Meet the Jack Russell Terrier

High Doggy I.Q.

High Doggy I.Q.

Star Athlete

Star Athlete

Top Working Dog

Top Working Dog

If you’re an experienced dog parent with an active lifestyle, then I’m the breed for you! We Jack Russell Terriers are not for apartment-dwelling couch potatoes – we’re super high-energy and need lots of exercise, attention, and mental stimulation from our humans to be happy. And while we’re friendly and affectionate with grownups, when it comes to little kids or other pets? Not so much. (Sorry!) I need to be the center of your universe. I also won’t do very well if my humans are away from home a lot – I can be naughty when I’m bored. All this means I need a human with training experience and a lot of patience. I’m super smart with an independent spirit. I’ve also got hunting dog DNA, so I’m happiest when I have a job to do. Don’t be surprised if you find me digging up the yard – I’m just looking for vermin! Beyond that, I’m very alert – my loud bark makes me an excellent choice for a watchdog. I’m also pawesome at sports like agility and flyball, which are a great way to give me the workouts I need. I can be a bit of a handful, but I promise that if you show me love, I’ll give it right back in spades!
关于我

Personality

Energetic

Feisty

Smart

Group

Terrier Group

Origin

England

Life Span

13-15 Years

Breed Popularity

Height Range

10-15 Inches (at the withers)

Weight Range

14-18 Pounds

Coat Details

Type

Short and Dense

Texture

Hard and Flat

Features

Double coat, Weather resistant

Colors

White, White & Black, White & Tan, Tricolor (White, Black & Tan) +/- Tan Mar

Hypoallergenic

Cost to Buy

$500-$1,500

Lifetime Care Cost

$15,405

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

Training Ability:
Intelligence:
Exercise Needs:
Health Issues:
Affection Level:
Grooming Effort:
Pet-Friendly:
Shedding:
Kid-Friendly:
Barking:
Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

Jack Russell Terriers are pretty low maintenance – we just need a weekly brushing – but did you know we have three different coat types? Some of us have a smooth coat, which is short and flat, while others have a rough coat with a short, dense undercoat and a wiry outer coat. Rough-coated Terriers also tend to have hair over their eyes and muzzle, which makes us look like we have a beard! A broken coat lies closer to our body than a rough coat and has a longer outer coat than a smooth coat (and may or may not have the “beard”). Whatever coat we’re rocking, though, we always look good!
As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

History of My Breed

History of My Breed

We Jack Russell Terriers are famous for our high energy, smarts, and tenacious attitude – we can’t help it, it’s in our DNA! Even though we’re small dogs, we were bred to be working dogs (fox hunting dogs, to be exact). In early 19th century England, a pastor and fox-hunting enthusiast named Reverend John Russell wanted to breed a little dog that could help him on the hunt. My earliest ancestor was Trump, an English White Terrier who was so good at helping Reverend Russell hunt foxes that the Reverend started a breeding program to create the pawfect fox terrier. By the mid-1800s, my early ancestors were pawesome at flushing foxes out of their hiding spaces – that’s why we’re such good diggers (even though you may not like that)! Another English hunter, Arthur Blake Heinemann, wanted to breed a badger-hunting terrier. He used some of Russell’s terriers and formed the Parson Jack Russell Terrier Club. That’s how two similar strains of fox terrier – the Jack Russell Terrier and the Parson
Care Tips

Care Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Check your JRT’s ears daily and clean them weekly.

Jack Russell Terriers are prone to ear infections so you should clean your dog’s ears weekly. Early warning signs are head shaking, scratching at the ear, red and inflamed ears, the presence of thick black wax, odor, and/or ears that are hot to the touch. See your veterinarian right away if you detect any signs of infection.

2

Keep an eye on your Jack Russell’s gait.

Jack Russells are prone to luxating patellas, where the kneecap pops out of the joint. It is usually seen as skipping on one or both of the back legs and is often ignored by owners because it doesn't seem to cause any pain. However, left untreated it will damage the knee cartilage and cause painful arthritis. If you see your JRT skipping on their back legs, get them checked by your veterinarian.

3

Maintain a healthy weight for your JRT.

Weigh your Jack Russell Terrier’s food out daily to ensure they are getting the correct amount. Make sure to also account for any treats they are given. Although Jack Russells are a high-energy breed, they can also be quite greedy and obesity is a common problem. Obesity puts a strain on all the body’s vital organs and can shorten your JRT’s lifespan.

Training Tips

Training Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Socialize your JRT early and in a controlled environment.

When a Jack Russell Terrier socializes, they often come out of the gates super happy, jumpy, and with crazy energy. Because of this, you’ll need to manage that energy to make sure it isn’t too high for the other dogs. To do this, find another dog with similar energy for playdates. Monitor play and pause it if your JRT’s energy is escalating, to give both dogs a break.

2

Train your JRT to walk on leash.

JRTs will pull forward to get to the next exciting thing they see outside. This could include them crisscrossing over your feet and darting ahead. To help control this, at first you should teach them to walk on a shorter leash in a more controlled environment with fewer distractions. This could be your living room or yard. As they get better with walking with fewer distractions, then you can progress to walking them down the street then around your block. Bring some high-value treats with you on walks (i.e. something that’s extra tasty and smelly that they love), which you can use to reward them when they successfully pass by a distraction (or to help guide them away from one).

3

Watch out for your JRT’s prey drive.

Jack Russell Terriers have a high prey drive, so these are not dogs to be let off leash unless you are in a fully secured area or are certain they will not go after a creature that catches their eye. Squirrels and birds can get them chasing after them for miles, which can be dangerous if they lead your JRT to cross busy streets or go out of sight.

关于我
  • Personality

    Energetic

    Feisty

    Smart

  • Group

    Terrier Group

  • Origin

    England

  • Life Span

    13-15 Years

  • Breed Popularity

  • Height Range

    10-15 Inches (at the withers)

  • Weight Range

    14-18 Pounds

  • 动物皮毛

    Type

    Short and Dense

    Texture

    Hard and Flat

    Features

    Double coat, Weather resistant

    Colors

    White, White & Black, White & Tan, Tricolor (White, Black & Tan) +/- Tan Mar

  • Hypoallergenic

  • Cost to Buy

    $500-$1,500

  • Lifetime Care Cost

    $15,405