Anyone have a Jack Russell terrier?

[MickeysMommy]

Can you tell me about them? Good and Bad, please. Do they shed? Hard to housebreak? Loving? Lap dogs? Barkers? All of it please

 

[paigevz]

Don't have one, but I know some. The ones I know are NOT lap dogs...........very active, like to be doing. Fabulous dogs, very smart. Because they're smart, it's potluck on the training...........they CAN learn easily, but they're smart enough to know the don't HAVE TO. They're terriers, so they dig and chase. The ones I know don't bark that much. They do shed, as most dogs do.

 

[Christine]

I have one. She is very cute and has a nice personality.

Yes, mine sheds (I have a rough coat). She has been very hard to housetrain. Of course, we work full-time and that hasn't helped but this has never been a problem with our other dogs.

Mine does enjoy sitting in my lap at times. She doesn't bark much and also doesn't seem as hyper as other Jack owners have reported. I have *heard* that rough coats are not as hyper as the smooth coats but I'm not sure if that is really true.

 

[minkydog]

Can you tell me about them? Good and Bad, please. Do they shed? Hard to housebreak? Loving? Lap dogs? Barkers?

All of the above I do not have a JRT, but my poor sister does--she didn't know what she was getting into. At 11yo Duchess is just ah hyper as ever,but she has been a very good dog.

 

[pixiemomma]

Our neighbor's Jack Russell barks constantly. He is very protective of their property. I'm not sure about digging but he is a jumper. They had to add several inches to their 3 foot fence because he leapt over it.

 

[theycallmered]

My parents have had two of them and they were exact polar opposites. Baxter, the older one (RIP) was a loud one. He would bark and bark and bark and bark until he got what he wanted. He was very smart and was great at listening to directions and commands. From what I can remember Baxter was quite easy to house train and rarely had an accident until much later in his life. He lived until he was 14.

Henry on the other hand is very quiet. He is very easy to scare and constantly needs to be with people. He is nearly three and every once in a while will have an in-house accident.

Both dogs have been very loving and great family pets.

They shed, but never has it been a problem with the amount that they do.

Jack Russell Terriers are very active dogs and need to be stimulatd due to thier high intelligence. I have read in mulitple books about Jack Russells that most Jack Russells do not die by accident (getting hit by a car etc.) but rather by over exertion. In other words, once they get the idea that they need to dig a hole they will dig that hole until they die.

An example of this would be Baxter at the age of 3 or 4 chewing through a metal drain pipe to get to a ground squirrel.

But, they are great dogs and really, do not let anyone else tell you different.

 

[curiouser]

I agree with the above posters that they are wonderful, smart dogs, but you have to be prepared for them. They do have a lot of energy and as one of the above posters said, they need to be stimulated. Regular walks, game playing, etc..

A lot of good breeders won't let you buy one unless you have a fenced in yard, but even then JRTs can dig under fences and climb trees (getting them back down is another thing!) chasing squirrels, chipmunks, etc.. Remember, they are terriers and terriers are meant to hunt vermin!

I in no way want to dissaude you from purchasing a JRT, but I want you know what you are getting into. Do your research and read everything you can about them before buying one. So many people dive into buying one before they really understand their personalities and the poor JRTs end up without a home because the family isn't prepared to take care of them!

Edited to say: if you are looking at a JRT for you, and you have a cat (which I believe you do, per your sig) you might want to think about another breed. Your cat will get chased. Especially if you bring in a JRT puppy. They are known for not getting along with cats, although their are exceptions.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Thank you all for your replys. I appreciate it!

 

[NewJersey]

My sister has one. Do not, I repeat, do not get a Jack Russel. They're totally wild and out of control, shed like crazy, and never stops barking. She tried everything when it was a puppy, and even now to train it, but it's horrible. My parents have a Scottish Terrier and it's like two different worlds when you're dog sitting.

 

[Makdyn]

My aunt has one. "Salty" He is very old in age now but just a hyper. they have a field next to there house that they take him to run around. When you pet him he will bark at you if you stop oh yeah even though he is "fixed" he will still hump anything that he can wrap his legs around. My dds can not play on the floor or they will be humped.

 

[RUDisney]

My next door neighbor has one and his sister who lived there before him had one. Why on earth my neighbor got one after seeing what his sister went through with hers is beyond me, but he did.

I think the experience with the JRT would have been different if the yard was fenced and he could play outside. I also think it could be different if both siblings had more time to walk and play with them. Outside to them is a quick trip in their yard, business done, back inside.

Both JRTs were very high strung. The first one was put down due to a medical disorder that was causing aggression and would only have gotten worse over time. With a new baby arriving, and that dog snapping at Mom and Dad all the time anyway, they had to put him down.

The second one has allergies that are unbelievable. Although they are trying to find something that can help him, he has red patches all over and his nose, the last I saw him, had no fur on it. I don't think this is inherent of the breed, just luck of the draw.

Neutering a JRT, doesn't calm them down, like it does in the case of some other breeds. That is usually my ace in the hole when living through puppyhood to get them to calm down.

