When Your Jack Russell Terrier Dog Has Separation Anxiety, and How to Deal With It

Separation anxiety can happen in any dog, at any age, and for any reason. Doctors are not very sure why this happens, but they agree that is happens more in dogs that were not properly nurtured as puppies, had new moves, or a new schedule. The dog might be moved around as a puppy, and these things can make a dog have separation anxiety. 

Some of the things a dog might do could be excessive, like howling, barking, whining, pacing, chewing, scratching, digging, urinating and defecating. As the time goes on, the systems become worse, the dog might break his teeth, rip his or her nails, and injure themselves. It seems to happen in pets that did not have much socializing as puppies. 

One good way to teach your Jack Russell Terrier Dog something good is to find a quiet place for just you and the dog, and get them to relax by you. When you have them relaxed, give them a treat. You can do this and slowly back away, and put more distance in between you and the dog, slowly separating the two of you. 

Another good technique, is be misleading your dog. They might be accustomed to your car keys shaking, meaning you are leaving, or you putting on your jacket, or other signs your dog might read, that lets them know you are leaving. 

Try picking up your car keys several times a day, and not leave. Put your jacket on, and take it back off, several times a day. Try to break up your dog’s regular routine pattern that you might not even think about. Your dog might already have a routine, that you subconsciously, don't even realize it. 

When you come home, pretend that you don't even notice the dog, until he or she has calmed down, and then when they have relaxed, give them a treat or praise. 

Another way is to give your dog some excitement. Could you imagine being cooped up all day long, while your owner is out working, and you have to play with the same old toy, day in and day out. If you turn the lights on 30 minutes early, or give your dog  a new toy, with a secret treat inside, that will keep them occupied, and spice up their day.  If you were a pet, would you not want to be treated that way?

Remember, young dogs still have lots of energy. If you come home and find your favorite chair in threads, you might want to consider increasing your younger dogs exercise pattern.  They should be exercised twice a day, from 30 to 45 minutes each time.

You could teach them commands, teach them to play fetch, and other good times. Your Jack Russell Terrier Dog needs plenty of exercise to feel like a dog. Most dogs were breed for a certain job.  A herder, a Shepard, a hunting dog, and more. A dog has these instincts in their blood, you need to make sure they get plenty of exercise.

When Your Jack Russell Terrier Dog Makes Potty Mistakes

Too many dogs have been abandoned at animal shelters, just for the sole purpose of the dog making potty mistakes in the wrong places, and not being properly trained. 

Jack Russell Terrier Dog’s sometimes might go potty in response to fear, excitement, separation anxiety, marking territory, and sometimes-medical problems.  It is best to start with your vet about any medical problems, before you move forward.  Some dogs may have a urinary infection.  Spayed females may have some small leaking at times, where they lie down or sleep. 

One of the most common symptoms is separation anxiety. If the dog has gone thru some new changes, or there has been a change in the household, it could be affecting your Jack Russell Terrier Dog. 

Another problem might be submissive urination, which occurs when your dog first sees you when you come home.  They may exhibit uncontrollable urinating and submissive behavior, like rolling on his or her back. 

One way to help remedy this, is to immediately take your Jack Russell Terrier Dog outside right when you get home, and try to stay calm and low beat when just greeting your dog, to help him or her get less excited. 

Some dogs will perform a marking behavior by lifting their hind leg and urinating. This is most common in unneutered male dogs that have not been neutered. If a male dog is neutered around 6 months of age, this will usually, cure this behavior. A male dog should be neutered if he is not intended for breeding, or there is a medical reason while your dog should not be neutered. 

If you see your Jack Russell Terrier Dog getting ready to go potty, immediately clap your hands together, or use another device to get their attention, and immediately take them outside. 

A dog is not considered housebroken until he or she has not had an accident for around 45 days in a row. You can easily train your young Jack Russell Terrier Dog to go outside when you notice that he or she is sniffing around as if they want to go. After they just ate, had a bath, just woke up, or just your gut instinct that your Jack Russell Terrier Dog might go potty inside. 

If you need to be gone from your Jack Russell Terrier Dog for an extended period of time, you should keep him or her in a crate or cage. Make sure you do not give them an oversize crate or cage, or they will use that space to go potty. 

If you need to train an adult Jack Russell Terrier Dog, do it just like you would a puppy! Give them the right guidance, and train them just as you would a puppy. An adult dog needs to urinate roughly 3 to 4 times a day, and defecate once or twice daily. 

When your puppy or adult Jack Russell Terrier Dog does a bad thing inside, in a firm and stern voice, say "Bad Dog", and then take then outside where you would like them to go, and tell them "Good Dog." Give praise when your Jack Russell Terrier Dog goes outside. 

