Jack Russell Terrier: Nutrition, character, training and much more about the Jack Russell Terrier

By Roland Berger

At a closer look, however, the little terrier has it "fist thick behind the ears". He is always looking for something to do, is always on his toes and has an almost inexhaustible amount of energy. Also because of his hunting instinct, the Jack Russell needs a consistent upbringing and continuous training to become a balanced and happy dog at your side, with whom you can master everyday life in a relaxed way.

Here you will learn,
- where the Jack Russell Terrier comes from and how he has developed,
- what to consider when acquiring the dog and during the first days in the new home,
- how to raise your Jack Russell in a loving way and how to train him continuously - from basic commands to housetraining and leash walking up to appropriate activities
- how to promote the health of your terrier and how to act in case of potential diseases
- what you should ideally feed your Jack Russell,
- what to consider when caring for coat, eyes, ears & co,
- what games you can present to your terrier to keep him fulfilled and busy.

At first, this sounds as if the Jack Russell is a number too big for absolute "dog beginners". But don't worry, how to tame your new companion's energy and hunting instinct is shown in this comprehensive guidebook, along with many other things.

The contents of the book are:
- The dog breed Jack Russell Terrier
- Education and socialization of a Jack Russell Terrier
- Health and nutrition
- The care of the Jack Russell Terrier
- Character, training and much more
- Many illustrations

This guidebook has everything you need to give your Jack Russell Terrier a long, balanced and happy life! Have fun reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Mar 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9783987628733

Book preview

Introductory

Everyone knows the Jack Russell. Although the small, slender bundles of energy seem like the perfect cuddle dogs, they were originally bred for hunting. Over the years, many myths and rumors have grown up around the Jack Russell. They are often considered hard to train and are labeled unsuitable for beginners.

Which rumors have a right to exist and where they are myths, we clarify together.

Of course, we would like to look at the breed as a whole. Where does it come from? What makes you special?

Although the breed has specific characteristics, you must see each dog as an individual. Some terriers love to hunt and track, while others are true couch hounds. Therefore, look at each dog personally anyway and get to know and love it as an independent being.

In addition, we will briefly talk about the Parson Russell Terrier. Often this breed is recognized by the untrained eye as Jack Russell. However, in fact, there are significant differences between the terrier breeds.

Learn more about the clever Brit, his characteristics and a few interesting facts!

A little Briton on a grand tour of the world

Today the terrier is spread all over the world. Most often it is found in England, Australia and Germany. In his native country, the dog is still used for hunting. In Germany and other parts of the world, the Jack Russell accompanies its owner more as a family dog and friend. In principle, many of the terriers can also be used for hunting. However, this requires some training.

Origin and history

In the Sandringham Castle of the British royal family there is a saddle room. In addition to saddles and exhibits, a number of drawings hang in it - including the drawing of Trump, the first known Jack Russell bitch. The black and white drawing shows that the terrier still had a long way to go in its development.

The owner of the bitch worked as a priest and was a gifted hunter. John Jack Russell thus named the dog according to himself. In several written works he recorded the appearance and character of the bitch. He described her as persistent, fearless and clever. He also contrasted her appearance with that of a Scotch terrier. Unlike these, Trump possessed smooth and soft fur. John Jack Russell further also described the size of the bitch as corresponding to that of a full-grown vixen.

In particular, the information about the height at the withers of the bitch brought the Jack Russell Terrier an important feature. Namely, this was bred to hunt red foxes. Around 1850, this type of fox settled in England and Australia. Red foxes are nimble, agile and usually occupy empty rabbit burrows.

It was here that John Jack Russell recognized a massive problem in the Jack Russell Terrier's predecessor. The fox terrier had a height of about 33 centimeters and was thus too tall to track the foxes into the burrows.

Trump, however, possessed a height of only about 30 centimeters and thus fit into the entrances.

After the foundation of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia it took some years until the Jack Russell Terrier was recognized as an independent breed in 1991. Unfortunately, it was only then that the breed spread to other parts of the world. The long isolation in Australia resulted in the terrier being subject to heavy inbreeding.

Appearance and character

Since today is not so strict on the perfect size, many Jack Russell Terriers are again over 30 centimeters tall. For the perfect terrier, a height of 25 to 30 centimeters is given.

If a terrier shows a higher height at the withers, it is no longer considered a low-walking terrier. This, of course, does not detract from the dog, but merely gives it a different grouping. As a rule, Jack Russell Terriers are Section 2 dogs. Section 1, on the other hand, describes high running terriers.

