Tips for Raising a Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terriers (JRTs) are lively and loyal companion dogs. Their unique quirks and interesting personality traits make it necessary to pay close attention to certain aspects of choosing and raising a happy, well-adjusted JRT.
When introducing a JRT into your home, keep these tips in mind:
Choose the puppy or dog that best fits your criteria, based on your family’s needs, desires, and lifestyle.
Be sure to get all the paperwork necessary to register your dog when you pick up your puppy. It is much harder to secure these documents after you’ve left the breeder’s house.
Unless you’re positive you want to show or breed your JRT, have your dog spayed or neutered to prevent an unwanted litter.
Prepare both your children and your existing pets for the arrival of a new puppy or dog. Set “rules of the road” for your children so they know how to handle the new pup. Understand that existing pets may need some time to adjust to the new addition.
Keep in mind that not all pets mix well with a JRT. Anything resembling a rodent (such as a rat, rabbit, or guinea pig) or any animal seen in the wild (such as a snake) will be considered prey by your terrier.
Puppy-proof your house prior to bringing your JRT home. Many common household items can be dangerous or deadly to your puppy if preventative steps aren’t taken.
Training your Jack Russell Terrier brings specific challenges:
Realize that your Jack Russell may take longer to housetrain than other dogs you may have owned. It’s not that they aren’t as smart; they simply have their own agendas and could take six to eight months to accept your program.
Setting the pack hierarchy right off the bat is an important part of JRT training. Your terrier needs to know that you’re the top dog. Be careful not to antagonize an overly aggressive dog, however, and realize that setting a superior position doesn’t mean intimidating or abusing your terrier.
Obedience training is extremely important for a JRT. All Jack Russells should know the basic commands (sit, down, stay, and come) and should perform them consistently.
Obedience training takes patience and practice. This means you must be involved in your terrier’s training and must reward and reinforce the commands on a regular basis.
Preventing unwanted behaviors from developing is easier than stopping them after they’re learned.
You may encounter some tough behavior challenges when training your JRT. Stay calm, keep your temper firmly in check, and approach the solution with a clear head and plenty of patience and understanding.
Caring for your Jack Russell Terrier requires good health habits and routine check-ups:
Choose your veterinarian with the same care you use when choosing your family doctor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding services and fees. Be sure to take your terrier in for his vaccinations and address any medical concerns with your vet.
All dogs, including JRTs, require routine health care such as worming, coat-and-dental care, and flea-and-tick control to stay healthy. Don’t neglect these day-to-day health issues.
Select a dog food that’s appropriate for your JRT’s age and activity level and stick with it. Changing foods can cause digestive upset in your JRT and can lead to allergies or skin conditions. If you’re not sure what to feed your dog, consult your vet.
Older terriers and those with special needs require additional attention and care. Be sure to check with your vet if your terrier falls into this category and discuss options to keep him comfortable and healthy.
Give your Jack Russell Terrier plenty of room to run and lots of time and exercise with the family. Your JRT needs your attention and won’t be happy if left alone in the backyard.
JRTs love to play and need you to be involved in their exercise. Choose fun activities such as beach excursions, terrier trials, or agility training to keep your family and your terrier interested and exercised.
Traveling with your JRT need not be a trying event. Plan ahead and do some basic training prior to your trip. You may find your JRT to be a charming traveling companion.
Many of the odd things your JRT does are normal for the breed. All Jack Russells are a bit strange!
Dogs Glossary
A-B-C assessment
Checking a dog’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
Dogs Glossary
animal shelter
1. An animal control agency run by local government to protect people from animals, take in strays, and manage animal issues and problems within the community. 2. A privately run shelter managed by individuals who want to protect, advocate for, and find homes for animals.
Dogs Glossary
BARF diet
A method of feeding dogs as closely as possible what they would eat in the wild: raw flesh and bones, along with vegetable matter from the stomachs of their prey. The acronym stands for either Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Dogs Glossary
blow out
A twice-yearly shedding of a dog’s undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
blue slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
breeder
A person who raises, sells, and often shows dogs of a specific breed. Reputable breeders screen parent dogs in an effort to produce healthy dogs that conform to breed standards.
Dogs Glossary
castrate
The removal of a male dog’s testicles to render him infertile.
