Only energetic, patient people with an active lifestyle, a sense of humor, experience with dogs and the willingness to train a challenging breed. The Jack Russell’s intense energy and independence require substantial energy and dedication in return on the part of an owner. No Jack Russell can be completely controlled, and successful Jack Russell owners are the type of
people who can live with this reality. In fact, many Jack Russell people actually like this aspect of the Jack Russell’s personality and appreciate the breed’s independence and energy.
What kinds of people will probably have difficulty managing a Jack Russell Terrier as a pet?
People who have not researched the breed and don’t realize the high activity level of the Jack Russell Terrier will have difficulty managing this dog. People who lead busy lives with little time to exercise a very active dog will have problems. So will sedentary people who are looking for a canine couch potato to keep them company. Jack Russells are anything but couch potatoes. Also, anyone who lives in an apartment will have trouble with a Jack Russell Terrier. People who are not willing to attend obedience classes and put substantial energy into training a dog will not be happy with a Jack Russell Terrier as a pet. First-time dog owners also have trouble
handling this active terrier.
What kinds of people will best be able to develop a Jack Russell into a good pet?
How are Jack Russells with children?
Jack Russells are usually okay with older kids as long as the dog has been exposed to children from puppyhood and the children treat the dog with respect. This breed doesn’t do as well with children under the age of six because Jacks are generally not tolerant of small children and won’t forgive the kinds of transgressions that young kids are often guilty of committing toward dogs, such as ear pulling or stepping on paws. Regardless of the child’s age, supervision is mandatory when kids are handling Jack Russell Terriers.
What do I need to do to make sure my Jack Russell Terrier and my children get along well, and that there is no danger to the child or the dog when they are together?
Never leave them alone together. Also, make sure your kids are old enough (six and up) and that they interact with your Jack Russell while he is still a young puppy. Be careful to make sure that all of your dog’s experiences with children are positive. Teach your children to have respect for
your dog, and not to pick him up and carry him around or bother him when he’s sleeping. In turn, do not let your Jack Russell engage in aggressive games like tug-of-war or play biting with your kids. Also, don’t allow your Jack Russell to snatch food away from your children. If your children are old enough (six or older), have them attend obedience classes with you and your dog so they can learn how to interact properly with the dog. If your kids participate in your Jack Russell’s obedience training, this will help your dog see your children as authority figures in the household.
Why is it important that my Jack Russell see my kids as authority figures?
So he will respect them.Otherwise, he’ll start trying to push them around by growling and possibly even snapping at them, just as he would a dog whom he views as a subordinate.
What if my Jack Russell doesn’t see me as the leader?
Then he will make himself the leader. Every pack needs someone to be in charge, and if it’s not you or someone else in your family, then your Jack Russell will put himself at the top. It is his instinctive nature to see to it that there is a definite pecking order within his “pack”— namely, your household. If your dog sees himself as the leader, he will start bossing you around and trying to run the household. He will growl at you, snap at you and possibly even bite if you don’t do what he wants. In his eyes, you are his follower and should heed his commands.
He will assert himself in all types of social interactions and activities. He won’t let you move around when he is sleeping in the bed with you. He won’t let you displace him from the sofa or from his bed. He won’t let you near his food bowl. He won’t allow people to stand up after they have
been sitting in a chair. And the list goes on.
What is temperament and why is it important?
Temperament is the dog’s nature and personality, and is often inherited. Dogs can have dominant temperaments, medium temperaments or submissive temperaments. Dogs with dominant temperaments are harder to train and sometimes have problems with aggression, especially toward other dogs. Medium temperaments are the easiest to train and live with,
while submissive temperaments can be very sensitive and sometimes fearful.
Temperament can also be affected by early experiences. A puppy who is handled often and is well socialized will have a more stable temperament than one who grows up in isolation.
Why do dogs have different temperaments?
The domesticated dog is a descendent of the wolf. Dogs inherited temperament traits from these ancestors. Wolf packs need leaders in order to function efficiently in the wild. The top wolf makes decisions for the group. In wolf packs, leaders and followers are determined by the individual wolf ’s temperament. Domestic dogs like your Jack Russell Terrier see their human families as packs. The goal is for your dog to view you as the leader, not himself. Otherwise, behavior problems can surface.
