How it all began for the Jack Russell Terrier. In the mid-1800's Parson Jack Russell, whose love of fox hunting was unmatched, declared the terriers of the time unsuited for their work -- the red-bodied terriers were too similar to the quarry, he claimed, making it more difficult to know which was the dog and which was the fox. He wanted a white dog, something that would stand out among the forest and never be confused with his prey. So, the Jack Russell Terrier was imagined and, when (as it is assumed) the English Black and Tan Terrier was crossed with the English White Terrier, the breed was realized.
Parson Jack Russell could now go hunting, as could the rest of the England.
The frenetic grace and flexibility of the Jack Russell makes it the ideal hunting dog, but its spirited nature appeals to those seeking just a companion. And, standing between ten and twelve inches and weighing between fourteen and eighteen pounds, the Jack Russell can easily become a family house pet... with the right family.
As with all terriers, the Jack Russell is not a dog for the novice owner. This is, by nature, a stubborn and demanding breed. Also, with its natural hunting instincts, it has a tendency to "attack" other animals, chew and dig. Often, families do not expect this kind of behavior, due to the breed's size, and are overwhelmed. Jack Russell rank as one of the top dogs abandoned by their owners, simply because they were deemed bad dogs. Most people do not realize what it means to own a terrier and cannot handle it.
A Jack Russell Terrier will make an excellent companion for the right kind of person, one who has had experience with dogs (terriers, more importantly) and who understands what needs to be done. Owning a Jack Russell means giving him plenty of activity, attention and discipline.
Terriers are very much like children: you have to devote yourself to them, in all aspects. They require a firm hand to control their natural hunting instincts. A Jack Russell will need an owner who is more stubborn than he is.
These dogs deceive people due to their size. Few believe--until they experience it for themselves--that such a little dog can have such a big personality. The Jack Russell doesn't see himself as a little dog, however. He's just a big dog who happens to be smaller than the others.
His temperament matches, if not exceeds, other breeds. From this, you may believe that owning a Jack Russell is foolish. That is not true. With the right owner -- one who knows how to indulge their need to hunt, but who can also keep them calm -- these dogs can be true joys. Terriers are, by nature, highly intelligent tricksters, very loving and loyal to their owners. They are just also stubborn and more willing to do what pleases them. For someone's first pet, this is not a wise choice. A Jack Russell would dominate you. But, for someone who has had Terriers before, this could be an energetic companion.
Too many of these dogs are abandoned or given away because an owner cannot deal with their digging, jumping (this breed can easily scale five feet), climbing or barking. They do not realize that this is what the Jack Russell was bred for: this is not a dog meant to sit on your lap all day and sleep; this is a dog bred for action. If you cannot give it to him, he will not excel in the environment.
And, that is not to say that you must take the Jack Russell hunting--though, for those who do hunt, you could not ask for a better breed. This simply means giving him lots of exercise and attention and, of course, discipline. Training is a must and you will always be putting the teachings to use as Terriers will test you daily. But, if you are up to the challenge, the Jack Russell Terrier will never let you down.
My boyfriend has allowed his wonderful, very well-behaved Jack Russell, who is two years old, to sleep not just on but in his bed. We are trying to teach her to sleep in her bed which is on the floor by our bed but it's proving very difficult! She's managed to sleep there until about 4 AM, but then the whining starts and she ends up with us. It's not really a problem so much when we are at our house but we are planning to go on holiday and she will be staying with my parents and they really won't tolerate her sleeping in bed with them, nor the whining when she isn't allowed to, so we thought it best to nip the habit in the bud completely. We can get her to stay in her bed but we can't get her to actually sleep ... she just whines ... even if we take her for a hundred walks to tire her out. It's as if she HAS to be that close to us!
Tiffany
Dear Tiffany:
Put the dog in a crate. Not only will she be UNABLE to get onto your bed, but when she goes to your parent's house, you will be able to take the crate with her so she will have a familiar place to sleep at the different residence. By crating her at night, you're providing her with her own "den" since dogs derive more satisfaction from small places than we do. She will more than likely put up a fuss in being confined beyond her control, but it should go away after a few nights as she becomes more comfortable with the crate. Do not give her any attention while she is whining, as this will only reinforce the behavior. Some people go so far as to buy earplugs for those first nights.
Introduce the crate in a positive manner, with lots of treats and praise. Put her bed in it so it has her scent in it. Feed her in her crate so she gets the idea that no one will disturb her and the crate is a safe place. When you have to shut her in, give her a special "crate toy." Many people have had success with Kong toys stuffed with peanut butter or cheese/liver paste and freezing these.
The crate is also useful for confining the dog when it can't be supervised to keep it out of trouble (see the first article above). My book "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!" goes more in-depth on the use of crates and other training devices, and can be found at: http://www.dogproblems.com/newvideos.htm
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Richard Cussons has sinced written about articles on various topics from Terrier Dogs, Boston Terrier Dogs and Terrier Dogs. Rich Cussons is a champion for dogs of all breeds and Jack Russells Terriers in particular. You will find out more about the at the. Richard Cussons's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.
Adam Katz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Puppies Dogs, Dog Care and Pets. Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History." Get a free copy of his report "Games To Play With Your Dog" when you sign up for his free we. Adam Katz's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.