To potty train a puppy or adult dog, you must lay down newspapers, and bring the puppy to the newspapers, and say "Good Dog" at that spot. When you catch your puppy starting to go, get them if you still can, and tell them "Bad Dog", and then put them on the newspaper, and tell them "Good Dog", and after they go, give them praise. 

You would start out with a wide section of newspapers on the floor in the beginning, and then slowly you can decrease the size to a manageable spot. Give your Jack Russell Terrier Dog a little time to get used to this.  They will learn to go on the newspapers when they get praise.  Use a stern voice when they go in the wrong spot, they would rather have praise, and will learn to go on the newspapers! 

How to Crate Train Your Jack Russell Terrier Dog

If you were a new Jack Russell Terrier puppy, wouldn't you want your new home to be warm, comfortable, secure and inviting! Sure, you would, and your new Jack Russell Terrier puppy, or even a full-grown older dog, loves a nice secure home to sleep in! 

You want your Jack Russell Terrier puppy or dog to have a secure place to rest and go to, when you want them to be in a secure place while you're away. 

To begin with a new puppy, you would want to have a good size crate, one they can stand up and lie down in, and turn around comfortably, but not to big either.

You would want to leave the door open in the beginning, and just get your Jack Russell Terrier Dog used to the crate. You would put a treat at the opening of the crate, and let your puppy or dog go and eat it. You would continue until you are putting the treats in the back of the crate, and your Jack Russell Terrier Dog feels comfortable going inside. 

You want them to get used to getting a treat for going inside, and then later turn it into praise. This will be their home. You would put their food and water inside, and with training, it will become their own little den, a place they like to sleep. 

After you have, your Jack Russell Terrier Dog going inside, it is time to shut the door jut for a very short period of time, 1 to 2 minutes.  You would give your Jack Russell Terrier Dog a treat while inside, and praise, then open the door back up. You never want to use the crate as punishment.  Don't put them in the crate when they have been bad.  They will associate that with being put in the crate, and you want them to feel good and secure in their spot. 

Put their crate out of the way, but not very out of the way. Somewhere in a room the family shares, but in his or her own little corner, make it a nice home for them. 

If you are going to be gone, and have to leave your Jack Russell Terrier Dog in his crate for a long period of time, try to get them their favorite toys.  A toy with a snack inside, that takes time to get out, so they are occupied for a while, because you want them to associate going into their crate, as a fun place to go. 

Are Rawhide Treats Good for Your Jack Russell Terrier Dog?

Give your dog some rawhide treats! They are good for them, and dogs love them! Rawhide is great for cleaning your dog's teeth, and it gives your Jack Russell Terrier Dog something to chew on, besides your couch or favorite pair of shoes! 

When looking at rawhide, try to find the biggest pieces, because you do not want the smaller bone fragments that break off the smaller ones for your Jack Russell Terrier Dog. You would be smart to ask your vet, or shop around for the best quality rawhide you can find. It comes in many different styles, and even fun filled treats inside some of them, to keep your Jack Russell Terrier Dog entertained! 

It is best to supervise your dog with a rawhide chew, as it could come apart and are lodged in the dog's throat, but that is extremely rare, but still could happen.  Just as any toy or treat you give your pet, should be supervised. When your dog has chewed on a big piece of rawhide, and it is soft and gooey, take it away, and give them a new one.  Let the old one harden up again, and you can give it back to them later. 

The good thing about rawhide is it is good for your Jack Russell Terrier Dog’s stress level. A bored Jack Russell Terrier Dog will have more stress, because he or she is bored, and a rawhide treat will keep them more occupied and entertained! 

It is hard to tell if good rawhide comes from the United States, or other countries, so it is best to get the best quality you can find. 

The Jack Russell Terrier Standard

As stated by the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA), the largest breed club devoted to this breed, “Jack Russell Terriers are a type, or strain, of working terrier. They are not considered purebred in the sense that they have a broad genetic make-up, a broad standard, and do not breed true to type. This is a result of having been bred strictly for hunting since their beginning in the early 1800’s, and their preservation as a working terrier since. The broad standard, varied genetic background based on years of restricted inbreeding and wide outcrossing, and great variety of size and type are the major characteristics that make this strain of terrier known as a Jack Russell such a unique, versatile working terrier.”  

 Still, there are physical characteristics every Jack Russell should have in common, and these are described in the breed standard. The Jack Russell must be compact and in totally balanced proportions. The shoulders should be clean, the legs straight, and the chest easily spanned by average-sized hands at the widest part of the dog behind the shoulders. The chest must be compressible. This required conformation allows the terrier success below ground, where he must be able to maneuver underground in narrow dark tunnels to get to the very flexible fox.   

