Jack Russell Terrier Not an Apartment Dog

Because the JRT is small and very cute, many have been brought into small city apartments and condos and left alone while people work all day. The restrictions of being left alone in a confined place all day has made for some surprised owners, who come home to find their apartment ransacked by the bored dog. If left to entertain themselves, JRTs can be very busy doing things humans don’t like.

That havoc is very entertaining to the dog, though. This is not a dog who can be crated for long hours and left alone. It is, in fact, cruel to crate a JRT for more than an hour or two. They do not thrive with such restrictions to their physical need for lots of exercise and their mental requirement to engage their minds in interesting activity.

Because of their enormous need for activity, Jack Russell Terriers are often misunderstood and even rejected. They can easily become unruly without good human leadership. Confused owners unprepared for the needs of the dog sometimes seek to place them with rescue groups or surrender them to shelters when they can no longer cope.

Why Choose a Jack Russell Terrier?

Choosing any breed of dog requires serious study of the attributes and behavior inherent in that breed. JRTs have become enormously popular, but the real Jack Russell Terrier may be very different from the dog you have seen on television or in the movies. That’s why it’s wise to get acquainted with a Jack Russell before you choose one.

They can be brave beyond belief and yet snuggly beyond compare. They can be brimming with love and affection, while at the same time they’re a powerpacked bundle of energy. A Jack Russell will make you laugh. Some will “hunt” the vacuum cleaner and try to grab it when you run it. They may pause at the top of an A-frame while doing agility just to take a look at their kingdom from that elevated viewpoint. They love the spotlight and thrive on your attention.

Because Jack Russells are compact in size, they make great traveling companions. A crate-trained Jack Russell can be taken many places where it would be harder to take a large dog. They enjoy riding in cars, too. Never leave the window open wide enough for a leap, though.

The only thing a JRT loves as much as being near you is going hunting. He may be glued to your side one moment and off on a mission the next. While a sense of humor is universal in the breed, when JRTs are hunting they are all business. They can change gears in a second from play to work.

Most the time, though, the Jack Russell is a comedian. Being playful and fun is part of his basic makeup. These are happy, cheerful dogs. But it is important to keep in mind that, besides being ready for fun, the entire wiring of the dog is based on his history as a hunting dog. The dog must be willing to be handled and be a cheerful companion to the hunter. A dog of disagreeable nature would not be useful in the field.