Advice in jack Russells please...

J

Jericho

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2008
Messages
2,568
Visit site
We are thinking about getting two dogs and was hoping for some advice on JRTs as these are top of my list so far. I have known a few during my time and as far as I am concerned their positives outweigh their negatives by a long way but i thought it would be good to get some good practical advice from JRT experts as ton whether we could give them a good home.

We are a busy family with 7yr old daughter and 5 yr old son - both have grown up with grandparents dogs and daughter in particular is obsessesd with dogs ( we dog sit dogs regularly). I don't work but am often away from the house for several hours.

We don't tend to go away for long holidays more likely camping hold in the uk and grandparents have said that they would look after them.

We have 5 acres and an outdoor lifestyle - chickens, horses etc kept at home. Garden is very secure. The plan is that they would be house dogs but they would have a run and home in the garden for milder days if we were to go out.

I like the fact they don't need trimming and are short coated - less mud carrying ability!

We would want two so that they would nt be lonely if they are left.
Smaller dogs would be more easily transportable - i drive a 4x4 with big boot which we would use.
We would want puppies so that they can grow up with the children, horses and chickens, and other dogs.
I like jrts because They are full of character and are fairly lively - they will need to withstand a fair bit of play from the children and dog walking from me.

I alsonthink that families and children benefit from caring for a dog. Both oh and I grew up with dogs and I in particular had my own dog when i was a teenager.

So some specific questions:
I know they shed but how bad ?
Are they good for allergy sufferers? Oh is allergic to cats but not to most dogs.
Are they known for being particularly yappy? I appreciate all dogs do bark but would prefer one that is less responsive...
Are they good at chilling it ....
Do they like going on outings unsupervised??!! I know some dogs are very much 'home birds' and won't stray far but some are more likely to want to go off on exciting adventures.
Are they good to train? We would most certainly go to puppy classes and I am a stickler for respect and good behaviour!!! (ask my children and horses!)

My main concern is about biting/ aggression - I have known one dog that was particularly snappy and it worries me, plus I have heard that once they bite they don't let go!

Iappeciate that a lot of these issues can be dealt with early and the basics established through good training but some breeds can be more challenging....

My oh is dragging his heels - mostly about mess and a dog being demanding and the fact that the days out would be more awkward so I want to build up a good base of knowledge tom deal with his objections and wear him down this last little bit...

Many thanks hopefully for any replies...
 
Jericho said:
So some specific questions:
I know they shed but how bad ? NO MORE/LESS THAN OTHER DOGS. OURS IS SHEDDING ATM AND YOU NOTICE IT ON CLOTHES/CARPETS/CAR.

Are they good for allergy sufferers? Oh is allergic to cats but not to most dogs. I'M ALLERGIC TO MOST ANIMALS AND I'M FINE WITH MINE.

Are they known for being particularly yappy? I appreciate all dogs do bark but would prefer one that is less responsive... DEPENDS ON INDIVIDUAL BREEDING. MINE BARKS AND ALL HER RELATIVES DO, BUT THERE IS ONE NEAR OUR FIELD THAT YAPS HORRIFICALLY.

Are they good at chilling it .... IF ENOUGH EXERCISE. OURS SPENDS HER LIFE OUT IN THE FIELD WITH THE HORSES AND DOES NOTHING BUT SLEEP AT HOME.

Do they like going on outings unsupervised??!! SOME WILL, BUT ALL JRT WILL GO OFF AFTER FOX SCENT/OTHER PREY. IF WELL TRAINED ENOUGH WILL COME BACK WHEN CALLED. WE CANNOT TRUST OURS AT DUSK/DAWN BUT FINE THE REST OF THE TIME AS SHE STAYS WITHIN SIGHT.

Are they good to train? NO WORSE/BETTER THAN OTHER DOGS WITH THE CAVEAT THAT YOUR RECALL MUST BE 100X BETTER THAN WITH ANYTHING ELSE IN ORDER TO GET THEM BACK WHEN THEY SMELL FOX!

My main concern is about biting/ aggression - I have known one dog that was particularly snappy and it worries me, plus I have heard that once they bite they don't let go! THEY CAN BE SNAPPY AS ARE BRED TO HUNT/CHASE. DOGS FROM A LINE USED TO HUNT RATS WILL BE SNAPPIER, DOGS FROM ONE THAT IS USED AS A 'SOFT' TERRIER TO STAND AND BARK ONLY WILL BE MORE TRUSTWORTHY. MINE IS A SOFT TERRIER AND RUNS AND HIDES FROM CHILDREN RATHER THAN SNAP AT THEM IF THEY ARE GETTING A BIT MUCH.

Iappeciate that a lot of these issues can be dealt with early and the basics established through good training but some breeds can be more challenging....