In the following section, the words in quotes are taken from the breed standard written by the JRTCA. It begins by saying the Jack Russell “should impress with its fearless and happy disposition.” The Jack Russell Terrier is “a sturdy, tough dog, very much on its toes all the time. . . . The body length must be in proportion to the height, and it should present a compact, balanced image, always being solid and in hard condition.” 

The dog should not be slack of muscle or overweight. Nothing should be exaggerated about the dog’s appearance. A dog with a long back and stubby, crooked little legs is not acceptable. The dog should be a nice-looking, harmonious package, with everything in proportion. 

He should move effortlessly, with both pull from the front end and drive from the back end. The topline of the dog (that is, the line of the back) should move smoothly when viewed from the side. The legs should be straight, without turned-in hocks or turned-out front feet. 

The Jack Russell’s head “should be well balanced and in proportion to the body. The skull should be flat, of moderate width at the ears, narrowing to the eyes.” There should be a defined but not overly pronounced stop—the area where the muzzle meets the skull. “The length of the muzzle from the nose to the stop should be slightly shorter than the distance from the stop to the occiput,” which is the back of the skull. “The nose should be black. The jaw should be powerful and well boned with strongly muscled cheeks.” 

The dog’s eyes should be almond-shaped, dark, and “full of life and intelligence.” The ears are “small, V-shaped drop ears carried forward close to the head.” The ears should not stand up straight nor be thick and large like hound’s ears. 

The mouth of the Jack Russell Terrier has strong teeth and a scissors bite, which means the top teeth overlap the lower ones. A level bite, where the upper and lower teeth meet, is also acceptable. The neck of the Jack Russell is “clean and muscular, of good length, gradually widening at the shoulders.” The good neck allows the dog to spar with quarry below ground and adds to his athleticism while at work. 

“The chest of the Jack Russell Terrier should be shallow and narrow and the front legs not set too widely apart, giving an athletic rather than heavily chested appearance.” The chest needs to be flexible and compressible to enhance the dog’s ability to work up close to the quarry in bending and winding narrow tunnels below ground. A large chested dog is limited in hunting below ground because he cannot fit in a narrow earthen den. 

“The back should be strong, straight and, in proportion to the height of the terrier, giving a balanced image. The loin should be slightly arched.” In other words, the entire structure of the dog is designed for strength, to able to hold up under hard work and move efficiently. The feet of the Jack Russell Terrier need to be “round, hard padded, of cat-like appearance, neither turning in or out.” The dog needs strong feet for digging and crossing varied terrain. 

The tail “should be set rather high, carried gaily and in proportion to body length, usually about four inches long, providing a good hand-hold.” The tail is cropped at about three days old so it does not break while backing out of earth, and the dewclaws are removed. The tail is sometimes used as a handle of sorts to extricate the dog from the earth. It usually requires holding the dog’s tail and hind legs to dislodge him from work below ground. 

The coat is “smooth, without being so sparse as not to provide a certain amount of protection from the elements and undergrowth.” The coat is so very important as the dog’s protection. Sometimes JRTs are in the damp ground working long hours. The coat makes an enormous difference to the protection of the dog at work. The coat seems to resist thorns and burrs, and the dog can easily shake out loose dirt. The Jack Russell Terrier may wear a rough or a smooth coat, or it could be a combination of both, known as a broken coat. A broken-coated dog may have some tail or face furnishings (longer hairs). 

As for color, the dog must be more than 51 percent white, with solid tan, black, or brown markings. White is handy to see when working in dirt with a dog who is face to face with a critter who is earth-colored. Brindle markings, made up of several different colors of hair, are not allowed because they indicate the blood of another breed. 

JRT Not a Latchkey Dog

This is a very adaptable dog who craves an interesting lifestyle. For example, a Jack Russell is a good candidate to go to work with you every day—if you are lucky enough to have a job that permits this. Many will be happy to sleep near you for most of the day. But you can’t park this dog silently all day while you work someplace far away from your Jack Russell. If you must leave a dog alone for nine or more hours a day unattended, this may not be the dog for you. 

Jack Russells need a job and thrive when they are given a routine and have something to do. They are worse than little children when they’re bored. A bored dog may bark to fill his days—which may also fill your neighbors with annoyance. The protests can be very vocal; this is a dog bred to use his voice when hunting to work quarry. 

You will need reliable containment if you leave your Jack Russell for even half a second. They can escape most containment that is not a maximum security setup. Your Jack Russell can dig under fences that lack proper turned-under safe wire buried under the edges of a pen or dog run. They can climb human style up and over chain-link fences. They can jump four feet up effortlessly from a standstill. 

