stuff and bounces off the walls. My mom is retired so she is home with him all day. I had got a jack russell when I had just moved out of my parent's home and she was a puppy. I had her for two years and I lived an a apartment. I was working a lot of hours and she wasn't getting the kind of attention she needed so I gave her to a lady that ran a jack russell rescue program, where they found her a great home. It's been seven years since I gave her away but I think of her all the time. My friend has rescued a lot of jack russell from people who wanted them but hadn't put enough thought into how much time and training they would need before they got them. I'm not telling you not to get a jack russell but just know they are need a lot of exercise and they need to be trained because they are very smart dogs that will do almost anything to get your attention. And something else to remember most jack russell do not like get along with the same sex, such as two females or two males. You could have a male and a female jack russell but they also can fight. Jack Russells are feisty little dogs, and a lot of people think that because they are small they don't need much attention, this is why a lot of jack russells end up in rescue programs or at animal shelters. Another things is jack russell don't do good by themselves for long periods of time. They can be very stubborn and they can chew anything to amuse themselves when their bored. I would just put a lot of thought into before you get a jack russell. There are a lot of little dogs that don't need as much attention as a jack russell. I just don't want you to get a jack russell and then a few months later to have realized you have made a mistake because it was the wrong breed. I love jack russells but they are a breed that is not right for everybody. Good luck I hope you find the right dog for you.
Another thing I forgot to mention they should always be on a leash when outdoors because they love to chase anything that moves. That is the terrier part of them. The number one cause of death for a jack russell is being hit by a car. And never leave one unsupervised in a fenced in backyard because most jack russell can easily jump a 6 or 8 foot fence and a lot of them like to dig and they could easily dig out from a fence. And I wouldn't recommend the shock collars because those are very hard on dogs it can cause their heart to stop or even cause emotional problems.
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April 1st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
IMHO I agree with "ncisrock" and that dog is not for you. I obtained a 7 month old mixed Terrier and they need a lot of attention and time to train. They have so much energy it is unbelievable. They are very smart and lovable but the fact is if you are living in an apartment and both of you work this dog would just cause problems. They need a lot of space to release their energy and a short walk is not the answer. They are great indoors only IF they can release all that energy. I know all about these dogs running "zoomies"! It will do that all day in the yard. You and your boyfriend would do better with a much calmer dog for the dogs sake as well as your relationship with you boyfriend, Good luck!
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