bertin12
Well-Known Member
Tell me about JRT's! I've met a fair few but never spoken to any owners or people who have lots of experience about them and I'd love to learn more about them 
Talk to me about JRT's!
- Thread starter bertin12
- Start date
flirtygerty
Well-Known Member
Great little hunters, very high energy, forgets any training when on the hunt, best described as 'Characters'
EventingMum
Well-Known Member
On the whole they're fab wee dogs. That said as they come in all shapes, sizes and personalities so it's hard to generalise as everyone is different. We've had five, all different:
1. Very handsome, the only one we didn't neuter. A smart dog but very much had a mind of his own, he was friendly but quite territorial.
2. Grew much larger than expected, a lovely soft character, he was easy going with everyone but his recall wasn't great.
3. The one in my avatar he's the smallest so far - can be quite a tense, wary character and will growl if people bend over him. He is very much my dog and can always be found lying beside or on me.
4. An odd shaped wee chap with a deep barrel and very short legs, he adores my OH, he tries to be very brave when he meets new people but often ends up barking and running backwards away from them.
5. Is my son's dog but spends a lot of time with us. He's adorable, a super smart and very friendly towards everyone, a bit like Tigger he jumps around a lot and gets very quite excited at times but other times is very lazy and will sleep till lunchtime!
On the whole I would say they are great fun and generally very loyal characters. Some can be snappy, yappy dogs so I would suggest seeing the parents if possible before buying one. They are pretty active so although small need exercise, Some times they are used for vermin control and often have the "ratter" instinct, ours are great at destroying toys within a short time. As I'm typing this OH has one curled up next to him on his armchair and the other two are sound asleep with me on the couch - I wouldn't be without them!
1. Very handsome, the only one we didn't neuter. A smart dog but very much had a mind of his own, he was friendly but quite territorial.
2. Grew much larger than expected, a lovely soft character, he was easy going with everyone but his recall wasn't great.
3. The one in my avatar he's the smallest so far - can be quite a tense, wary character and will growl if people bend over him. He is very much my dog and can always be found lying beside or on me.
4. An odd shaped wee chap with a deep barrel and very short legs, he adores my OH, he tries to be very brave when he meets new people but often ends up barking and running backwards away from them.
5. Is my son's dog but spends a lot of time with us. He's adorable, a super smart and very friendly towards everyone, a bit like Tigger he jumps around a lot and gets very quite excited at times but other times is very lazy and will sleep till lunchtime!
On the whole I would say they are great fun and generally very loyal characters. Some can be snappy, yappy dogs so I would suggest seeing the parents if possible before buying one. They are pretty active so although small need exercise, Some times they are used for vermin control and often have the "ratter" instinct, ours are great at destroying toys within a short time. As I'm typing this OH has one curled up next to him on his armchair and the other two are sound asleep with me on the couch - I wouldn't be without them!
misst
Well-Known Member
Best dogs ever!
Mine is a funny thing with fairly short legs and quite a square body shape but a pointy face! She is tri coloured. As a puppy she was super active and needed firm boundaries but now she is 8 she thinks she is a cat and mainly sleeps on our bed or our laps. She enjoys good weather walks but can be reluctant if it is very damp or raining. She used to destroy toys and chews but now is not interested. She was very ill 3 years ago and I think this has made her older than her years. Still yaps when someone knocks on the door and greets anyone with bouncing and jumping and barking with excitement. She has never snapped or been naughty. She is scared of chickens, cats and horses! Loves digging and snuffling in muck heaps, bushes or anything smelly. Hates swimming. Very food orientated so was easy to train. Clever dog who has taught herself a lot of appealing tricks, which of course, are rewarded with food!
My son has a rough coated parsons type. She is also 8. She was harder to train and only in the last 2 years has her recall become reliable. Excellent hunter and swimmer, loves water. Can be a bit fear aggressive with big dogs but generally a completely loveable character. Completely bonkers and still has a lot of energy. She is very vocal and "talks" a lot. She was much more her own person than mine and still has her own ideas on how things should be done. She went through a terrible phase of playing with the horses which drove me mad and was dangerous for everyone, but now she is older that has stopped.
Both dogs are loving, very affectionate, friendly dogs and good with other peoples children.
I would have another in a heartbeat.
Mine is a funny thing with fairly short legs and quite a square body shape but a pointy face! She is tri coloured. As a puppy she was super active and needed firm boundaries but now she is 8 she thinks she is a cat and mainly sleeps on our bed or our laps. She enjoys good weather walks but can be reluctant if it is very damp or raining. She used to destroy toys and chews but now is not interested. She was very ill 3 years ago and I think this has made her older than her years. Still yaps when someone knocks on the door and greets anyone with bouncing and jumping and barking with excitement. She has never snapped or been naughty. She is scared of chickens, cats and horses! Loves digging and snuffling in muck heaps, bushes or anything smelly. Hates swimming. Very food orientated so was easy to train. Clever dog who has taught herself a lot of appealing tricks, which of course, are rewarded with food!
My son has a rough coated parsons type. She is also 8. She was harder to train and only in the last 2 years has her recall become reliable. Excellent hunter and swimmer, loves water. Can be a bit fear aggressive with big dogs but generally a completely loveable character. Completely bonkers and still has a lot of energy. She is very vocal and "talks" a lot. She was much more her own person than mine and still has her own ideas on how things should be done. She went through a terrible phase of playing with the horses which drove me mad and was dangerous for everyone, but now she is older that has stopped.
Both dogs are loving, very affectionate, friendly dogs and good with other peoples children.
I would have another in a heartbeat.
bertin12
Well-Known Member
There's a few really nice looking ones at a local private rescue local to me which is why I asked. Glad they've got a good reputation from what I've heard so far!
misst
Well-Known Member
If you get one from rescue try and find out why it is there. There are some that have not had a good start and can remain difficult. You just reminded me of my sister-in-law who has one and he is a bit unreliable around kids and food and has very poor recall. He had a bit of a dodgy/unknown start - he was "returned to the pet shop" because the owners did not have "time for him". He was then bought by S-i-L at 18 weeks from said pet shop! Don't even start on that one!!! He has a good adult home for life now so all good for him but I think he was returned because he was hard to recall, house train and was a bit snappy. He is also very very high energy. Handsome boy and good natured most of the time - but I would not want him to be honest he is hard work and you can never trust him.
ETS I have a rescue dog as well as my JRT, who is an angel so they are not all bad.
ETS I have a rescue dog as well as my JRT, who is an angel so they are not all bad.
bertin12
Well-Known Member
The rescue I mentioned get the dogs from the pound once their 7 days there have run out. They do a lot of work with them and assess them and they also are part of a dog training school and make It clear if there are any issues with the dogs and will tell you if they need to attend more classes once you've got the dog. But I would of course ask about their background etc
misst
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a good source - better than the pet shop! Jack my S-i-L dog is the only one I know that has any real issues. They are feisty little things usually but also love their cuddles. For me you could not get better Good luck.
Good luck.
sam-b
Well-Known Member
I have an 18 month old mini jrt who thinks he is a lion. Sooooo brave and so much fun. Always been well behaved. Had him at 6 months old as a free to good home from preloved and he has been an absolute doll. Also got a 15 week old jrt x and again, fab dog. I do watch the older one around my daughter as he isn't as tolerant but is still really quite good and does agility.