Now, so you don't think I'm completely negative on that breed, like I said, given the right circumstances, they are great dogs. My aunt and uncle have one. They live in the country. He is free to roam around their property to catch critters and exercise.

You know your lifestyle best. If you're laid back or busy outside of your home, don't get a JRT. If you have space for him to play or you're very active and can walk him as he needs to be walked, then get one.

 

[grinningghost]

My best friend has one. He's really hyper. He's calmed down a LITTLE over the years, but not much. He's not a lap dog, but he does like to sleep in bed with people. And he can jump really high.

He's crazy, but very cute.

 

[ilovepcot]

One of my oldest and dearest friends has 3 Jack Russells. DH and I, along with many others, avoid visiting in her home since she acquired these dogs. They shed, they bark endlessly, they don't behave when called down, they leap all over visitors and rip clothing, they fight. It's chaotic! My friend is always complaining about what they've killed or the number of complaints they've gotten from neighbors due to the barking or the fact she has to walk them before bed every night. If she doesn't, they're too keyed up to sleep or allow her to sleep. She's *always covered* in dog hair and you will be too if you visit her home. And they *will* run down cats and kill them. Wonder how I know?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I beg of you, please don't leave a JRT in the house. PLease only get one if you have a big yard/lots of land for them. My parents have 2 and they would go bananas if they were forced to be inside dogs.

Oh and one of them is quite the lap dog.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Run run run run as fast as you can in the opposite direction!!!

We have a Jack Russel named "Thumper" and we are probably going to have to get rid of him though it makes me sad. He is just very stubborn and after 1 1/2 years of trying to train him ... no luck. We are selling our house and having to rent for a year and I just can't trust he won't make a mess of the rental property. I doubt anyone would rent to us with him anyway.

He is loving ... he does like to snuggle and be petted ... I do love him and will be very sad ... but he is just so hard to deal with.

Not housetrained ... even with crating .... he learned how to pee out of the crate.

Escape artists ... runs out the door everytime we open it, he is out it a flash. He can also climb a chain link fence and get through a hole the size of your fist!

Strong as an ox ... will resist with all his strength when you try to get him of the bed.

We tried training ... My DH was too embarrassed to go back to doggie training class after the first few lessons.

Even the trainer said that Jack Russels are very hard to train and that it was going to take a lot of patience and time ... and he may never be ideal. Then informed us around 3 years of age he would calm down some.

This is a BIG dog in a little body!!!!!

We are moving and can't take him with us so are looking for a good home.

These CAN be great dogs. Thumper is GREAT. I do love him. They just need a big yard with a very good fence. (They can dig under as well.)

DH used to work for invisible fencing and he said the Jack Russell was the only dog he ever saw grit thier teeth and walk through the line getting shocked all the way. Jack Russell is one of TWO breeds they will not garuntee that invisible fence will contain.

Farm dog ... good farm dog. LOL

WDWO

 

[curiouser]

WDWO: Please look into this group: http://www.russellrescue.com/ They are wonderful people who find displaced JRTs loving, well suited homes. I had to give up my JRT (my father injured his knee very badly and we couldn't deal with a puppy as well as he being on crutches at the time - I was still in HS) and they found my puppy a wonderful home where he helps out a blind Dalmation dog and gets to run with horses!

They will find your puppy a great place and give him a good foster home in the meantime! Here is the link to their Maryland chapter: http://www.creativewebdesignsinc.com/RussellRescue/

 

[hiwaygal]

I in no way want to dissaude you from purchasing a JRT, but I want you know what you are getting into. Do your research and read everything you can about them before buying one. So many people dive into buying one before they really understand their personalities and the poor JRTs end up without a home because the family isn't prepared to take care of them!

While this is true of any dog, I think it might be ESPECIALLY true of JRT's.

They are wonderful little dogs, but they require A LOT of patience and guidance.

They are definitely not for "first time" dog owners (don't know if you are one or not).

Definitely contact a JRT rescue group or a reputable breeder before you make your decision.

 

[snickerharley]

I have a Jack! She is a broken coat , so yes she does shed. She is about 98% housebroken (she is 6yrs) but when it snows like crazy she sometimes has accidents. I love her and cound not imagine my life without her, she can be a lap dog but only with me.... she wants nothing to do with anyone else. She is a one person dog. We have also had problems with her being overprotective of me (when DFi hugs me she goes crazy, barking and showing teeth) and she also does not like children (i think it is bacuse she was not raised with them). She barks when she sees someone coming towrds the house ,walking past the house or when a repairman comes she has to go to her kennel. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My IL's have one, and this is my advice if you get one:

DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, start throwing a tennis ball for it to chase.

 

[jpmandan]

We are the proud owners of a JRT and two active boys that keep her happily involved most of the time. We also live in the "country" so that she can hunt rats and mice when the boys can't play with her. She does shed (smooth coat), but not enough to worry most people. She has quirks about many things (water, putting on shoes, picking up keys, etc.) that send her into a barking, jumping frenzy. She is a lap dog for anyone with a lap, but only at night when she's tired. We can't board her during our WDW trips, because she pines away for us and loses her voice and alot of weight.

If you can't put up with these qualities, another breed may be for you.

*She also was raised with cats and has no problem with them.