Jack Russell Terrier

Despite their strong hunting instincts, these working dogs remain very good companions, affectionate and tender towards members of their adoptive family.

A little mischievous, Jack Russells like to entertain and spend time playing with their friends, and even more so with children.

Fearless, lively and very alert, this Terrier is anything but calm. Although Jack Russells know how to juggle both their job and companionship perfectly, they remain very energetic and should never be considered solely as a dog for pleasure.

The Jack Russell Terrier is very clever and has a lot of potential, both for hunting and other dog sports. Although they aren’t "easy" to train, when a good bond is established between the owner and dog, very good results can be achieved.The Jack Russell Terrier is a hunter, to say the least. They have an incredible sense of smell and impressive determination when it comes to the search and pursuit of prey. They can hunt both underground (fox, badger, coypu) and on land (wild boar, rabbit). In this respect, they make the perfect companion for hunters. On the other hand, the Jack Russell will not kill; they are chosen for their bark rather than their bite.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a hunter, to say the least. They have an incredible sense of smell and impressive determination when it comes to the search and pursuit of prey. They can hunt both underground (fox, badger, coypu) and on land (wild boar, rabbit). In this respect, they make the perfect companion for hunters. On the other hand, the Jack Russell will not kill; they are chosen for their bark rather than their bite.

Naturally kind and friendly, the Jack Russell Terrier can be distant if he feels a certain animosity from someone. On the other hand, they aren’t commonly aggressive or bitey. If this is the case, it is because the dog is either the result of a bad breeding (often due to the popularity and high demand for the breed since its official recognition), or because they did not socialise enough during their early months as a puppy.

Although Jack Russells love family life, their hunting instinct means they are naturally independent.

Loneliness is not generally a problem for Jack Russells, as long as they were progressively exposed to the absence of their owner as a puppy, to which they responded positively.

Like any good Terrier, this dog has a hell of a temperament. They are not easy to handle and both their docility and ability to concentrate can be very fragile. Nevertheless, as long as their trainer’s attitude is firm, clear and rules have been established early on, the Jack Russell will be obedient. The most important thing with this working dog is to acknowledge their working capacity. Being very dynamic, this small dog can have difficulties concentrating. In fact, the optimum training sessions should be short and always end positively. In addition, positive training, through play and reward, has proven to be very beneficial to this playful and greedy breed.

When hunting, this dog uses barking to signal when they are close to prey. At home, they may bark when they are bored, when they are left alone for too long, when guests arrive or when they are excited.

If they live in the countryside, their familiar environment must be fenced off to prevent them from following tracks without turning around. Their hunting instinct is so strong that they could spend hours tracing the smell of an animal that was previously there. Similarly, during walks in the forest, for example, it is advised not to let them off the lead if they are bad at responding to their name. On the other hand, even if they are usually good at responding, there is no such thing as zero risk with a dog, particularly a hunting one.

Should your Jack Russell not be given the opportunity to use up his energy, expect some troublesome behaviour. Due to their size, they are often considered as companion dogs, though they are in fact working dogs that need a daily dose of physical, mental and olfactory stimulation.

Food is a very important source of motivation for this Terrier, and thus highly useful when it  comes to their training.

Although they are friendly with guests, they make good guard dogs if they feel a threat approaching.

Although they can live in a house with a garden or in an apartment, these hunting dogs need to go out several times a day in order to adapt to this environment. They are not naturally designed to live in an urban environment, even though some become very comfortable with it.

Being a hunter, sporty, very dynamic, and with a high endurance, this dog undoubtedly needs a lot of exercise to fully develop. Simple neighbourhood walks are obviously not enough for them! They need long daily walks, with sports and mental stimulation as regularly as possible (agility, tracking, intelligence games, search mats, etc.).

Their small size enables them to join their owner on their travels, as long as they are well trained to remain calm during transport.

Their strong hunting instinct makes it difficult for them to live with other small pets, including cats.

The Jack Russell’s intrepid and hyperactive side can, for some dogs, be likened to an attack or a threat. In fact, they do not generally get along very well with their fellow creatures. They require regular opportunities to socialise with other dogs in order to reinforce acceptable behaviour.

As a very playful dog, they like to spend time with children, though it should be noted that they are not the most patient dog, and they cannot stand a lack of respect.

Jack Russells are not suited to quiet families or elderly people. They need a dynamic and active owner.

A lack of education is one of the main causes of abandonment. In fact, it is not advisable to adopt such a stubborn dog if you do not have at least some experience in dog training.