Between 25 and 38 centimeters tall can be a purebred Jack Russell Terrier. Depending on how its pedigree looks, different colors and coat markings show.

Many Jack Russell are bicolored and have large scale markings all over the body. The coat markings may also be complemented by many small markings on the body. Coat colors can also be predicted from the pedigree.

Both ears should hang downward in a v-shape and should be set up only when alert. The tail points downward when calm and should point upward when excited or similar.

Coat markings and heredity in the Jack Russell Terrier

Starting from the three basic colors of the terrier, different heredities can be determined.

Terriers can have both red and white, black and white and tricolor.

Additionally, there are some random coat changes that can occur after crossing different coat combinations.

Tickings are small dots in the base color of the dog. These show up most strongly in Dalmatians. If a Jack Russell shows these, it is still a standard color and the dog can be accepted for breeding. The likelihood of having puppies with tickings increases if one parent has tickings.

Seal dogs are considered black and white, although the coat may be brown underneath. This creates a color gradient from brown to black. This variation is also a standard color.

Masks also occur frequently. These are black markings on the face or near the rear. Jack Russell Terriers with this coloring are suitable for breeding.

Not standard breedable are terriers whose tickings are a different color than the large markings. Thus, if a dog has brown markings but black tickings, it is not suitable for breeding. In some cases, defects are present that lighten the dog's eyes and make them appear greenish. These animals are also not suitable for breeding.

Jack Russell Terrier character

In fact, these terriers are extremely independent. The reason is simple - on the fox hunt there was no time to wait for commands. The dog had to decide independently and immediately. This developed a strong, calm self-confidence and a tendency to more elaborate education.

Unfortunately, this is why many Jack Russell Terriers yap and are difficult to stop. Basically, these dogs are not beginner dogs. The owner must show a consistent but friendly education.

Since terriers are really smart, they learn tricks and habits rapidly. Extremely workaholic specimens want to do everything right, and therefore often offer the tricks that seem to them just useful.

However, it is possible to raise a Jack Russell Terrier to be a safe, well-trained dog. Plan for a little more time and patience for training.

In difficult situations, you will also appreciate the independence of the breed. During the hunt, man had to put a lot of trust in the little terrier to let him work properly.

Therefore, should you own or acquire a Jack Russell Terrier, a strong bond of trust must be built between you and the dog.

Many of the terriers are also well suited as family dogs. Make sure that the dog is used to children, or train appropriate things. Children often deal with dogs a little rougher, pull their ears or grab their eyes.

Explain to your child what is okay and what is not. At the same time you can take away the dog's fear of being touched.

The lively, fearless working dog

Originally, however, the Jack Russell Terrier was not intended as a family or guard dog. Due to its small size, the terrier only appears threatening in groups or to smaller creatures. Many people unfamiliar with the breed consider smaller dogs to be timid, possibly even spoiled or lazy.

All this is not the Jack Russell. The little bundles of energy like to sleep in the sun once in a while and can become very decent and quiet dogs in the apartment, but as soon as the doors open, these dogs want to experience something.

Young terriers, in particular, see no point or purpose in the same old walks. Instead, they would much rather explore the nearby forest or even shoo a squirrel once in a while. Even after many years of generally keeping this breed, the Jack Russell Terrier remains a working dog. Even puppies seek adventure, love to scuffle and are very lively animals all around.

Due to the original area of use of the Jack Russell, most representatives are also extremely self-confident and appear fearless. In the rabbit hole there was no time to wait for the master's help. Therefore, the breed learned to decide independently and nimbly ... and even sometimes ignore one or another command.

However, terriers are not fundamentally difficult to train. It only requires a more specific education, which must be associated with both consistent action and a lot of humor. Of course, for any dog: try out what works most reliably. As a rule, you need to be prepared for a little more work with a Jack Russell Terrier.

Once one of the little working dogs has taken you to his heart, he will go with you to the ends of the earth.

What are Jack Russell Terriers (not) suitable for?

First of all, terriers are absolutely not suitable for people whose everyday life leaves little time for a dog. The nimble dogs would prefer to spend every minute of their day with their caregiver and tend to get frustrated if they are constantly left alone.

Furthermore, the dogs are not guard or herding dogs. Their character is wonderfully suited for this work, but the small size and the rather cute appearance seem too inviting.

