Consider the personality traits of the Jack Russell terrier as this breed is not for everyone. The energetic Jack Russell needs lots of exercise, is vocal and because of their hunting instinct, has the urge to explore, resulting in a tendency to wander.
Training cannot eliminate the hunting instinct from the Jack Russell. This dog may instinctively see the family cat or hamster as prey
Expectations:
Energy Level: Very energetic
Life Expectancy: 13-15 yrs.
Tendency to Drool: Low Tendency to Snore: Low
Tendency to Bark: High
Tendency to Dig: High Social/Attention Needs: Moderate
Bred For:
Fox hunting
Coat:
Length: Short
Characteristics: Double coat, flat, hard coat
Colours: White, white with black or tan markings
Overall Grooming Needs: Low
Club Recognition:
AKC Classification: Terrier
UKC Classification: Terrier
Prevalence: Common
The Jack Russell terrier comes in three different coat types: smooth, broken and rough (coarse, longer straight hair). All the coats tend to shed. Jack Russells are white with black or tan markings.
The breed has a compact, muscular body. Dogs grow to be from 20-30cm in height. They usually weigh between 7 and 12kg.
Personality:
The Jack Russell terrier is a happy, energetic dog with a strong desire to work. This breed is happiest when given companionship and a job to do. Digging is normal for a Jack Russell, especially if they decide it is their job to free your yard from rodents! Hunting ability is bred into them; it is their nature. The desire to hunt combined with a high energy level makes training a must for the Jack Russell. You will never win a battle of wills with a Jack Russell.
Because they are baying terriers, the Jack Russell can be vocal. However, these dogs are alert and make good watchdogs. The breed is naturally assertive and may not tolerate young children or other animals in the home. They can be aggressive toward other dogs.
Living With:
Given the personality of the Jack Russell, this breed is not for everyone. The hunting instinct cannot be trained out of the breed. These dogs may instinctively see the family cat or hamster as prey. Some may be able to learn to get along with other pets if brought into the home as a puppy, but a potential guardian needs to consider the possibilities beforehand.
The Jack Russell terrier needs lots of exercise and a home with a large fenced yard is best. The Jack Russell has an urge to explore and hunt and will wander off; many have been trapped for days in underground culverts and dens. If kept indoors, daily brisk walks are a must!
The Jack Russell also enjoys going along on a hike or a long game of fetch. This is not the breed for you if you prefer a dog who will sit peacefully on the couch all day.
History:
The Jack Russell terrier is a true working terrier. The breed takes its name from the Reverend John Russell, who bred one of the finest strains of terriers for working fox in England. The Jack Russell is a baying terrier, meaning the dog should flush out the fox with steady barking but is never to kill the prey. The Jack Russell has been strictly bred for hunting since their beginning in the early 1800s.
Because of their broad genetic make-up, there is some variance in the standard of Jack Russell terriers. In fact, disagreement about leg length has caused the breed to be divided into separate breeds in England, where the longer legged dogs are called Parson Jack Russell terriers and the shorter legged dogs are called simply Jack Russell terriers.
In America, despite the greater popularity of the short legged dogs, the long legged dogs are the breed officially recognised as the Jack Russell terrier. The breed has been popular with the horse crowd for years.
Media exposure, especially the popularity of "Moose," the terrier who plays "Eddie" on the television show "Frasier," and "Soccer," who stars in the children's show "Wishbone," have catapulted the breed to popularity.
The Jack Russell terrier is a newer member of the AKC terrier group, but that membership came amid protests from fanciers who feared AKC recognition was not good for the breed. The result is that two national associations exist for the breed, the original Jack Russell Terrier Club of America, and the newer AKC recognised Jack Russell Terrier Association of America.