Jack Russell Terriers

The Jack Russell Terrier is a terrier breed that has been developed in the United Kingdom, primarily by hunters of foxes and rats to catch small game, and also as a watchdog. welcome to the ultimate Jack Russell Terrier Guide!

Breed Overview

The Jack Russell Terrier breed was first recognized by The Kennel Club (England) in June 1874. Currently there are an estimated 170,000 dogs worldwide with just under 50% living in the U.K., where they are continuing their long standing reputation for hunting vermin and protecting property – particularly from snakes which are common targets of this dog’s skills both on land or close to water both near home or abroad in the show ring.

Terrier Characteristics

The Jack Russell is an intelligent, energetic dog. They are not intended to be housed in apartments and do best with a yard to explore in. While this breed can live outside they should always have access to shelter and it may be very important during cold weather or when left for long periods of time that the dog has access to water at all times even if it must be heated.

Do they Shed?

This breed has extremely short hair which is highly energy efficient requiring minimal grooming: simply a brush weekly or more often as needed will suffice. Their coat also helps protect them from sunburns, wind, dirt and brambles making them an excellent choice for active owners living close to or in nature.

They are considered a low-shedding breed but this varies depending on the level of coat maintenance provided by the owner. I once had a JRT that shedding a hell of a lot! They won’t need too much grooming but you will want to brush them with a slicker brush maybe weekly or fortnightly. The longer haired or short hair will need slightly more grooming and sometimes may warrant a trip to the pooch parlour.

How long do Jack Russells live?

They have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years which is an average for most breeds. However, I once met one Jack Russell who was 21. Also one of my university friends had a JRT called Digger that lived to 22 years old!

Are Jack Russells OK with Children?

many JRTs can be fine with children as long as the child knows how to behave around the dog whether playing or just visiting but should never be left unsupervised.

In general these dogs react off leash as if they were on one behaving like terriers do: curious, excited, sometimes aggressive in protecting their owners even from those outside the family – making training essential for any new owner. It is important to establish yourself as alpha early through consistent methods such as positive technique or training to make sure that the dog knows who is in charge.

Feeding your Jack Russell

A cup of dry food a day will generally be sufficient for most adult Jack Russells and can be fed in two meals for adult dogs still growing or one meal daily as an adult. Puppies however may require three meals per day and while it is never recommended to allow puppies free access to water at least until they are fully grown this breed – like all others – needs plenty of clean fresh water available at all times with no exceptions. For more information on feeding visit our diet section below.

They require approximately 1 cup of two meals per day split into dry food or kibble depending on preference though some dogs do better with a moist diet such as canned food or raw meat with some cooked veggies mixed in. Some special diets are even designed to fatten them up when they are too thin if this is the case talk to your vet before making any changes.

Jack Russell Terrier Guide on Health

There is a low risk of hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, hemophilia, von Willebrands disease, and kidney disease but as with all breeds it is important to research and know health risks before purchase or breeding.

They may not thrive without enough mental and physical stimulation simply because they are bred to work. While some dogs do okay with no exercise whatsoever if you choose one of these breeds for your family be prepared for daily walks based on your lifestyle: younger dogs will need more exercise than older ones, puppies will require even more time and attention to be well adjusted adults but will calm down once they are mature.

Do Jack Russells Bark a lot?

Their alert nature makes them excellent watchdogs but while most will bark when someone comes by others may not so this should be considered during your purchasing options: they are known for barking excessively at times if left alone too long or bored – especially when young. They are smart dogs though not always easy to train because they do things on their own terms; an owner must firmly establish themselves as alpha early on in the dog’s life to get the best behavior but patience is required with this breed as training may be a ongoing process.

Exercise

Exercise needs to be based on their age and breed – these guys need at least thirty minutes of physical activity each day though puppies will require more rest before beginning again the next day so it is hard to say how much time is best for them without knowing their health level: you should always take your dog’s level of exercise into consideration when exercising other pets in the home including cats, because while they may appear okay now they can develop stress disorders from exercise that surpasses own limits; this may be more prevalent in breeds that suffer from breathing problems like pug or bulldogs.

I hope that you enjoyed this Jack Russell terrier guide. You might want to find out more about the Jack Russell terrier and Are Jack Russell Terriers Smart?

Now dog owners have found a way to help clean their dog’s teeth the natural way with a dog toothbrush toy. That means that your dog will keep his/her own teeth clean in a way that is fun and natural for them.

Avoid Mess and Stress!

It also means no getting in a mess with doggy toothpaste or having to put a toothbrush (or even your fingers!) in your dogs mouth. Also some dogs really hate having their teeth brushed and so in that case – a dog toothbrush toy is an excellent option.