It is unthinkable to keep any dog tied out on a rope, chain, or cable, especially the active Jack Russell. It is also cruel to leave such an active dog in a crate for long hours. This active dog does not fare well with such treatment. Expect this dog to require a great deal more of your time and attention than you ever imagined. 

Learn about and meet the breed before selecting a Jack Russell Terrier. Be prepared for the dog and what he will need. Many people can make adjustments and work out what both they and the dog require to be happy. The need to surrender a dog can be prevented with some adjustments by both dog and owner. But I cannot stress too strongly that this is not the dog for everyone. 

Jack Russell Terrier (JRTs) and Children

One of the most charming qualities of Jack Russells is their gentle and kindly nature toward children. The dog may be capable of being unusually friendly with small children provided the child understands how to handle the terrier. The intelligence of the dog and the strength of his presence mean he will not tolerate abuse from children. This is not a dog who takes well to punishment. He may defend himself if pushed too far, even from accidental abuse. Adult supervision is always suggested. JRTs fare better with children over 6 years of age. Some, however, adore their children and will allow themselves to be put in baby carriages and dressed in doll clothes.  

JRTs do adore their children, but they will not tolerate teasing or abuse. 

Making Your Environment Flea Free

If there are fleas on your dog, there are fleas in your home, yard, and car, even if you can’t see them. You must break the lifecycle of the fleas to remove them. All these steps will have to take place to break the cycle.


In your home:
• Wash whatever is washable (the dog bed, sheets, blankets, pillow covers, slipcovers, curtains, etc.).


• Vacuum everything else in your home—furniture, floors, rugs, everything. Pay special attention to the folds and crevices in upholstery, cracks between floorboards, and the spaces between the floor and the baseboards. Flea larvae are sensitive to sunlight, so inside the house they prefer deep carpet, bedding, and cracks and crevices.


• When you’re done, throw the vacuum cleaner bag away—in an outside garbage can.


• Use a nontoxic flea-killing powder, such as Flea Busters or Zodiac FleaTrol, to treat your carpets (but remember, it does not control fleas elsewhere in the house). The powder stays deep in the carpet and kills fleas (using a form of boric acid) for up to a year.


• If you have a particularly serious flea problem, consider using a fogger or long-lasting spray to kill any adult and larval fleas, or having a professional exterminator treat your home.

Grooming a Rough- or Broken-Coated JRT

Rough or broken-coated JRTs require a bit more work. Left to grow naturally, the coat may not look neat and tidy. Although grooming the roughs or brokens is more involved, you may derive more satisfaction from the finished product.


Always keep in mind the Jack Russell is a double-coated breed: He has an undercoat and an overcoat. The overcoat is made up of the coarser hairs that protect the dog from briars and brush in the field.


Begin by thoroughly combing and brushing the dog to loosen dead hair and dirt. Then step back and decide whether the dog needs to be stripped of more accumulated dead hair. Stripping means gently pulling out the dead, loose hairs by hand. A stripping knife is a tool for stripping the dog’s coat, and is easier for the novice to remove the dead hairs with than hand stripping.

Before you use your stripping knives, first dull them by running the blades over an old brick. Start with the coarse knife and gently comb the blade through the coat in the direction of growth to remove the dead and loose hairs. Use a light hand, since the blade of the stripping knife may touch the skin of the dog and cause discomfort. Longer hairs are removed in small amounts with a straight pull, without bending your wrist. To protect the skin under the hair, always pull in the direction in which the hair grows. Begin at the head and proceed to the neck and shoulders, then the back and thighs, ending with the sides.


The fine stripping knife removes the undercoat. Care must be taken not to remove too much of the undercoat, which is the dog’s jacket. A dog with too much undercoat stripped out loses the efficiency and comfort of this jacket.


Some terrier groomers only hand strip, gently pulling the dead and loose hairs in the direction of their growth. If you are hand stripping, do only a little at a time. The JRT does not enjoy long stripping sessions. Stripping is an art, so have your dog’s breeder show you how to groom your terrier.


When all the long hair has been pulled and your dog looks like he is in his underwear, you can let him rest a bit while you trim his nails, carefully remove unwanted hair from between his toes using the scissors, and generally check him all over, as described in the weekly routine for a smooth-coated dog.


When this grooming procedure has been completed, mark the date on a calendar and circle the date ten days from then. On the tenth day, rake out the undercoat with the trimmer knife, which is used only for raking and never for stripping. A trimmer knife has teeth on one side and a wooden handle. Use it sparingly, because this tool can cut the hairs—it is only used for combing the dog lightly between uses of the stripping knives. (Do not dull the trimmer knife as you did the stripping knives.) This is a sharp instrument, so be very careful not to dig into the coat.


