Jack Russell Exercise

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Yes, Jack Russell exercise can involve an active schedule, so if you cannot dedicate the time to it, or if you work 9-5pm and are probably going to need to leave your dog alone for most of the day, a Jack Russell may not be the dog for you. I hope that you enjoy this guide to exercising your JRT and keeping your dog healthy.

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How much Exercise do Jack Russells need?

Jack Russells need a great deal of exercise. This should be a combination of on lead and off lead walks, extended time to run free in the garden or open space (if their recall is good enough!) and indoor exercise through games.

How much walking does a Jack Russell Need?

Small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers actually need just as much exercise as their larger counterparts (if not more!). For instance, a Jack Russell will need two 45-minute walks a day and some time to play. Extended walkies on weekends away wouldn’t go amiss. Were talking about Snodonia and Peak district hikes rather than just a walk in the local park! My last Jack Russell Milo lived with me in Manchester. We would often walk for about three hours in the Pennines on a Sunday afternoon. Only then would he start to tire!

Off Lead Time and Why it is important

They also need at least an hour in the backyard or at the dog park to run free. The lead free exercise gives them a chance to run at their own speed which is important for getting their energy out. If your JRT likes to play fetch or frisbee that is a great way to exercise your dog.

Indoor Dog Games

You can supplement this outdoor exercise with indoor Jack Russell games. They love to play sniffing games and indoor fetch. Also many Jack Russells like a bit of rough and tumble play such as a tug-o-war with their ragga! Most of my Jack Russells have what we call a ‘happy hour!’ just before bedtime. Around 10pm they seem to have an energy spurt that they need to expel with a race around the house or a wrestle!

What do I need to Exercise my Jack Russell?

Make sure that you are fully set up with the dog essentials that you need to exercise your Jack Russell. You will need a good collar and harness. It’s a good idea to have a variety of leads (long and short) for different types of walkies. Also get plenty of toys to play indoors and outside with your dog.

Harness

Make sure that you get a strong sturdy harness such as a Julius K9 harness. These are good because the dogs body takes the strain of the lead and you are not yanking him around by the neck. But there is a time and a place for collar walkies such as street walks where you need to have more control of the direction of his head.

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Leads

We have several types of lead for our JRT – a short one for full control on street walks, a training lead that we can change the length of and a long rope lead (30m) for exercising, training and recall. It seems that for Jack Russell terriers one lead just isn’t enough!

This is the Halti training lead which is absolutely brilliant, especially if you are training your dog. This can be fastened at different places on either or the harness or collar – even both at the same time so you can split the leads. This means that the harness can take the weight of the pulling but you can still redirect your dogs head if you need to.

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An long 15-30m line is essential if your dog doesn’t have full recall. Your dog can get the exercise he needs without the worry of losing him or him getting into trouble. This is particularly important in parks near roads or if your dog can’t resist going up to other dogs. Get a heavy duty one because the thin flimsy ones easily come off!

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Toys

Make sure that you find out what your dog really loves to play with. Flirt poles are great for JRTs who are very prey driven. They are also safe as the toy is kept away from the person’s body so there is less risk of accidental nipping.

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If your Jack Russell likes to play fetch find out is he prefers tennis balls or frisbees. If he loves tennis balls it can be a good idea to get a supply of more than one as he might lose or destroy them!

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In the house, you might find that your JRT loves a good tug-o-war. If that’s the case then a rope toy is essential! Some Jack Russells like to play with squeeky animal plush toys that satisfy their prey drive.

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Health Benefits of Adequate Jack Russell Exercise

The benefits of regular Jack Russell exercise are quite clear: they are less likely to become overweight, more energetic, and may live longer lives. Without regular exercise, they have higher risks of developing obesity, arthritis and other bone disorders such as osteoarthritis; many small breeds also have heart disease and respiratory disorders such as collapsing trachea which are aggravated by lack of exercise. A lack of exercise can lead to a variety of other canine behavior problems, such as aggression, digging, barking and destructive chewing.

Top Tips on Jack Russell Exercise

It is sometimes difficult to get your Jack Russell the exercise they need. Sometimes there is just too much work to do, or perhaps you would like more time with your dog but are afraid he will destroy the house while you are gone. If you have problems with getting your Jack Russell enough exercise, here are some tips:

• Let your dog outside in the yard. Some people put their dogs in a run in their yard. This gives the dog room to run around and play and they can still remain outside without having access to the entire neighborhood. This is great during cold or rainy weather, and it works well for periods of time when you can’t get your Jack Russell outdoors.
• If you are going to be gone longer than usual, take the dog along with you. Take your dog with you when running errands if there is room in the car. You’ll be giving them great exercise while doing things you would have done anyway; this will help save time and money later on as you won’t have to pay someone else to walk the dog or deal with him misbehaving when he’s stuck at home.
• Use a small dog harness. This will allow your Jack Russell to walk comfortably and still get some exercise from just being led around the house.
• Get your dog a large dog bed. You can put this in the living room, next to the couch, so the Jack Russell can get some rest on a nice warm bed after a long day of playing. This will give them some rest and save you from buying one for them.
• In the hot weather you might want to consider getting a dog cooling mat.
• Take your dog to doggie daycare or dog training classes. This is a great way for your Jack Russell to have fun, socialize with other dogs and get some exercise as well as playtime at the same time. They will be able to get all the exercise they need in a safe and controlled setting.
• Keep your Jack Russell’s nails trimmed. Failing to do this can lead to a painful injury which can be very difficult for him to treat at home.
• Play games indoors with your dog so that your Jack Russell gets just as much mental stimulation as he would get from play inside or outside.