Introducing the Dog Toothbrush Toy

Dog toothbrush toys are specifically designed for dog’s tongues and gums. They stimulate dog’s oral health by removing plaque, tartar and other dental deposits on dog’s teeth and gums. With a toothbrush toy, dog owners don’t need to worry about giving dogs crunchy treats or biscuits that can cause dental problems. Instead give them a healthy treat such as these dog-toothbrushes which is made from a rubber material designed specifically to remove plaque and tartar.

Best Toothbrush Toys on Amazon

You can buy a one of these for less than £10 on Amazon. Here are some of the best we’ve found:

VRTOP Dog Chew Toys

We love this crocodile style dog toy that comes in green or a brighter ‘grass green’. It’s great for medium sized dogs and tough chewers like Jack Russells and Staffys.

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Squeaky Dog Chew Toy – Tough Durable Natural Rubber Bone with Toothbrush

This doggie chew toy has two inbuilt squeakers which terriers love – it makes it so much more exciting for them. The toothbrush grooves in the dog toy will clean your dogs teeth as he chews. You can actually squirt dog toothpaste into the grooves and let it do the work for you! It’s safe and non toxic made from natural rubber. The non-slip grooves mean that your dog can easily hold it with his paws.

SCHITEC Dog Chew Toy, Indestructible Tough Squeaky Pet Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers, Durable Natural Rubber Bone with Toothbrush, Large Medium Breed Teeth Cleaning Care

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• TOOTHBRUSH & BUMPS FOR DENTAL CARE: The toothbrush grooves allows you to add dog toothpaste or dog food to help dogs clean teeth by itself while eating and chewing. Different sizes of molar bumps on the dog toy are designed for cleaning different teeth, massage dog's gums and effectively control tartar and plaque.
• DURABLE RUBBER CHEW TOY: Made of food grade rubber, the dog toy is non-toxic and safe for your dogs to chew and bite. Designed with a solid structure, which makes the rubber chew toy strong and bite-resistant, almost indestructible for aggressive chewers.

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Durable Rubber Bear Paw Dog Chew Toy

With this durable rubber Bear Paw dog toy you can actually put toothpaste in the teeth grooves and treats inside. This will clean your dogs teeth and exercise your dogs brain at the same time.

Hoenu Dog Chew Toys, Durable Rubber Bear Paw Dog Chewers Toys, Dog Treat Balls, Puppy Bite Resistant Puzzle Interactive Dog Toothbrush with Milk Flavor

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• 🐕【Dog Toothbrush Ball】: The dog toothbrush toy is designed to clean your dog's teeth by itself. The bear claws and the gap in the middle could help them clean the teeth and prevent plaque and tartar build up, effectively clean the teeth, promote oral health, and relieve dog teeth and gum discomfort.
• 🐕【Natural Rubber Material】: This bear shape dog chew toy is made of 100% natural rubber with a fresh milk flavor, soft, non-toxic, environmentally friendly and durable, which can ensure that your dog can play and chew safely. This durable dog toys is suitable for 10-90lbs (5-40KG) dogs.

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If you enjoyed this blog you might also like to read about the strong and durable Kong Bone dog today.

One of the cutest things about Jack Russell terriers is their gorgeous triangle ears. Some are ‘drop ears’ and some ‘stick up’. Both are fine and completely normal. But today’s blog is here to answer the question ‘Why do my Jack Russells ears stick up?’

So, why do my Jack Russells ears stick up?

Usually a Jack Russells ears will prick up because they are startled, or have seen something that they want – it’s a way for them to express themselves. These are situations where you might see your Jack Russells ears stick up…

• Someone knocks at the door or rings the doorbell
• You are out walking and your dog sees another dog
• You open a can of food!
• He sees a ‘prey’ animal such as a rabbit or squirrel
• He is ready to play and brings you his favourite toy

It is normal for a Jack Russell’s ears to prick up at these things as they are an excitable breed and very prey driven.

It’s important to get your head around dog body language, as ears pricking up can be a sign of fear or aggression but also a sign of excitement. You can usually tell by the rest of his body in reaction to the stimulus. When it’s about food it will be a happy ear prick and you will see a calm disposition and a wagging tail. However, if your dog shows leash aggression, this may be a sign of fear. You can tell this because it will probably be accompanied by lunging and barking, possibly some hairs up on his back.

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training Methods

With fearful situations, you can use positive reinforcement dog training techniques to train him to understand that these things are not threats. For example, clicker training works well when you get them used to the clicker and then click treat when you start to see the trigger such as another dog or a bike.

My Jack Russells ears stick up all the time – is this normal?

Some Jack Russells ears don’t ‘drop’ but they stick right upwards permanently and that’s ok! It doesn’t usually mean that there is anything wrong with your dog, although you can always get a vet to check him or her to be sure. But for some Jack Russells and Jack Russell crosses it’s just genetic. This was the case with my black and tan Jack Russell Suzy – she always looked startled because of her sticky up ears!

