Parson Russell owners?

sarahann1

sarahann1

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We’re very tentatively considering getting a second dog. We both like JRTs, our current dog is a JRTx, my OH is particularly keen on Parson types, my question is, are they more or less energetic/prey driven than your average JRT? We have a cat we really don’t want to get eaten!

Thanks!
 
I only have my own for experience and she’s very prey driven. Her recall is perfect when there’s no bushes or anything really but otherwise non existent! She was a year old when we got her so possibly partly due to that. Apart from that she’s a wonderful dog, good with other dogs and perfect with people. She has a huge personality and manages to let me know what she wants, without the need to speak!

Other than the prey drive I’d say she’s perfect. I can take her anywhere and she’ll be impeccably behaved. She’s braver than any dog I’ve ever known too and nothing scares her so fireworks etc are no problem. She’s 13 this year and still looks and acts like a young dog.

I believe someone else on here has one with no recall, so perhaps a breed trait? I’m sure even a dog like this could live with a cat if it was trained from a puppy. Mine wasn’t and she’d happily kill if given the chance.
 
My late dearly beloved JRT was an aggressive little shit who killed "foreign", non-family cats, randomly attacked great danes, rottweilers, ANYTHING she didn't like the look of, but loved kids and was the most loyal companion you could wish for. I swore I'd never have another, but now have a half one, who is.......implacably opposed to "foreign" cats, and mules. His recall is patchy at best, but he loves tennis balls so I can usually get him to come to a tossed ball if nothing else - this is him:
Samwell at AHAR.jpg
 
Cortez said:
My late dearly beloved JRT was an aggressive little shit who killed "foreign", non-family cats, randomly attacked great danes, rottweilers, ANYTHING she didn't like the look of, but loved kids and was the most loyal companion you could wish for. I swore I'd never have another, but now have a half one, who is.......implacably opposed to "foreign" cats, and mules. His recall is patchy at best, but he loves tennis balls so I can usually get him to come to a tossed ball if nothing else - this is him:
View attachment 40390
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He’s adorable! My JRTx is fab with my cat, wants to chase all others, hates black labs with a passion and anything that has a squashed face. His recall is impeccable thankfully after an initially shaky start, guess that’s the cross part of him ?
 
Ha, recall is always work in progress (we have 4 PRT) the best one was taught it from a very early age (we bred him) but still not 100 %
I'd just say it's a terrier, ? if you got a pup and were very very strict with it you would probably be ok
 
My parsons terrier is off her rocker. She was a stray who no one claimed. She is very well behaved in the house and a right little character but I have to have her on the lead at all times outside as she will chase anything and everything and she is extremely fast. She won’t tolerate anyone coming into the house that she doesn’t know, barks like a lunatic at anyone passing and leaps about 5’ in the air continuously if she thinks there is something interesting about. She is aggressive to dogs and people that she thinks are a threat to me. It is exhausting having her but I love her and I will keep her for life, but I would never have another. My jack Russell on the other hand is chilled out and easy going.
 
My sons parsons JRT was amazing. When she was young (under 7) her recall was patchy and she was very random with other dogs. She would hide behind trees sometimes?? and other time take on all comers including rotties and mastifs! She hated springers with a passion - the week before she was PTS at 14 she spotted one and was after it like a shot. She was fantastic with people especially her dads little daughter but could be protective of "her people" around other dogs and people. I loved her and thought she was a bit of a one off but maybe she was pretty typical of Parsons JRT. My own little short legged smooth coated tricolour girlie was much better behaved - sometimes! Both of them were good with our cats but unreliable with other peoples cats. Both good with my chickens but bad with other small furries.
 
Our previous dog was a parsons, when he was younger he had a prey drive (caught rabbits, wild ones not pets) and chased cats. He was very dog reactive for years after we got him, though we think he may have been attacked before we got him - he was definitely worse with certain breeds / types than others. He was an absolute teddy bear with humans.
 
My PR apart from being hyper and hysterical, is is shockingly nervous can scream like a banshee, has no recall whatsoever and has a huge prey drive. Brilliant in the house, well until someone rings the activate dog button on the front door which unleashes the banshee and hysterics! Pluses are she's cute and funny in the house, highly intelligent and has a raft of tricks which she learns really quickly. I would have another for sure.
 
Our PR has no people aggression, no food aggression but can be a bit snappy when meeting other dogs but then fine. Her prey drive is ferocious but we have trained her to leave the chickens and cat alone - the cat and dog play together nicely. Rats, squirrels, rabbits and mice had better look out. Her recall is poor unless you have food. She does like to bark at the fox/sheep/walkers in the field though we can stop her if we are near.
Would definitely have another.
 
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