My oh is dragging his heels - mostly about mess NONE - YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW WE HAVE A DOG and a dog being demanding TOO TIRED AFTER A DAY OUTSIDE and the fact that the days out would be more awkward so I want to build up a good base of knowledge tom deal with his objections and wear him down this last little bit...

Many thanks hopefully for any replies...
Click to expand...

Only thing I'd add - getting two at once like you are thinking of doing, will mean they won't be quite as attached to you, so your training will have to be more spot on. Also more potential for havoc making and twice the house training at the same time. I'd maybe get one, leave it six months to a year and then get the other.
 
My two jacks would be fine with children. The bitch came from a family with 6 children, so if anything, she misses children and Roly is very gentle with them.

As for snapping/aggression that has never ever happened. Even when they really don't like a dog and they might have a quick pop (which I may add is never out on a walk - its been at home introducing new dogs) its really very tame - its a warning snap, never ever a fight.

My two are really very good at recall, they watch me all of the time while we're out and where maybe they'll run on infront, they always pop up to look where I am!

They are fine to be left, they play together and sleep from what I have seen!

Mine do not yap, I never ever encouraged them to bark - so they don't.

They chill very well, over xmas I was really very ill and didn't move from bed for two days - they slept at the end of my bed quietly.

Training wise, get one a few months before the other I'd say. Nail your training with one and then introduce the other. It'd be hard to really do it with two at the same time!

The only thing out of your list is they both moult quite significantly. I hope that won't put you off, they really are truly excellent little dogs. With the right upbringing i would even go far enough to say they are the perfect dog. :)
 
My JRT doesn't shed almost at all, he barks but very little by comparison to the other small dogs I have, he is very good with chidlren, up for all games/walks/activities, bright and easy to train, but he does have a tendency to wander and he did have recall problems (we had to resort to a long line for a while). He is very much a large dog in a small dog's body.

If you want a dog mainly as a family pet, my money is on a GSD. I've had GSDs all my life and they have always been nannies. Extremely patient and willing to look after children, tolerant of all games, etc. Of course you need to find a dog bred for temperament, but I would recommend that with any breed as a family pet.

The only other thing I would say is that getting two puppies together is asking for trouble. They will be much more difficult to train to recall as they will use each other as their 'safety zone' and will piss off much further than otherwise, they will be more focused on each other and less on you, so much harder to train and you will need to spend a lot of time training and walking each one on its own to make sure they bond with you. Of course I know nothing about your lifestyle, but I am guessing that with two young children and other animals, spending most of your time with the puppies may not be possible. It's best to get one puppy and then another 12-18 months later when the first one is a bit reliable with its training.
 
thanks so much for your replies. I think the reason i like JRTs is that they are a big dog in small clothing! I love big dogs like GSDs and labs - my dog when I was a teenager was a Doberman and he was my best friend but unfortunately whilst we have a big garden etc the house isnt huge and I just dont think they would blend in so much. The moulting doesnt worry me too much (will just have to hoover a bit much ;-P )

Very interesting that you have all said to get one first and then the other - never thought about that but it does make sense plus I think this would appeal to my OH a bit more!
 
Yeah I had Roly in Dec and didn't get Lil til March - however really it could have been even longer ideally (though I wouldn't change them both for the world!)
 
I have one short haired tiny JRT and my son has a broken coated longer haired one. His gets clipped in the summer as she gets hot and she makes my daughter sneeze a lot whereas mine does not.

They were not brought up together and mine is 6months older than his but they are "best friends" and we dog sit a lot for each other as we live near each other. So if you want allergies minimising I would suggest a smooth haired variety.

Neither my son nor myself have small children but they are both brilliant with younger nieces and nephews and are teased,chased, fed inappropriately and carried around at family get togethers with tots from 0 - 10. They have never snapped even when teased with food (I do stop this if I see it of course). I would never say they were 100% as they are dogs - but they are pretty brilliant. They are both good with other dogs though nervous of bigger breeds off the lead. They have both been knocked around a bit by bigger dogs as puppies.

Both were hard work as puppies but are easy now they are 4 years old. They can be left alone or together for quite long periods and never ever destroy anything. My sons dog is "vocal" but it is more a general "talking and moaning" than barking. They are both very good with horses and mine is great with my chickens and completely trustworthy - sits in the nesting boxes with them if it is raining:eek: BUT my sons dog is totally NOT trustworthy with them and I have to make sure they are secure if she is around. She also barks and worries at them if she can. I have yet to find a way to stop this on a permanent basis.

Overall fantastic dogs if you can get recall, housetraining etc sort out young.
Enjoy:)
 
Why have a JRT horrible bad tempered cowardly critters when you can have a LAKELAND FELL TERRIER much better companion dont start fights but will finish them:D
 
we have a jrt bitch.best dog ever. does mault ,not yappy, easy in every way, huge character , very clever and quick to learn, daughter did agility training with her...
 