Sometimes you even get some with one ear up and one ear down!

I hope that I’ve answered the question ‘Why do my Jack Russells ear stick up?’ sufficiently, but if you have any further questions, please comment on my blog!

I often get asked ‘Can Jack Russells be left alone?’ In a nutshell, they can be left alone but not for too long and they won’t like it! Mae sure that you give them plenty to do while your gone or your house may be unrecognisable when you return!

Can Jack Russells be left alone?

The simple answer is yes – a Jack Russell Terrier can be left alone for a maximum of around 3-4 hours, but only in a safe environment and necessary to do so. Jack Russells really don’t like to be left alone though, and so today’s blog is all about how you can make it as comfortable as possible for them and minimise their anxiety.

Jack Russells can get Separation Anxiety

Because Jack Russells are very loving and loyal to their owners, this means that they can suffer from separation anxiety. They will be anxious when left alone and this can manifest itself in the following behaviours….

• Constant barking and howling
• Peeing and poo-ing indoors in protest
• Destructive behaviour such as chewing furniture and wallpaper
• Pacing around the house

Tips for leaving your Jack Russell alone

You will be pleased to know that with the right training and support it is possible for your Jack Russell to get used to being left alone. Remember that leaving him to go for a movie or a drink for a couple of hours is OK for him, but leaving him for a full 8 hour day while you work or go to Alton Towers is probably not! It is a great idea to find a good and reliable dog sitter or walker to help out when you need it.

Here are our top tips for leaving your JRT alone:

• Build him up slowly – start by leaving him just 15 minutes or half an hour while you go to the shop. Then increase slowly up to 3-4 hours over a period of a few weeks. This will reassure him that you are always coming back.
• Walk him before you go out – even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes. This will get him ’empty’ to minimise fouling and allow him to spend some energy so that he settles down.
• Get a dog cam such as the Furbo – this will allow you to keep an eye on him and know whether you need to rush back in an emergency.

Furbo Dog Camera: Full HD Wifi Pet Camera with 2-Way-Audio, Treat Tossing, Night Vision and Barking Alerts, Designed for Dogs, Works with Amazon Alexa

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• 🐾 TALK -- Talk to your dog at home to calm him down and HEAR what he is doing thanks to 2-way-chat.
• 🐾 BARKING ALERT -- Furbo sends a push notification to your phone when t senses your dog barking. You'll always know whats going on at home.

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• Get a pet sitter or a family friend to come and see him when you are out for longer than 4 hours. This will settle him and minimise the barking or howling.
• Leave him plenty of things to do. For example, you can hide treats in a snuffle mat or fill his Kong Extreme with his favourite treats such as frozen yoghurt or cottage cheese! These things will distract him from the fact that you are gone.

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• Give him the same freedom that he always has. For example, if you give the dog the run of the downstairs when you are at home – give him the same freedom when you leave. Shutting him in will feel different and claustrophobic and may set off separation anxiety and make howling worse.
• Move anything dangerous out of the way when you leave your dog – electrical wires, chocolate, anything your dog may eat will need to be moved out of reach for safety.
• We recommend emptying the bins as our JRT often raids them when we leave him alone!

Remember that it is a risk to leave your dog with any toy – particularly a new and unfamiliar one. We have heard reports of people’s dogs eating their licky mats and needing emergency surgery because they ate the plastic! Always supervise your dog with a new toy first and then when you are confident that you can leave them with it, still leave the dog cam on so you can always see what is happening.

If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about:

• 10 facts about Jack Russells
• When do Jack Russells Calm Down?!
• Jack Russell Anxiety

Long haired Jack Russells are a very popular type of Jack Russell Terrier.  They can have curly coats that make them look more like a Poodle than a Jack Russell, or smoother but longish hair. Some are smooth long haired JRTs. In this article, we will talk about the main differences between these dogs and other types of Jack Russells.

Long Haired Jack Russell Grooming

If you are seriously considering getting a long haired Jack Russell, then you need to be ready for a lot of brushing.  Your dog will need daily brushing and combing so that his coat stays clean and healthy.

Rosewood Soft Protection Slicker Brush for Dogs, Small

• DE-MATTING TOOL: Our Soft Protection Slicker Brush is specifically designed to effectively de-matt long fur coats, keeping your pet's coat healthy and tangle-free
• ERGONOMIC SOFT GRIP HANDLE: The slicker brush features an ergonomic soft grip handle, ensuring comfortable and easy use while grooming your pet
• REMOVES MATTS, TANGLES & LOOSE HAIR: This versatile brush eliminates matts, tangles, and loose hair, promoting a well-groomed appearance for your pet

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Long haired JRTs also require more grooming than their short-haired counterparts in order to achieve the best possible look. You will need to regularly trim their hair and nails. Some of the grooming tools that you may need include a slicker brush, metal dog comb and a nail clipper.

