Although it has a whole lot of personality, the Jack Russell terrier is among the smaller-sized dogs. When reaching adulthood, the average Jack Russell dog will weigh about 10 to 15 pounds, having a size of about 10 to 13 inches.
These pups are not only curious, loving, and lively, but they are also the definition of extroverts. Jack Russell pups are always the life of any party. You will also notice that they are pretty affectionate. So regardless of whether you have a pure blood JRT or a mix of Jack Russell Terrier with something else, you shouldn’t be surprised if they need your undivided attention and will crawl in your lap a lot for periodic snuggle sessions.
Jack Russell Terriers are still pretty hard to understand by most people although they have been around since the 1800s. Keep in mind that the pet you’re taking home will hopefully move into his forever home, so make sure you have all the right information about the breed before getting the pet. So let’s get over some of the most popular Jack Russell Terrier myths and try to debunk them.
Jack Russell terriers as apartment dogs
Most people believe that Jack Russell terriers don’t need a lot of space due to their very small size. But keep in mind that the JRT was actually made for fox-hunting purposes, so it is quite an energetic pet. These pups will do best in a big house with a backyard because they need a lot of play opportunities. The Jack Russell is the type of dog that will bark a lot, although it is friendly in nature. This is something that most neighbors living close by won’t enjoy.
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But even so, you could still manage to keep a JRT inside an apartment. To do this, you will have to make sure you will be able to spend enough time with the dog and help him consume his energy through play sessions and daily walks. It will also help if your Jack Russell Terrier is properly trained so that he stops barking unprovoked. You’ll train your dog easier if you give him a treat whenever he stops barking and use the command “quiet”.
Jack Russell terriers like strangers
When it comes to other small breeds, like Chihuahua for example, pups are known to pick a person that they like to cozy up next to, but they will avoid any other people, sometimes even including family members. JRTs, on the other hand, have no problem becoming friends with strangers and accepting them in their lives.
Although Jack Russell Terriers are known to bark loudly when meeting new people, this shouldn’t be a reason to get alarmed as they only try to get people’s attention. As soon as guests will acknowledge the presence of the dog, they will be bombarded with affection and playful behaviors.
Jack Russell Terriers need a lot of exercise
As I said above, Jack Russell Terriers are known to be very active both physically and mentally, so they need a lot of stimulation, which most of the time, only exercise can fulfill. They will need to consume their energy in one way or another, so running and playing will surely help. You need to make sure your dog gets to consume his energy in a good and constructive way. A JRT that is ignored, skips daily walks, and is left home alone can develop destructive behaviors or health issues like obesity.
But keep in mind that walking and playing with your dog daily is one of the best ways of bonding. Taking your dog to the park or getting through romps, games of fetch, or agility courses in the backyard can also tire your Jack Russell, while also helping you two create a stronger bond.
Jack Russells get along with other pets
Jack Russells aren’t friends with just people. They act very nicely around other animals as well, and this includes other dogs that become playmates almost instantly. If you socialize your Jack Russell pup from a young age, you will have an even easier time making him enjoy the company of other pets you might have around the house.
Jack Russells aren’t hard to train
It’s true that JRTs are pretty easy to distract, mostly due to their inquisitive nature. But on the upside, dogs from the Jack Russell breed are very smart and love to get attention, praise, and love from their owners. They can learn all kinds of tricks and commands to become the perfect pets. To get the dog to listen, make sure your training sessions are positive and full of praise and rewards like treats. Punishment almost never works with these dogs. At first, you should go for short sessions of just around 5 minutes. Always try to end on a positive note, even when things didn’t work out as planned. It will make your dog wait eagerly for the next session.
As an ending note, try not to get a pet based on myths you heard from other people. Instead, check the animal’s history with other pets, its age, overall health history, and breed line, to know more about what type of companion you’ll be bringing home. Always get a new pet from a reputable rescue center, shelter, or breeder, and talk about the specifics of the breed and the individual characteristics of the pup before bringing it home with you.
This is the perfect way of getting important information about your dog’s preferences, history, and unique personality traits. Remember that your job starts in the first day after bringing the dog home. A lot of love, socialization, and proper training can transform almost any pup into the perfect pet.
