What are 10 good reasons to want a Jack Russell Terrier?

1. You live on a ranch or a farm and want a dog who will thrive in that kind of environment.

2. You want a dog who will keep rodents, birds and other small animals off your property.

3. You want an intelligent, active dog to compete in dog activities.

4. You want an energetic dog for companionship for outdoor activities.

5. You want an active, entertaining dog with a sense of humor.

6. You have trained dogs in the past, and are looking for a much greater challenge.

7. You want an active dog who will be good around horses.

8. You have a very active outdoor lifestyle and want a dog who can keep up with you.

9. You want an active dog with a cheerful demeanor.

10. You want an affectionate, happy, active dog with plenty of energy and enthusiasm for life.

Why are Jack Russells best suited to life on a ranch or a farm?
There is always something to do on a ranch or farm and plenty of space to run. Jack Russells amuse themselves in such rural environments by hunting for rodents, catching flies, climbing on haystacks, following horses around, tormenting barn cats and stalking cowbirds. They also like
to run after other dogs, chase anything that runs past, follow people around and attack moving farm equipment.

This is the kind of constant stimulation the Jack Russell needs to keep him from getting bored.
Why is wanting to get rid of rodents, birds and other small animals a good reason to have a Jack Russell?

Jack Russells live to hunt, and will work tirelessly to capture, kill or chase away any small creature that wanders onto your property. If their prey is underground, they will dig furiously until they unearth the hapless creature.

If they can catch a bird, they will, by stalking it like a cat and then running and leaping into the air to catch it. Even when not successful at actually catching birds, Jack Russells do a great job of chasing birds away. Birds quickly learn that any farm or ranch harboring a Jack Russell is not
a safe place to be. In fact, just about any animal quickly learns this. Mice and rats will still appear at facilities that have feed and grain stored in sheds and barns, but they will make themselves scarce if there is a Jack Russell Terrier on guard.

Why are Jack Russells good for competing in dog activities?
Speed sports like flyball and agility are perfect for Jack Russells because of the breed’s limitless energy and profound drive to perform. Jacks have the nonstop energy and the urge to run and participate in activities that are needed for canine dog sports. It takes a high-energy dog to be successful at these kinds of sports, and Jack Russells are never short on energy or the
desire to use it.

Why do Jack Russells make good companions for outdoor activities?
Jack Russells never get tired—never. You can hike all day with your Jack Russell and he’ll still be up for a game of ball when you get home. You can go camping, and your Jack Russell will try to help you set up your tent. If you go jogging, your Jack will run alongside you tirelessly, and probably pressure you to go even faster. Boating on a lake is another activity enjoyed
by Jack Russells, who have no qualms about leaping in to the water to retrieve a tennis ball. Jacks also make great biking companions, and can run alongside a bicycle for miles without getting tired.

Why are Jack Russells so entertaining?
They are natural clowns and are truly fun-loving dogs, up for any kind of activity. They also have funny quirks that can make you laugh. Some of the antics typical of Jack Russells are licking walls, sleeping with all four feet in the air, and tearing around the house, dashing up and over furniture like a maniac, for no apparent reason.

There is something comical about the Jack Russell personality that many people can appreciate. The dog who plays Eddie on Frasier is a good example of this. The human actors on the show often play straight man to Eddie’s comic antics. One of the reasons Eddie is so funny is because
he is a Jack Russell Terrier. His attitude and demeanor lend itself to uproarious laughter.

Why are Jack Russells good dogs for someone who has trained dogs in the past and is looking for a challenge?
Because Jack Russells are difficult to train. They are not like Golden Retrievers, Poodles or Collies, breeds who were bred to pay close attention to their handlers for direction in their work. Instead, Jacks have short attention spans and need a lot of motivation, like a special food or a
favorite toy, to stay focused. Even then they can be hard to train because of their very independent nature. They have their own ideas about how things should go, and rarely see the point of listening to what a human has to say, especially if it makes no sense to them.

Why are Jack Russells good around horses?
Jack Russells love horses, especially when those horses are moving. Jacks like to follow horses around the stable and on the trail.They seem to enjoy the company of equines, and horses seem to like them.

Another reason Jack Russells do so well around horses is that stables provide a lot of stimulation for these busy terriers, who always need something to do. Stables have rodents for hunting, and wide open areas to run. People who own horses tend to like Jack Russells because of the breed’s
toughness and limitless energy. A Jack Russell can follow a horse for miles on a trail ride without getting tired.

The Jack Russell’s affinity for horses may also be genetic. Jack Russells were bred in part to run with foxhunters, who hunt on horseback. Being around horses seems to come naturally to their terriers. It could be that a love for horses is in their genes.

Why are Jack Russells good for people with active lifestyles?
People who hike, camp, fish, jog and bike ride on a frequent basis have the kind of lifestyle that best suits the tireless Jack Russell. The breed does best with these kinds of owners because the dog always has something to do and a way to burn energy. Likewise, people with active lifestyles really enjoy being with Jack Russell Terriers. Jacks can always keep up no matter how fast you are going or for how long you’ve been moving. Active people do not have to baby these dogs, and can be sure that their Jack Russell will be up for just about any outdoor activity they can come up with.

Why do Jack Russells have a cheerful demeanor?
They were simply bred to be that way. Jack Russells are cheerful, happy dogs, always looking for the next bit of fun. In fact, their pursuit of a good time can get them into trouble if they don’t have enough to do. They will make their own fun, which might include digging up the backyard or chewing up the coffee table. Or chasing the cat, jumping up on the kitchen table and eating the turkey that is defrosting, tearing a hole through the closed doggy door to get outside and excavating a tunnel under the backyard fence and into the neighbor’s yard, and so on.

Do Jack Russell Terriers make good apartment dogs?
Absolutely not. Many people think that because Jack Russells are small, they will do well in an apartment. The truth of the matter is that although they are small, they have too much energy to be confined to a small apartment, especially if there is no yard where they can play and be exercised.

A typical Jack Russell Terrier will literally climb the walls of an apartment and go stir crazy. He is likely to start barking incessantly, destroying your furniture, knocking things off shelves and tables ( Jack Russells are good jumpers), tearing the curtains off the windows and worse.

Do Jack Russell Terriers make good dogs for a home in the suburbs?
Not usually, unless you have a lot of time to spend exercising the dog. A lot. This means a few hours a day of hard exercise, like jogging and ball playing, to tire out a Jack. Don’t think leaving the dog out in the backyard alone counts as exercise. You have to actively exercise him to make sure he is exerting himself and that his mind is stimulated. Since most people with jobs don’t have that kind of time to devote to exercising a dog, it’s not a good idea to have a Jack Russell in the suburbs.

If you try to make this work but don’t give the dog enough exercise, he will likely tear up your garden, eat the garden hose, rip potted plants out of their pots, bark all day and worse.