If you ever watched the sitcom Frasier, you’ve seen a Jack Russell Terrier. These dogs are brains and energy combined! For a little dog, they can be very assertive — combine a strong personality with intelligence and endless energy and you have a ton of dog in a handful of body!
Jack Russells are working dogs by nature. Despite their size, they need a lot of outside time, exercise, and human companionship. And because of their strong personalities, they need a lot of training and discipline. Don’t be surprised if your Jack Russell challenges a dog more than twice his size!
If you want a dog that loves other dogs… you probably don’t want a Jack Russell. There are always exceptions, but in general, JRTs can be very aggressive with other dogs. In fact, their hunting instincts can make them a danger to other smaller animals, like cats, rats, or gerbils. They have a strong instinct to stay with their quarry, and may take off after prey if allowed outside unattended. These dogs need a securely fenced yard.
Don’t think that a Jack Russell can’t be a great family pet, because he can. But if you have young children, you need to teach them the way to properly handle and act around dogs. Terriers are very assertive, and generally won’t put up with mishandling from anyone, even children, even if it is unintended or accidental. JRTs are often not recommended for households with children under the age of six.
Terriers often become possessive of certain people in the family. From an early age, you need to control your JRT’s protective behavior — otherwise, you may see them become aggressive!
Jack Russell Terriers come in a variety of coat types: smooth, rough, and broken. All coat types do shed and require some grooming!
Adding a JRT to the family is a long-term commitment; these little dogs remain highly active until very late in life! The average life span of a Jack Russell Terrier is fifteen years. And despite their size, they are not well suited for city life. They need lots of exercise and companionship and entertainment, or they can become destructive. But if you have the space, time, and energy for one of these little dogs, you’ll have a wonderfully intelligent companion for a long time.