Some people prefer to use a piece of volcanic rock, found in equine supply shops and called a bot block, to maintain the coarse outer coat of the JRT. Run the volcanic rock over the dog’s coat to remove the hairs that stick up. This tool is handy for grooming the legs, because grooming them may be uncomfortable for the dog with other tools and knives.


Many dogs have thick areas of coat growth over the knees that need to be thinned with thinning scissors and the volcanic rock. You can trim the hair on the back of the legs with grooming or thinning scissors, along with the tip of the tail if it has feathering or a flag of hair on it.


Now that the basic coat work is done, you will begin daily maintenance. Put the dog up on the table and, with your rubber hound glove on one hand and your horsehair glove on the other, alternately stroke the dog with each hand for five minutes. This soon becomes a favorite procedure for the JRT and, again, gives you an opportunity to examine him. After the “gloving” has been completed, selectively pluck the individual long hairs using your fingers. Gently pluck the hairs that will be sticking up. At this point, you will find that there will be a fair number
of such long hairs but, as the days go by and the plucking continues, the “jacket” becomes tighter and there will be fewer and fewer hairs that stick out.



Every week during the grooming session, rake the coat using the trimmer knife to remove excess undercoat. If this is not done, the topcoat will begin to lift and start to look like a hay field gone awry. Your JRT will appear very untidy.

Grooming a Smooth-Coated JRT

For a smooth-coated JRT, start with a thorough, all-over brushing, followed by a rubdown with a well-soaked, tightly squeezed magnet cloth A magnet cloth (or, as it is sometimes called, a “magic magnet cloth”) is used for its ability to absorb and hold water. It is often yellow and is made of a washable cloth fiber that can be washed over and over again but not machine dried. Equine or tack stores often sell them for polishing horse’s coats. Some dog supply catalogs offer them in the grooming section. The cloth removes old hair and debris, giving a nice fresh look to the coat.

Then look the dog over for anything that may need attention:


teeth, eyes, nails, injury to the foot pads, fleas and ticks (comb him through with the metal flea comb for a thorough check), an unusual smell in the ears, and so forth. (Any unusual smell or matter in the ears requires the attention of a veterinarian.) Follow this routine weekly.


You will also want to brush the dog almost daily because the smooth coat sheds so freely. During the shedding season in spring and fall, take your dog outside to groom him. You can use a bristle brush to remove loose hairs so your home is less filled with the cactuslike hairs of the Jack Russell.

What to Feed Your Jack Russell Terrier (JRT)

Dry food, or primarily dry food, is recommended. Some warm water may be added to kibble to release more food odors. Canned foods are not always necessary but, if you feel you must add them, take care that they do not exceed 20 or 25 percent of the dog’s diet. A puppy raised on dry food, with or without the occasional addition of water, will be quite content with that food for her lifetime.


To help keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy, avoid semimoist food (which has a lot of salt, sugar, and preservatives) and too much canned food. These soft preparations encourage tartar buildup, which can lead to periodontal disease. Hard kibble helps keep teeth clean and gums healthy.



There are so many brands and types of dog food, it can be difficult to decide what is best for your Jack Russell. Premium, high-quality food should always be chosen over less expensive food that may contain poor-quality ingredients, fillers, and artificial colors and additives.


The dog’s stool is a primary indicator of the digestibility (usable amount of nutrients) of the food she is eating. Lower-cost foods may be soy- or corn-based, which tends to produce a larger, looser stool. A food that is based on good animal proteins will produce a firm, well-formed stool. Although store and discount brands should probably be avoided, relatively low-cost, high-quality foods are still available in grocery, feed, and specialty stores. Read and compare labels, seek quality and palatability, and you can be sure that you will be providing the best food available for your dog.


Protein
One area of debate about canine nutrition involves protein. Some people believe that if some is good, more is better, particularly for puppies and bitches who are pregnant or lactating. But high concentrations of protein in a dog’s diet are believed to be hard on the kidneys, especially for dogs with a history of kidney problems. Working dogs and puppies may be fed food with protein levels of 25 or 26 percent; mature dogs fare well with a level of 20 percent.



Fat
Another consideration is the fat content of dog food. Owners of working dogs
and dogs housed in outdoor kennels in cold weather may prefer a higher fat content, maybe 15 percent. Dogs, and even puppies, who are housed indoors, and older and overweight dogs will probably do very well on a food with a fat content of around 10 percent.


Supplements
One more consideration is supplements. Don’t give them unless your veterinarian prescribes them for some special reason. All good-quality dog foods labeled as “complete” will provide all that your dog needs in the way of nutrition. There may be rare or special circumstances, such as pregnancy and lactation, when your dog requires some supplementation of one or more nutrients, if recommended by your veterinarian. But casual supplementation can cause serious imbalances and unexpected problems. More of a good thing is not necessarily better.