Boao Stainless Steel Pet Comb Pet Grooming Comb Rounded Teeth Dog Comb for Large, Medium and Small Dogs and Cats with Tangled Short/Long Hair (19 x 3 cm)

• Durable material: the pet grooming comb is manufactured from stainless steel material, which is rustproof and corrosion-resistant, sturdy, durable and not easy to break, providing you with long-lasting use
• Lightweight and small: the pet steel comb measures approx. 19 x 3 cm/ 7.48 x 1.18 inches in size, lightweight design and small size allow you to easily put it in your bag while won't take up much space
• Safe and effective: designed with smooth and durable surface, the round teeth dog comb won't scratch the pet's skin and will offer comfortable grooming experience without hurting your pet, also can effectively prevent static electricity

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If you do not have the time to keep up with your dog, then you might consider getting a more low maintenance breed.  Not only is caring for long haired JRTs labor intensive, but it can also be costly if you decide to pay a professional groomer to care for your dog’s coat.

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• Free Hidden Nail File conveniently stored in handle will allow you to polish sharp nails to perfection.

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Curly or Straight?!

Long-haired Jack Russell terriers can have curly hair or very straight hair. One common Long Haired JRT is a curly coated dog known as an LHR (long haired retriever). However, some dogs perceived to be long haired Jack Russells may actually be hybrids such as the Jackapoo (Jack Russell Poodle cross).

The other type of long haired JRT is the Smooth coat in which the dog’s coat is smooth, but they are still long haired.

They are Still Jack Russells!

The accepted definition of a Jack Russell Terrier has always been that it is a tri-colored, compact sized working dog .  This breed was recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1936.  

While many people think Short Hair and Long Hair are different breeds, they’re actually not.  They are the same breed, just with a different type of coat. But remember that you will get variety in the breed and the only real way to know for sure is to know your dogs parents or do a doggy DNA test.

So their personality will still be very energetic and active like a classic short haired Jack Russell.

Long Haired Jack Russells are so unusual and special and we totally love them!

If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about Black and Tan Jack Russell

The Jack Russell terrier is by far my favourite dog! Happy and energetic, there is never a dull moment if you own one of these dogs! Today’s blog brings you 10 facts about Jack Russells…

Top 10 Facts about Jack Russells

1) One of the Fastest Dog Breeds in the World!

They are extremely energetic. Despite their small size, they can run at incredibly fast speeds for short periods of time. They are one of the worlds fastest dog breeds and can run up to 38mph! Jack Russells make great companions for people with an active lifestyle. Jack Russells enjoy running and playing with their owners, and will keep up without any problems.

2) Jack Russells bark a lot!

Jack Russells bark a lot compared with most other dogs. But they usually won’t sound the alarm unless something is worth warning their owners about. This means that they make great little watchdogs!

3) Jack Russells were first bred in 1795

Jack Russells were first bred in 1795 by hunting enthusiast Reverend John Russell. He wanted a sturdy working terrier for bolting foxes out of burrows.

4) The first female JRT shares a name with an American President!

The first female terrier type dog that John Russell bred from was called TRUMP!

5) The Jack Russell is a big chewer!

The Jack Russell enjoys chewing and will chew most things it comes across – even if it hurts! I’d recommend getting a Kong Extreme which you can fill with their favourite food to keep them occupied when left alone.

6) A Very Intelligent Dog

The Jack Russell is known to be a very intelligent dog and can learn a variety of tricks, behaviours and commands. It is also big on playing games with its master. Jack Russell terriers can be great at small dog agility.

7) High Jumpers

A Jack Russell terrier is an excellent jumper – most JRT’s can jump up to 5 feet in the air! Want to test this? Hold his favourite toy inline with your shoulders and watch him go!

8) Recognised by the Kennel Club since 2016

The original Jack Russell ‘show dogs’ were the Parsons Russell terrier which was often mistaken for the classic Jack Russell but is actually slightly taller and has a rougher coat. In 1999, the breed name of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier was changed to the Parson Russell Terrier to differentiate the two breeds. The Parson Russell is now well established in the show ring and retains its working abilities as a ‘fox’ terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier was given official recognition by The Kennel Club only very recently in 2016 – so you will be pleased to know that now the JRT is Kennell club recognised in its own right!

9) Fiesty and Fearless!

The Jack Russell is a fearless dog, and will defend itself (and its master) against any sort of threat. A Jack Russell will take on animals much bigger than itself and not back down.

10) The Jack Russell Terrier is the world’s best known terrier breed

The Jack Russell Terrier is the world’s best known terrier breed, thanks to its success in the show ring and its celebrity owners. You might also recognise the Jack Russell from movies such as ‘The Mask’ with Jim Carrey and TV shows such as Frasier!

If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about Can Jack Russells be left Alone? and Benefits of Owning a Jack Russell