Jack Russell Terrier is not the most common breed in the CIS, but every year there are more owners of these charming and active dogs. It was such a smart dog that got a memorable role in the famous comedy with Jim Carrey's The Mask. In the USA, these dogs have long become one of the favorite breeds, because they are convenient to keep in apartments and not scary to start a family with children. And though they are not so graceful and graceful as Dobermans, they are not distinguished by special beauty, like decorative breeds, they are not so convincing as guards, like a German shepherd, but they are very funny and mischievous four-legged friends, as well as tireless and fearless hunters.
Jack Russell Terrier: Breed History
This breed of dog is considered relatively young. She is only 200 years old. Bred this type of terrier in the UK. The Jack Russell Terrier breed got the name of its breeder. The goal of creating this dog was quite pragmatic - hunting. A new
type of terriers was planned as an ideal option for trips to the fox, hare, raccoon and other small animals, as well as for penetration into their burrows. His task is to drive out the beast or drag it with a strong grip.
Also, these dogs are effective in tracking down prey, even wild boar, they show their abilities in hunting for game birds, can get shot ducks out of the water, and they are also recognized masters in catching rodents that can compete even with cats. And all this is in the animal’s blood, which constantly boils and boils, therefore it is necessary to teach the dog to control his instincts, directing them in a different direction. Fox terriers have similar skills, but Pastor John Russell enhanced his dog’s hunting qualities by mixing terrier with fighting breeds.
Jack Russell Terrier appeared in the CIS recently, approximately in the late 1990s. The first national dog training club specializing in this breed was registered in 2003. It brought together Jack Russell Terrier fans, their breeders and owners. Today, with the growing popularity and distribution of the breed, the number of nurseries and clubs has also expanded significantly. Most of them are concentrated in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
What is remarkable about the Jack Russell Terrier breed? Photos of different dogs that can be seen on the network have common specific external features. Paying the greatest attention to the development of the necessary qualities, the breeder completely did not pay attention to the exterior of the new hunter. His appearance was formed as if by itself, but it looks in a special way interesting and charming.
Jack Russell Terrier - breed description
This is a small dog, its growth is only 25-30 cm at the withers. The physique is distinguished by a small disproportionality due to the short legs. The weight of an adult standard individual reaches a maximum of 5-6 kg. White color prevails in the coat color, but there may also be spots of black, red and brown colors. The Jack Russell Terrier breed includes three varieties that differ in the structure of the coat. So, representatives of this breed can be
smooth-haired, coarse
-haired or have hair with a break.
The body of the dog is rectangular in shape, it is strong and flexible, has a deep chest and a fleshy strong neck. The head is moderately flat, wide at the temples, narrowed to the jaws. The muzzle has a clear transition from the forehead. The eyes are small, dark, with an attentive expression and a mischievous brilliance. The Jack Russell Terrier breed standard has black pigmentation on the eyelids and nose, small erect ears with tips slightly lowered into the ear canal. Jack Russell Terrier puppies with tails are born, but it is recommended to stop, although this is not important, solely at the request of the owner.
The nature of these dogs can also be considered their feature. They are reliable companions, get along well with children, become attached to the owner for life, and are also characterized by mobility and playfulness. Most likely, it is the cheerful disposition that is so attractive in this breed.
Dog character
Indeed, they cannot take away the hunting excitement, as well as courage. Cheerful, charismatic, agile, quick-witted - all these are the main features that Jack Russell Terrier received from nature. The description of this breed cannot do without a story about the internal qualities of its representatives, for which they are especially loved. The dog is notable for its harmlessness and friendliness to people.
To the man, the Jack Russell Terrier, whose breed description includes a whole set of excellent hunting qualities, is not at all aggressive. That is why it can be safely started as pets for children. In addition to being safe with such a friend, he will be happy to be a company for outdoor outdoor games. The Jack Russell Terrier breed character is suitable for a child aged 10-12 years. He already understands his responsibility for the pet, is ready to deal with him and is able to take care of him. But parental help is still required.
Jack Russell Terrier can be a great partner for morning runs. In general, this breed is very fond of athletes for their disposition. It treats strangers cautiously, but not aggressively. As a watchman, the Jack Russell Terrier is also great. He will protect his own territory day and night, despite his not-so-terrifying appearance. These are real clever people in the dog world. They all understand and are able to remember many teams.