In addition, you should refrain from putting together several dogs of different ages. Since the young terriers often show an excess of energy, older animals or even seniors can suffer from the constant playing.

Therefore, please only get a Jack Russell Terrier if you yourself are physically fit and can spend enough time with the dog.

In the best case, the terrier should also not be your first dog. Of course, the help of an experienced trainer can help here.

Really well suited are the terriers, not surprisingly, for riders. Almost all Jack Russell Terriers get along well with horses and love to accompany horse and rider on long rides - where they are allowed to go a little faster.

They are equally well suited for extremely sporty people. Those who spend a lot of time out in nature, cycling or jogging, can easily cope with the terrier's bursts of energy. It is important that the dog does not always want to walk at heel. The breed's independence readily tempts it to sniff, explore, as well as stay back or proceed. Therefore, train the recall well! Jack Russell Terriers that have lived with their owner for a long time and have built up a solid relationship of trust do not need to be constantly controlled. This saves nervous glances around to check where the own dog is at the moment. The terrier is and has always been a trust dog.

Acquisition and acclimatization

Before a dog can move in, some preparations have to be made. If you want to take over a dog from abroad or adopt an animal from the protection association, you will have to meet some requirements. These will be explained to you by the staff. In most cases, a short inspection visit to your home will be arranged. This is just to see if your current living situation is suitable for a dog.

Of course, even without this control, you should take the necessary precautions before adopting a dog. These include not only the purchase of suitable food, bowls, toys and water!

In some cases, kitchens also need to be partitioned off, stairways secured and table edges padded.

Remember - a puppy is like a toddler. Careless and curious.

For older dogs, there is usually no need to secure stairs or edges. On the other hand, if the dog is limited or already a senior, a ramp on the stairs can be a real relief. For dogs with special needs (seniors, seriously ill or disabled dogs) must also buy hygiene products and other relief utensils.

So before you get a dog, you should think carefully about what you can afford and what you want.

Buying a Jack Russell - tips and common mistakes

We would now like to reveal the most common misconceptions and mistakes when buying a dog. However, before we move on to the actual purchase, a quick note:

If you are wavering between adopting from the shelter and buying from the breeder - please look around in different shelters first. Mainly old animals are stuck there for a long time and are rarely adopted. If you can cope with the little aches and pains of old age, then it is best to give an old Jack Russell a last home where he can spend a nice retirement.

The benefits, such as housetraining and already learned commands, are just a huge plus. Older animals are often easier to handle, require less activity and let you experience a whole new kind of love, affection and especially gratitude.

In addition, once apart from the Jack Russell, you can also adopt many animals with black fur in animal shelters. Still superstition limits us in our choice - in view of this, many of these hearty and often well-behaved jinxes sit in the shelter.

I want a puppy!

Puppies are terribly cute. The little paws that will tap on grass for the first time and the big eyes that will see snow for the very first time are just adorable.

Unfortunately, for these very reasons, many people acquire puppies that they cannot care for or raise.

Puppy training should in principle be left to experienced people or supervised by a capable trainer. Do not underestimate the amount of work and time involved!

Young dogs need to learn housetraining, to go out at night for a few months and to get to know their bodies.

Since the most important basic rules must be taught in exactly this time, always follow the motto: Everything I teach wrong today, I will have to pay dearly to the trainer tomorrow.

If only a young dog is suitable for you, ideally consult a trainer. Also, never buy a dog whose age you can not clearly reveal!

Puppies should never be separated from their dam before nine weeks of age.

Recognize reputable dealers

In addition to the correct age and growth of the puppy, a reputable dealer can also be identified based on the dam.

Always inspect the dogs around the dam and pay attention to its appearance. Ask yourself the following questions:

Do the animals have places of retreat?

Can you see water and food bowls?

What about the general cleanliness of the rooms?

Is there an outlet?

What does the conformation of the dam indicate? Is the animal too thin, is it possibly affected by skin diseases?

Other things you can ask the breeder. In doing so, you should be careful and extra attentive to be able to quickly detect lies. Ask for things that are easy to answer, but also ask some specific questions:

How old are the puppies?

How old is the mother animal?

May I look at and touch the mother animal once?

When do I need to have my puppy vaccinated against rabies?

What are the puppies already vaccinated against?

In order for you to even know what answers you should be hearing, we're clarifying those very questions now.

Puppy age

The puppies should be at least eight weeks old at the time of viewing.