The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTA) has one of the most unique registries in the world. It was set up by founder Alisia Crawford in 1976 specifically to protect the working terrier from genetic faults and structural characteristics that would be detrimental to the breed’s working ability and mental and physical health.
Unlike other registries, such as the American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club, which register entire litters at birth, each application for registration for a Jack Russell Terrier is considered on the merits of each individual dog when she is 1 year old. That means just because a dog comes from registered parents does not mean she will be registered. A dog at 1 year must be examined by a veterinarian, and the doctor must note any obvious defects on a form submitted with the registration application.
Inbreeding is highly discouraged. Father to daughter, mother to son, and brother to sister matings are strictly prohibited, because inbreeding and line breeding can lead to increased risk of serious heritable diseases and traits. These defects would be detrimental to the future health of the working JRT.
A breeder who is a signatory of the JRTCA’s Code of Ethics has contracted to uphold the club’s high standards of conduct. Everything in the Code of Ethics is there to protect the dog and the well-being of the breed. All breeding stock must be registered and kept under clean and sanitary conditions. The puppies are
required to be with their littermates and dam until they are at least 8 weeks old.
A reputable breeder, who is a caring guardian of the future and soundness of the breed, will be more apt to produce sound, healthy puppies. By selecting a soundly bred dog, you can better be protected from the later heartache of discovering your dog has serious health problems that could have been prevented
by careful and thoughtful breeding.
How do you find a reputable breeder? The first step is to get in touch with as many breeders as possible in your area and arrange a visit for the whole family. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America has breeder referral resources. If you have friends or neighbors who have healthy, well-behaved JRTs, you might want to ask them who the breeder was. You can also attend JRTCA events to meet Jack Russell breeders.
JRTCA Breeders
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.