Character flaws
An important feature of Russell - they like to be in the spotlight always. Therefore, they attract him as soon as they can. If they play, it’s hard for them to calm down, even after a few hours. The lack of breed can also be called inability to constantly live on the street. Jack Russell Terrier loves warmth, his coat is short, therefore, in the cold season, in our climate, he freezes.
It is worth noting the extraordinary cunning and resourcefulness of the representative of this breed. The owner will have to study his character in order to be more cunning. Due to the hunting temperament, the reaction to other animals can be unpredictable. Good training eliminates the problem of chasing cats, it is even possible to live together in the same family.
How to choose a puppy?
If you decide to make such a miniature four-legged friend, you are ready to devote enough time and attention to him, and spare no energy for a joint active pastime, then there is no need to look for obstacles to your happy reunion. Before you get yourself such a dog, you need to take into account the opinions of the whole family, because this is not just a pet, but a new inhabitant of the house, with a very specific character. If no one is against his appearance, it remains to choose a puppy and plunge into the worries associated with care and upbringing.
It is best to look for a dog in a specialized kennel. This is the only way to be sure that the Jack Russell Terrier puppies are purebred, healthy and meet the standards of their breed. This approach provides an opportunity to participate in exhibitions in the future. For this purpose, dogs having the RKF metric are suitable. Carefully study the pedigree of the baby. If possible, look at his parents, because when the puppy grows up, he will be like them.
Faced with a choice when you need to focus on one of several options, of course, you can trust only your own feelings. But still the voice of reason should not be ignored either. If you already liked the Jack Russell Terrier breed, the price of purebred representatives of which is quite high, try not to lose money and take the choice very seriously. The cost of a puppy depends on its qualities, class and pedigree. With the hands of the owners, you can buy yourself a sweet friend, even for $ 200. Prices in nurseries are higher - from 200 to 1000. e. The representative of the show class will cost even more - about 1300 - 1500 US dollars.
Puppy temperament and health
What should be a puppy of Jack Russell Terrier? Description of the breed gives a clear idea of its appearance and character. Even at a young age, he should not be cowardly, withdrawn, lethargic, and even more aggressive. These qualities are not peculiar to this type of terriers, therefore, if when you meet a puppy, you notice their presence, it is better to abandon it and look for a more typical behavior. High-quality puppies of Jack Russell Terrier are active, curious, cheerful and playful.
They sorted out the temperament, but physical health also needs to be controlled as much as possible. Inspection will help to do this when meeting a dog. A healthy puppy has a wet and shiny nose. Its moisture should be natural, without any discharge that is unusual for dogs. The coat is clean - do not hesitate to look even under the tail to make sure that the puppy is fine with digestion and stool. Touch each bone of the tail to make sure there are no excesses and fractures, as well as ribs - they should be flat, without tubercles. Touch the belly - in a healthy dog it is resilient. Look at the correct bite and the presence of a complete dentition, in accordance with age.
Content Features
The temperament of this dog is restless, because it needs long walks and sports loads. She vitally needs to spend her bubbling energy somewhere. These features of the Jack Russell Terrier breed must be considered before starting a pet at home. Such a dog is not suitable for everyone. For people who are limited in time and prefer a quiet lifestyle, such characteristics look like the cons of the Jack Russell Terrier breed. Perhaps this is so, because in a dog's face you find a demanding and constantly naughty child. Therefore, the main wish in the upbringing and maintenance is that this dog needs to be truly loved and live on the same wavelength with it.
The Jack Russell Terrier breed is not created for the lazy , the reviews of the owners confirm this. Do not forget that he is a hunter in his soul and needs to satisfy his instincts. Because fresh air and movement is the main thing that the Jack Russell Terrier needs. Breeders say that their pets are very trainable. A favorite pastime for such a dog is running, jumping, carrying objects on command, digging holes in the ground. If she does not get such an opportunity, it is quite possible that she will begin to do dirty tricks at home. But blaming it, except for itself, is worthless.
Training and education
The Jack Russell Terrier dog breed has a specific character that needs to be raised from an early age. Training is very important for this breed if you do not want to get a completely independent and uncontrolled dog. For novice dog breeders, the best option is to contact a professional for recommendations. As soon as the puppy has appeared in the house, you should not lose time, but start training immediately, instill good habits and stop inappropriate ones.
