Jack Russell Terrier Dog Breed Profile
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 them 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.
They 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. When
it comes to Jack Russell training he needs 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.
They 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.
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