? for Jack Russell owners

[SleepyMom]

We have an 8 month old JRT that we love to pieces... but he is just not a snuggle bunny. Is this the norm?

When he was little he would sit on our laps, but now that he is older he doesn't. If we are sitting on the couch, he will either sit/lay at the other end or jump up on the back and lay behind us. He used to love to chew on a rawhide bone while on your lap, either at the computer or on the couch, but now we are dealing with allergy issues and he is no longer getting rawhide bones.

I'm just wondering about this because as I was sitting here at the computer he jumped up on my lap for the first time in a very long time, he didn't sit here for longer than a minute but it made me realize I miss when he used to do that.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

We have an 8 month old JRT that we love to pieces... but he is just not a snuggle bunny. Is this the norm?

I think it varies from dog to dog. My JRT (actually, my parent's) would live in your lap if you'd let her.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have a border collie mix that would play fetch all day rather than snuggle. It has been raining for a couple of days here and she is going BONKERS!

Our lab/retreiver mix just looks on as if she is crazy.

 

[PixiePop]

We have a Jack Russell and he loves to lay next to us with his head on our lap ...but not on our lap.

 

[SleepyMom]

Dash likes to be held when you are standing up, but once you sit down he will jump down. He actually trys to get up on your shoulder and at 20 lbs. that is not happening!

I was just wondering if this is a JRT trait or if he's just different that way. His preferred place to sit/lay is the highest place he can get to in a room. Like the back of the couch

 

[Aidensmom]

Our JRT is usually laying at my feet, unless I am in bed (whether sleeping or reading or watching TV...) when he will lay cuddled up with me. Only ocassionally does he sit in my lap.

 

[crz4mm2]

Dot likes to lay on our laps when we are sitting in a chair. She loves to get under the covers if we have blankets on our laps. She doesn't like to 'snuggle' though...

 

[lynetteSC]

Maisey (our jrt) LOVES to cuddle at nite...if she is bored in the daytime (i.e. nothing walking infront of our house to make her hysterical) she will jump in our laps to get some TLC, but usually she only snuggles at nite. AND, boy does she growl at nite ... if you turn over and it moves her she growls like freddy kruger is in the bed about to butcher us all!

 

[texasthree]

my sisters JRT would live in your lap if she could. I am always worried shes going to suffocate my 4 year old when we are visiting because she practically sleeps on top of him. She likes to lick his ears to...gross! They also have a german shepard and if she comes near my son the JRT will so crazy. She acts like shes going to eat the 100 pound german shepard and shes about 15 pounds!

 

[lynetteSC]

She acts like shes going to eat the 100 pound german shepard and shes about 15 pounds!

LOL! Yep- jrt's have NO FEAR at all! We have several biggger dogs in the neighborhood and she always acts like she wants to take them on!

 

[SleepyMom]

Dash is the same way with any thing going by the front of the house, he will bark his head off. Especially bigger dogs. When he is actually able to be around them though, he gets along with them just fine.

Wouldn't you know it, just because I asked this question, he has since jumped up in my lap twice to just sit and be petted. It has been at the computer both times, so hopefully he will start doing it in a chair or on the couch again.

He sleeps in his kennel at night, so I wonder if that might be part of it. He's comfortable sleeping alone, so he doesn't like to snuggle during the day? Which brings up another whole can of worms... DD wants him to sleep in her room at night. I wouldn't have a problem with it, he's totally house-trained and sleeps through the night. My worry is that we have to leave him a couple times this summer and I am afraid it will be harder for him if he is used to sleeping with her at night and then she is gone.