Before the puppy finds a new home, its owners must be prepared in advance for his move. The first thing to take care of is the place where the new family member will live. Give him your own corner, which you will introduce immediately and accustom yourself gradually, daily. Also, do not be stingy to buy some toys for your puppy. Better he gnaw them than furniture or slippers. Trainers also recommend avoiding playing with the dog with their own hands, but only holding some object that he will regard as a toy. Otherwise, he will have the habit of involuntarily biting, which will be a very unpleasant omission in education, when the puppy turns into an adult dog, and small teeth become sharp fangs.
And in general, attempts to bite should be stopped from the very beginning. The dog must understand that the use of teeth in relation to a person is unacceptable. Even if you perceive your puppy as a child, do not allow weaknesses and condescending treatment of his puppy pranks. What you can teach him in childhood will remain with him forever, it is unlikely that he will be able to re-educate him. The dog must understand who is in charge of the house and put up with it, not claiming a dominant role in the family.
Use perseverance and moderate rigor in training. For sure, you can’t say that you cannot beat a dog. This rule applies to all breeds. Jack Russell Terrier is very responsive to affection and praise, therefore, applying them correctly, you can achieve a lot. The main commands that the owner is obliged to teach are “fu”, “near”, “to me”, “sit”, “place”, “lie”, “aport”, “give”. Be prepared for attempts to evade the execution of commands and tricks for the sake of getting goodies for "just like that." Be patient, act confidently and persistently until you achieve results.
Care Features
A dog of this breed is very clean, and does not need special grooming. Only once a week, and less often, you need to comb it with a stiff brush. Despite the fact that the color predominates in white, the pet will not cause trouble due to pollution. Its coat has the ability to clean itself. Of course, if you go for a walk after the rain, it is possible that home comes, to put it mildly, not snow-white. In this case, you can bathe the Jack Russell Terrier. In everyday life, without real need, you can limit yourself to swimming once or twice a year. To do this, use warm water and dog shampoo. This is generally an almost ideal dog for apartment keeping from the point of view of hygiene, since it does not even emit a smell characteristic of many other breeds.
Ears and teeth are the places that the Jack Russell Terrier needs to regularly clean and inspect. It is recommended to use cotton buds for the ears, and a special dog toothbrush for the teeth. Many dog breeders ignore these procedures. But those who care about the health and well-being of a pet will definitely follow the advice and will not be too lazy to spend several minutes once for one or two weeks for this.
Jack Russell Terrier does not require any kind of supernatural care or nutrition. He is completely unpretentious in food, but it is important to take into account his tendency to be overweight, so you need to pay attention to the diet and not allow the dog to pass. It is enough to feed her twice a day. Natural food is preferred. You can use dry food, but only very high quality with a complex of vitamins and essential trace elements. If you have the opportunity to choose, then, of course, stop at natural, wholesome food.
The lifespan of terriers is about 13-16 years. But such a result can be achieved with proper care, good nutrition and optimal conditions of detention, which are required specifically for this breed.
Breed breeding
Many are interested in how to breed dogs such as the Jack Russell Terrier. The description of the breed gives a clear idea of how a standard individual should look and behave. Breeding makes sense if you have a classic representative of the breed that fully complies with the requirements and characteristics, having documents from the nursery and a good pedigree. Such a bitch is able not only to become a pet at home, but also to bring decent profit to the owners, than fully pay for its contents.
At first glance, this is nothing complicated. In fact, such a business is quite time-consuming and requires certain investments, time and effort. As a partner for your beauty, it is best to choose a dog from a kennel or pedigree club. Breeders who work or are there will help with the choice of a male, and with good advice regarding the characteristics of mating.
Mankind is not aware of a more active breed than this. In this compact curious creature, it is as if a micromotor is hidden, which does not give a minute of peace. Jack Russell Terrier is not a simple dog. This is a real source of joy, energy and prank. He is ready to jump in and start the game at any time of the day, if only there is a company. At the same time, it is not so important for him to frolic with whom, with a child, an adult or other dogs, at home, for a walk in the park or at the stadium. Inexhaustible energy, constant positive and restless passion for entertainment - this is what awaits the owner of the Jack Russell Terrier.