I also think you should stagger the ages you get puppies. My mum bought two Weimaraners, brother and sister, they were terrible to train as its hard to do it seperately. They are rather attached to each other so its difficult to take them seperately.

I have a 11month old JRT and she is the most wonderful little dog. She is shedding at the moment. Although she is a smooth coat, her coat is a bit longer than other JRTs I know. I dont mind at all though cuz she is so soft and cuddly. She is a total lap dog too and adores attention, kisses and cuddles. I've had her since 6weeks and always given her kisses and snuggles so shes grown up loving them. She isnt a yappy JRT either and only barks when the Weimaraners are barking madly. She does like running off down rabbit holes given the chance so when I walk her where there is rabbits I keep her on an extendable lead now. I live in the middle of nowhere and she occasionally goes on a wander out the garden into the fields but she does come back when she has finished her adventure. She is actually getting better at recalling now though.
 
I went to an old fair today and I spotted two very scared little JRT puppies, Tiny little things, I went over to just look ....and low and be hold I came home with one of them :o !

My other staffy x jrt x heinz 57 ....does not get on that great with other dogs, but I slowly introduced them and within 10 mins the two of them were sharing a bed together, The little bitch is the most sweetest little thing, hasn't shed a hair (not that I can really tell yet ) ....She has been following my 6 year old around everywhere, not nippy or yappy at all . She has been introduced to the horses and has been as good as gold .

Your situation is very similar to mine, in the sense that I am an outdoor person, have the horses at home and live on an enclosed yard, like to go for walks and have rough and tumble kids but also respect the animals .

So far so good though :D :p

puppy.jpg
 
JRT's, Noisiest, moultiest, most annoying bl00dy little monsters on four legs!
* huh? come back now? but there's a mole, i just gotta get the mole first, gotta get the mole, gotta get the mole, gotta get the mole, gotta get the mole!! *

Tother one.... * i'm just coming, but have to pee on this first.........
.. and this....... and this....... and this......., oooo whats that smell, must pee on it, etc, etc.
If you are a sane person, don't get a JRT, if you are allready mad, well it wont matter. :D
 
I have 3!!!! well one jrt and 2 parson jack russells, longer legged. They are fab, loyal, trustworthy, loving, obedient, easily trained, great at recall, horse and chicken friendly, oh and very good ratters!!!!. Agree with others about getting one later as once one is trained the younger dog tends to follow the older one so training is easier.
I have bred 2 litters of parsons in the past all sold within a week of advertising and many disapointed callers after they had all been spoken for. New owners all delighted with their temprements. We kept one so have mother and daughter. Only downside is they do bark one sets the others off but a shout of QUIET shuts them up, having said that they are a good alarm as we live a mile outside the nearest village so quite remote. They are also just a bit too people friendly and jump up, something i should have nipped in the bud at an early age.
 
Fii said:
JRT's, Noisiest, moultiest, most annoying bl00dy little monsters on four legs!
* huh? come back now? but there's a mole, i just gotta get the mole first, gotta get the mole, gotta get the mole, gotta get the mole, gotta get the mole!! *

Tother one.... * i'm just coming, but have to pee on this first.........
.. and this....... and this....... and this......., oooo whats that smell, must pee on it, etc, etc.
If you are a sane person, don't get a JRT, if you are allready mad, well it wont matter. :D
Click to expand...

I absolutely 100% agree with this; my sister has 3 and they are all like this.

Get a Border terrier, non moulting, wonderful temperaments, lovely family dogs
 
I have a 1 yr old JRT x Border Terrier and he's awesome. He's currently fast asleep on my lap having been to the yard this morning, been on a walk and had a snooze in my stable while I was doing stuff. He sleeps a lot, we work full time so when he's home alone during the day he sleeps and sleeps - he is most put-out that we're off work and keeeping him awake at the moment!

He is awesome with kids, although does find them very exciting so can jump up. He doesn't moult much, gets on fine with horses (although would defo chase chickens - but that's because he's never met them before), comes to the yard every day (I live in a city) and is loved by everyone who meets him. He was attacked by a bigger dog and can get nervous around other dogs when on his lead, but just shouts at them, has never snapped. He does think he is Guard Dog - he barks at strange noises outside, but not just incessant barking, only when he wants to tell me something is going on outside!

He did excellently at puppy class, has a whole range of tricks he can perform, and has just started basic agility training where he is top of the class. His recall is excellent and he will do anything for a tennis ball.

We got him at 12 weeks from a breeder who had tons of other dogs, little kids, cats, horses, cows - he had already been involved in daily family, yard and farm life, and I do think that made a big difference to him, in a good way.

Oh - and he's obsessed with being best friends with lambs! he keeps licking their faces!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top