Basically, the food you serve your Jack Russell Terrier should contain protein,
fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all in proper quantities and in proper proportions. It is highly unlikely that a high-quality food will be lacking in any nutrient your dog needs for healthy growth, development, and maintenance.


It is impossible to give general advice and be right all the time. You know
your Jack Russell Terrier better than anyone else. As a responsible pet owner, you should seek the advice of your veterinarian and the dog’s breeder, read labels, and then decide what food is best. The appearance of your dog is the best indicator of good nutrition; watch her as she develops, grows, and ages, and adjust her diet accordingly.



Snacks
Just like adding artificial colors to dog food, feeding table scraps does more to please people than to benefit dogs. Your dog doesn’t care about all those flavors and colors. She’s perfectly happy with that plain old high quality kibble she’s always eaten. And if you never feed her table scraps, she’ll never know what she’s missing.


Scraps tend to be full of fat, salt, sugar, and spices—nothing that’s needed by or is good for your dog.



Even if you feed something healthy from the table, the dog will still get into the habit of begging, which will become a mealtime annoyance forever—not to mention the fact that your JRT could end up being a very finicky eater. Good people food snacks for your dog, in moderation, are pieces of carrot or apple. Most JRTs love them. Offer the snacks between meals—yours and the dog’s—or as rewards in training sessions.


Never feed your dog cooked bones as they splinter and can perforate the intestines. And never feed small, sharp bones to your dog. The best bones to
feed are the leg bones of cows. Don’t overdo it, though, because too much bone chewing can cause extreme wear on a mature dog’s teeth.

Feeding the Older Jack Russell

Jack Russells remain quite active well into their senior years. However, compared to the activity levels they maintained as youngsters, even these lively terriers tend to slow down and nap more as they age, perhaps gaining some weight in the process.

When JRTs get to be more than 6 years old they may require fewer calories (particularly if they are gaining some weight), although they still need all of the essential nutritional elements found in a well-balanced food. As the metabolism also slows down a bit, you may want to feed your senior JRT smaller, more frequent meals.

An older Jack Russell may become a fussy eater. Have your veterinarian keep a close eye on the health of the teeth of your older Jack Russell. Teeth should be examined yearly to avoid any problems that may prevent the older dog from eating comfortably.


Free Feeding?

Free feeding (having food available for your dog at all times) is not recommended for Jack Russells—it is just too tempting. A fat Jack Russell Terrier is not desirable, nor is she healthy.

JRTs should always be in good working condition. All calories do count. Be sure to include biscuits and treats when calculating your dog’s total daily intake. A good, quick way to determine if your Jack Russell is carrying too much fat is to put your hand over her back, thumb on one side, fingers on the other, and run your hand
lightly down the back. You should be able to feel the individual ribs but you should not be able to see them.

Feeding Your Jack Russell Puppy

Having started life on mother’s milk, puppies are weaned between five and six weeks of age. The timing depends on the dam’s willingness to nurse and the practices of the breeder. While the pups are still nursing, at about four weeks, the breeder will begin to feed them a fine-textured, well-moistened, nutritious gruel to begin to accustom them to solid food. 


At first the food is all over the place. It must be served in a low dish or pan so the pups can reach it, but then, of course, they can also walk through and play in it. This milestone in the puppies’ lives marks the beginning of several weeks of more cleanup work for the breeder.

Puppies should never leave their dam and littermates before they are 8 weeks of age, and by the time you bring your puppy home she will have been fully weaned and eagerly crunching on puppy kibble. The breeder should send you home with a supply of the food the pup has been eating. You can either continue feeding that food or change to a different one. If you change, do it gradually, starting with about 25 percent of the new food and gradually increasing the proportion for about a week until only the new food is being served. (Changing food for dogs of any age should be done in this gradual manner to avoid upsetting the puppy’s or dog’s digestive system.)



Young puppies should be fed three times a day, at about the same times each day. Offer one-third of the daily ration at each serving. Set the food down in front of the pup and allow her to eat for ten or fifteen minutes. At the end of that time, pick up the dish and do not offer more food until the next mealtime. You probably won’t have to worry about your Jack Russell puppy eating enough—most are eager eaters. They may play around or even miss a meal or two, particularly when they are first brought to their new home, but they will soon get with the program. (A loss of appetite for longer periods may require your veterinarian’s attention.) Be very sure that plenty of fresh, clean water is always available.


Puppies require more protein and calories per pound of body weight than adults, so a general rule for Jack Russells is to serve the same amount of food per day to a pup as you would expect her to eat each day as an adult. For the most part, this would be about one cup of good-quality, small kibble per day. You can check with the breeder for information on how much food he or she expects your pup will require as an adult. Feeding guidelines printed on dog food bags are only estimates and should not be relied on as the precise amounts to feed your dog or puppy.


