Their characteristics as working dogs won’t make them unfit as household pets. In fact, Jack Russell Terriers are popular as pets even to families with children. Below are some facts prospective buyers and Jack Russell owners need to know about their Jack Russell Terriers.
• Legend says that Jack Russell was bred by Reverend Jack Russell, a parson and hunter born in 1795. But it was only after his death that this breed was called Jack Russell Terrier.
• Based on the standard of the Jack Russell Club of America, their size must range from 10-15 inches at the withers while 12-14 inches in the AKC standard. Their either rough or smooth coat is mostly white with black, tan or brown markings.
• Even if they are gaining popularity as pets and may enjoy sitting in a lap, you should remember that Jack Russell Terriers are not lap dogs. They are working dogs! And they need training and regular exercise to maintain their temperament and to keep their intelligent minds working. These dogs, if not trained regularly may show unmanageable behavior such as excessive barking or digging in furniture and other unwanted places.
• These dogs are outgoing and friendly towards other dogs and mingle with children easily. However, parents should teach their children not to hurt them because these dogs do not tolerate even unintentional abuse. Poking, prodding and even abusive rough-housing must be avoided so as to maintain the temperament of these working dogs.
• A Jack Russell Terrier may exhibit aggression towards other dogs and can be deadly towards cats, hamsters, gerbils and other animals he considered prey.
• They are commonly known to have crooked or benched legs, often a sign of Achondroplasia- a type of autosomal dominant genetic disorder and is a common cause of dwarfism.
• A Jack Russell can live for up to 14-21 years provided it is well taken cared of. They tend to have less genetic diseases because of the fact that they were bred for working and not for a pet trade. However, they are not less susceptible to diseases such as ataxia, corneal dystrophy, glaucoma and lens luxation. Nevertheless, the degree of these diseases may not get severe compared to other breeds.
• They need less grooming and no special physical care.
You just can’t immediately choose what breed of dog to get. It is important to gather vital information first before finally deciding what to get. This is to ensure that what you will take home suits you and your lifestyle.
Russell Terriers were originally bred by Reverend Mr. John Russell, who was a parson and loved to hunt. Russell Terriers originated from a terrier named Trump, who was supposed to breed a terrier that would have good stamina for hunting and courage to catch and chase foxes without actually hurting them. Another form of Russell Terriers were ones bred for badger digging. They were crossed with Bull Terriers to create a strong, small dog which were then described as Jack Russell Terriers.
There is controversy over the breed, as Jack Russell Terriers were not recognized by major dog registries for a long time. In 1990, Jack Russell Terriers were finally recognized. However, since recognition is still quite recent, there is still no kind of conformity on naming and classifying the different types of dogs yet.
Jack Russell Terriers are about 25 to 30 cm tall and are mostly white with various colors such as black or tan on the face and tail. Their ears are V-shaped and fold forward. Jack Russell Terriers have strong teeth and a dense double coat which comes in three varieties.
Jack Russell Terriers' tails, which are 6 to 8 inches long, are straight and upright. In the past, the tails were often cut short to about 4 inches, supposedly to give them a human hand's grip so hunters could help pull them out of holes. Fortunately, docking like this is now illegal and is less common.
An outgoing breed with a keen expression, Jack Russell Terriers are considered intelligent and are filled with energy. They are popular pets due to their small size, friendly nature, intelligence and curiosity. They need a lot of exercise as they have a hunting background and are meant to be strong and fast. Though they love to play, training is necessary as untrained Jack Russell Terriers tend to have difficult behaviors.
Jack Russell Terriers make good watchdogs as they were designed to bark at prey. Though they are very vocal dogs, they do not bark unless there is a good reason to. They are good with children, but any kind of abuse, even accidental, is not tolerated by them. Most Jack Russell Terriers are outgoing and friendly to other dogs, but some can be fairly aggressive. Jack Russell Terriers are also known as not being afraid of larger dogs, which can be a bad thing and lead to injuries.
Jack Russell Terriers, if taken care of, can live for over 15 years. The main health issue with them is cataracts, which is often seen in Jack Russell Terriers whose breeding stock is not tested.
Jack Russell Terriers are popular on screen as well, as they have vivid facial expressions and a feisty personality. Famous Jack Russell Terriers include Wishbone, who has his own television series, Milo from the popular comedy movie "The Mask" and Eddie, the popular dog on Frasier.
Jack Russell Terriers make great pets as they are small and friendly, yet also are attentive, strong and vocal when they need to be.
Both Richard Cussons & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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