The Jack Russell is a
happy, bold, energetic dog; they are extremely loyal,
intelligent and assertive. Their greatest attribute is their
working ability, closely followed by their excellent
qualities as a companion. A Jack Russell can be equally
contented bolting a fox or chasing a toy in your living
room, or equally adept at killing a sock in the living room
or a rat in your barn. Their funny antics will continually
amuse you, their intelligence seems to know no bounds and
their assertive nature and boundless energy can at times be
overwhelming.
The unique personality
of this feisty little terrier is capturing the hearts of
many, but they are not a dog for everyone.
A Hunting
Dog
While adaptable to a
variety of environments, they are first and foremost bred to
be
hunting
dogs. City or apartment living, or a confined or sedate
lifestyle, do not meet the needs of a Jack Russell. These
little dogs require what may seem to be an extraordinary
amount of human attention, outdoor activity, exercise,
discipline and an understanding and acceptance of their
hunting nature. They have been known to train their
owners more often than not.
Jack Russells can be
very aggressive with other dogs, and in fact more than two
should never be kept together unattended. There have been
many instances of terriers being hurt, even killed, by their
fellow terriers; even young pups over the age of eight weeks
must be carefully monitored. It is imperative that
prospective Jack Russell owners understand this part of the
terrier's nature. Special facilities and handing are
absolutely necessary when owning a Jack Russell, and
especially when owning two or more Jack Russells. Their
natural hunting instinct also brings out aggression towards
other small animals such as cats, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.
It is said that the
courage of the Jack Russell is never in doubt; surely a true
statement, as they have often been known to take on an
adversary twice (or more) their size. They require firm,
consistent, responsible handing; they are very intelligent,
determined and bold (sometimes to the point of abandon,
which could be fatal).
While outdoor activity
and exercise is essential, the Jack Russell should never be
permitted to roam unattended, even in the most remote
country setting. The Jack Russell is, above all, a hunting
dog - and will go to ground at every given opportunity, to
any quarry - they are afraid of nothing. Many a Jack Russell
has been known to stay in an active earth for days, even
weeks, without food or water because of the strong instinct
bred into them to stay with their quarry. It can be very
frightening experience to lose your terrier and an
impossible situation to the untrained owner inexperienced in
earthwork; the results could be tragic.
A Family Pet
The Jack Russell can
make a terrific family pet, and gets along well with well
behaved children. One of the Jack Russell's most surprising
qualities is a kind and gentle nature. He is usually
friendly with small children, provided the child understands
how to properly handle the terrier. Having the natural
assertive terrier characteristics, however, the Jack Russell
will not put up with even unintended abusive nature from
a child. This should be carefully considered,
particularly with children under the age of six.
The Jack Russell has
been a popular breed in England for many years, and is now
attracting a variety of followers with varied interests in
this country and other countries around the world. The
JRTCA
strongly encourages all those interested in the breed to
thoroughly study all aspects of the Jack Russell, its
special characteristics and needs, and to make a careful
evaluation of whether this unique little dog will fit into
your lifestyle.
The Jack Russell does
require special handling, and there is
special
information to determine if the Jack Russell Terrier is
the right dog for you.
The Jack Russell is a
very special breed; it has been kept sound, functional,
intelligent and relatively unchanged because of responsible
people who have cared about its heritage. The major goal and
purpose of the JRTCA is to maintain the Jack Russell as the
wonderful working terrier that it has been for more than 100
years. The real future of the Jack Russell, however, depends
on all owners and breeders, who will hopefully share the JRTCA' s
dedication to preserving the Jack Russell Terrier as the
sound working breed it has been for many generations and for
many more generations yet to come!"
The
above information was taken from the JRTCA website. Please
see www.terrier.com
for more information regarding the breed and its needs and
care.