When your puppy reaches 5 or 6 months of age, she can be fed just twice a day, morning and evening, one-half the daily ration each time. Many breeders continue to feed two meals a day throughout the life of the dog, but some choose to feed only once a day after the dog reaches adulthood.

Where Not to Get a Jack Russell

Backyard breeders and pet shops are not the best places from which to get a dog, nor is someone breeding a litter so their children can see “the miracle of birth.” These folks are not the best guardians of the breed.

Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders are those who have bred their dogs but do not have the knowledge (or desire, or energy, or finances) to do what is necessary to produce the best dogs possible. This could be someone who has a female Jack Russell Terrier and wants puppies, and so breeds the female to a friend’s male down the street. No health checks were done, no studies of genetics or background checks were done, and in many instances the dogs may not have been registered, either.

A backyard breeder may also be someone who hasn’t spayed the female and then doesn’t keep her safe when she comes into season and is bred by a wandering male. The puppies may or may not be purebred; the male (or males) may not even be known.

Most such people are not breeding for the future health and soundness of the breed. They have not looked over pedigrees and studied what stud dog would improve the qualities of their bitch and have not done all the appropriate homework and preparation for a litter of puppies. They likely have not had the bitch tested or even registered. Most such breedings are due to any convenient stud dog.

Why Not Buy from a Pet Store?
The only advantage to buying a JRT from a pet store is that you can have a puppy the day you walk in. There are many disadvantages. A pet store does not sell adults or rehome abandoned dogs. Many times the pups are taken from their dam and littermates way too early for their well-being.

Pet shops frequently buy their puppies from commercial breeding facilities (sometimes known as puppy mills) where there is little thought or care for the well-being of the puppy. JRTs in puppy mills are generally not registered with the JRTCA and there may be no way of verifying their pedigree—if, indeed, a pedigree is offered. Most puppy mill dogs come without pedigrees. You’ll also pay a lot more than you would from a breeder, you won’t be able to see where or how the dog was raised, you’re unable to meet the dog’s relatives to see if they are the kinds of dogs you would want to have, and you won’t know the dog’s health history. Pet store employees won’t be able to show you how to groom your dog and won’t be able to answer any questions you have as the years go by. And if you have to rehome the dog, a pet store will never take her back. A reputable breeder will.

Pet shops are selling Jack Russells strictly to make a profit. Dogs bred only for dollars are the worst possible choice.

Jack Russell Rescue

Instead of a puppy, you might want to consider a recycled Jack Russell Terrier. Perfectly wonderful dogs sometimes have to find new homes. It is not any fault of the dog. Humans get ill or move where they cannot keep a pet. People get divorced and can no longer care for a pet.

Dogs who need homes are most often adults. They are spayed or neutered and housetrained. Russell Rescue Inc., the rescue organization associated with the JRTCA, screens all dogs and is very careful not to place any dogs with known behavior problems or serious health issues. Rescue also screens the homes these dogs go to. All adoptions are by application.

Often rescue dogs go to foster homes before they are adopted, so the foster family learns a great deal about the dog in their care. You might enjoy being a foster home and eventually adopting a dog in your care. Rescues need foster homes as much as they need funds to carry out the work of rescue. All foster homes need containment for a dog and an understanding of the needs of the breed.

Some shelters and humane societies keep a list of people who apply to adopt a specific breed. Please know that Jack Russells do not fare well in shelters. Being in such unfamiliar surroundings and under such stress can make a Jack Russell behave uncharacteristically shy or aggressive toward the other dogs in holding runs. This makes JRTs tough to adopt out. Some shelters will not take Jack Russells because of their distress at being sheltered. They often are completely undone and fall apart in such circumstances. But that same unhappy dog in the shelter may be a happy dog if she is played with outside for an interview.

Dogs with a second chance for a home make wonderful, loving pets. Many rescued dogs seem to understand their good fortune and express great gratitude and affection to those who have chosen them. A rescued dog can give you boundless love, and you can do a dog a great service by giving her a second chance at life
in a permanent home. The love you give and the love you will get back from a rescue dog is very satisfying. It is a win-win situation for both of you.

Jack Russell Puppies

The Jack Russell puppy goes through an alligator stage where the entire world is centered in his mouth and those tiny sharp teeth. Expect puppies to be very active with their mouths. Teething may make the dog mouthy, too. They normally play roughly and practice “killing” socks or toys. This behavior is completely normal. If you walk by, they may grab your pant leg and pretend they have caught you. It can be very funny, but do limit and discourage any really rough play. Do not encourage aggressive behavior. It may be cute when
they are puppies, but it won’t be cute later.