Dogs Glossary
clicker
A small hand-held device that makes a sharp cracking sound when pressed. Paired with a food reward, an effective dog-training tool.
Dogs Glossary
cohesive bandage
A stretchy wrap that clings to itself used to cover and secure gauze bandages without tape.
Dogs Glossary
come into season
The advent of a female dog’s term of fertility.
Dogs Glossary
dead ring
The stationary ring on a training collar that pulls on the collar, not the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
double coat
Two layers of fur — a top coat of stiff guard hairs and an undercoat that serves as insulation.
Dogs Glossary
dropped ears
The term for hanging or drooping dog ears.
Dogs Glossary
Elizabethan collar
A wide, cone-shaped plastic or cardboard collar that prevents a dog from being able to scratch her head. Used to prevent further injury or hasten healing.
Dogs Glossary
euthanize; put to sleep
To kill an animal to relieve suffering.
Dogs Glossary
fall
Hair that extends over a dog’s eyes.
Dogs Glossary
feathering
Long hair that runs from armpit to paw on the backs of a dog’s legs.
Dogs Glossary
free-feeding
Keeping a constant supply of dog food available so that the dog can decide when and how much to eat. It works best in single-dog households where there’s no competition for food.
Dogs Glossary
heartworms
Parasites that live in dogs’ hearts and cause heart failure. They’re transferred through mosquito bites.
Dogs Glossary
heat
The period when a female dog is fertile.
Dogs Glossary
heel
A command and position in which a dog walks at your left side staying with you as you change direction or pace.
Dogs Glossary
hip dysplasia
A painful malformation of a dog’s hip socket. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Dogs Glossary
hot spot
A localized area of skin infection. It’s usually round, red, and warm to the touch.
Dogs Glossary
live ring
The floating ring of a training collar. Attach a leash to this ring for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
neuter
A general term to describe either spaying or castrating a dog to render it infertile. Neutering and castrating are often used interchangeably.
Dogs Glossary
pantaloons
The tufts of hair on the backs of a long-haired dogs legs that make him look like he’s wearing bloomers.
Dogs Glossary
pedigree
A diagram of a dog’s ancestors for three or more generations that lists the registered names of the dogs and the titles they earned.
Dogs Glossary
pinch collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
praise
A verbal reward for a dog , such as an enthusiastic “good dog!”
Dogs Glossary
prong collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
pulse
Normal dog pulse is between 70 and 120 beats per minute. The pulse of a puppy ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute.
Dogs Glossary
puppy mill
A place that supplies puppies to pet stores, usually without screening for possible genetic defects or properly socializing the puppies.
Dogs Glossary
registration certificate
The paper certifying a dog’s registration with an accredited organization.
Dogs Glossary
registration slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
release word
A word that lets a dog know that she is free to move.
Dogs Glossary
rescue group
A network of animal lovers who rescue and find new homes for their favorite breeds or animals.
Dogs Glossary
reward
To give a dog a treat for a correct response while he’s still in the desired position.
Dogs Glossary
ruff
The long, thick fur around a dog’s chest, shoulders, and neck.
Dogs Glossary
separation anxiety
A condition in which your dog becomes anxious and stressed when you leave him.
Dogs Glossary
shed
A twice-yearly process of casting off the undercoat in a double-coated dog.
Dogs Glossary
single coat
A single layer of hairs that comprises a dog’s fur.
Dogs Glossary
spay
To remove of both the uterus and the ovaries of a dog to render her infertile.
Dogs Glossary
stripping
Plucking the dead hairs from a dog’s coat.
Dogs Glossary
titer tests
Tests that check a dog’s immunity levels to determine exactly which vaccinations are needed.
Dogs Glossary
top coat
The top layer of a double-coated dog composed of stiff guard hairs that tend to be naturally water-repellant. The top coat protects the dog’s skin and undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
training collar
A collar that enables you to guide your dog and to check her as necessary — a brief, sharp tug tightens the collar around the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
treat cup
A plastic container filled with small treats or dog food. Shake it and give treats from it as a reward as you train a dog.
Dogs Glossary
undercoat
Fleecy or downy fur shorter than the top layer of a double-coated dog. The undercoat serves as insulation.