They can be terrible teenagers, too, but they soon mature. Keeping a Jack Russell well exercised is the best way to control this behavior. In fact, most behavior problems can be handled by extensive exercise. Exercise can help soften their zealous nature and single-mindedness.

Be gently forgiving of puppies playing like big hunting dogs. It is amazing to see the instincts present in a little dog only weeks old!

Other Pets
If you have other small pets, you must know that gerbils, birds, and even reptiles become the objects of the Jack Russell’s compulsion to hunt. Any small pet may become the focus of the dog’s unwavering attention. These dogs will give up sleep to focus on the pet. Their strong hunting instinct is ready and loaded.

As a rule, Jack Russells are not good companions with cats. Very few can ever fully be trusted with cats. Even when a dog is raised with a cat, the day may come that is not a happy one for the cat. No domestic animal more resembles the fox than a cat. The Jack Russell will decide to hunt the cat just as eagerly as
his ancestors hunted fox.

A Jack Russell and chickens is about the most hopeless combination of animals there can be. The motion and squawking put the dog on overload. Not long ago, my next-door neighbor had surgery, so his nephew kept his Jack Russell, Buckeye, for a few days while his uncle was in the hospital. Buckeye had been mannerly around our chickens. But during his stay with the nephew, he met a talking parrot. As the bird flew off his perch to land on the shoulder of the nephew, Buckeye jumped up and caught the bird in midair in front of horrified children and the woman who had patiently taught the bird to talk.

This breed possesses prey drive and simply cannot resist the opportunity to be full of surprises—not all of them good. They are adept at catching things, and sometimes they just cannot remember or recognize the limits of the game. They write their own rules to suit the moment.

Two Jack Russells? | Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell’s willful ways require patient and loving guidance. Some owners get the idea that if they get two, the dogs will entertain each other. Two JRTs can become very close and enjoy each other’s company, but a Jack Russell may not get along with another breed or another JRT of the same sex.

They have steadfast friendships with some dogs and strong dislikes to other dogs. They are somewhat snobbish and take to their own better than to other breeds. In a large gathering of Jack Russells, it takes only one dog of another breed or another color to get them all protesting. The one exception is hounds, for whom Jack Russells have a built-in respect, perhaps because they have hunted with them for generations.

It is best to keep only two Jack Russells together, and they should be of opposite genders. They are inclined to fight, especially dogs of the same sex, and if they do there will be no peace. When two females square off, the enmity between them can be to the death. Even catching the scent of the dog they dislike can raise their hackles in anticipation of a battle. Many owners report having to keep one dog crated or in a kennel while the other dog is out. Their politics are very complicated and baffled owners often have no idea why the sudden
animosity has hatched. One thing is for sure, though: There is no cure. I offer this advice because the appeal of the Jack Russell makes one inclined to have more than one. Managing a pack of Jack Russells is a lot like taking preschoolers to the ballet.

Courageous and Reckless | Jack Russell Terrier

If you can commit time and attention to a devoted, quick, intelligent companion, then the Jack Russell Terrier may fit into your life. You may find you are the dog’s pet. It is quite like having a child in that you must devote a great deal of attention to where the dog is and what he is doing any given moment. A Jack Russell is brave to the point of abandon, and you must prevent him from selfdestructing; more JRTs die from accidental deaths than from old age. If protected from themselves, they can live to be 20 years old. But you take on the job
as the human parent to this clever, sometimes devilish companion.

Jack Russells need patient, vigilant guidance whenever they are awake. In a split second they have been known to bolt out of a door and across a road. If they spot a chipmunk or a squirrel, no amount of calling will get them to stop. They never see the trucks coming—they only see the object of their attention. No amount of obedience training will ever guarantee this dog’s obedience. They have selective hearing and can completely ignore you. Heartbreak may be the result if you take chances.

It is always prudent to keep a Jack Russell on a leash in any situation where you could possibly lose control of the dog. Somehow they have such a spirit of adventure that their fearless nature compels many to make a bold leap into impending disaster without a split second of hesitation. There are many cases of Jack Russells leaping out of car windows at high speed. Heaven only knows why! I was on a lake one day when one of my own Jack Russell Terriers leaped out of the boat in the middle of the lake. He was rescued from the deep water with a fishing net. I do not know why my dog Cricketson jumped out of the boat. No way could that dog have swum to shore!

It is if Jack Russells are shooting stars with a brilliant light that shines through life, never looking back. They leave people who loved them in amazement and sorrow as they jump into danger’s gaping jaws without fear or hesitation. It is desperately hard for those of us who love them to know why this self-destructive element is so strong in them. But when they decide they want to pursue some course of action, they are willing to do just about anything. That is why we must protect them so vigilantly from themselves.

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.