Jack Russell - yes or no?!

[Jungfraujoch]

So, I posted on here some time ago that we were seriously considering getting a rescue dog. Lots of great advice on here and since then we have been procrastinating a little!

Anyway, DH and DS2 (11) went to an open morning today at a rescue that DH had spoken to. Once a month they 'show' some of the dogs and you can meet them and chat to the rescue people etc. DS was rather taken with a 2 year old Jack. Apparently he was very friendly, loved having a fuss made etc. His foster dad said he was a lovely dog - not nippy and yappy which is sort of the impression I had of them?

This is the first rescue centre we've actually visited so probably not going to jump straight in but just wondered about other people's experiences of Jacks?

[georgedawes]

They seem very popular dogs and the people I've spoken to who have one seems to adore them. In all honesty though I tend to avoid them when walking my dog as they tend to run at my big dog barking and growling if their owner lets them! It's very rare to see one that doesn't bark or growl at my dog (and I don't let her approach sof no warning is needed!). Sorry if I am blunt!

[vichill]

Very bad I'm afraid my dad's is extremely protective of him and after ragging my brothers foot (required surgery and 6 weeks off work) is locked outside whenever we visit. Very yappy, aggressive, oversexed, territorial and nippy. He is too bitey to go in kennels. He wasn't too bad until he was about 4. My dad is lovely to him and has trained many family dogs before but he's just a bad un.

[sooperdooper]

It's the only breed of dog I'm really not keen on, they can be very yappy and prone to nipping - but I think that's also due to people thinking as they're a small dog they don't need a lot of exercise, which I believe is incorrect and they need a lot of exercise and stimulation

[vichill]

I agree that they need loads of exercise. My dad's is walked a minimum of 3 times a day at 9 and still a coiled spring. And yes they think they can take on anything! Proper Napoleon syndrome little shits.

[georgedawes]

Sorry don't mean to laugh but vichill your description is hilarious! They're popular dogs though so they must have some appeal to some people, just not us!

[Annarose2014]

Two walks a day and still go up the walls! I had one and he would have been happy walking 5 hrs a day!

Very affectionate and happy - loved being on our laps etc. We loved him so much.

However, hugely territorial, barked in the garden constantly ("THIS IS MY PATCH, FUCK OFF ANYONE WHO CAN HEAR THIS!") and would have killed any cat he caught up to. He was also utterly intolerant of any dogs medium sized or smaller. Our garden had to be 100% enclosed and he still tested the perimeter daily.

He was very very hard work and we wouldn't get one again in a million years. And he was one of the nice ones!

[Annarose2014]

Oh and by the way ours was a rescue and was just like that on meeting - delighted to have attention. They're very very sociable. But it's the other stuff that's hard going.

We could never in a thousand years take him off the lead and even then if we passed a dog he'd go so mental he almost strangled himself. So stressful and embarrassing and that was twice daily 365 days a year. Even bloody Christmas Day!

[Friendlystories]

I've seen both ends of the spectrum with JRT's, we took one on when I was a kid, she had belonged to my great aunt and ended up with us when she passed away. There was definite evidence of 'little dog syndrome', she was quite snappy and defensive and prone to sounding off at bigger dogs. She hadn't been well socialised or properly trained though, my great aunt spoiled her rotten and she had little or no contact with other dogs. My BIL's JRT was an entirely different story, socialised with other dogs from a puppy, really well trained and he was a fantastic little dog, great with kids, bags of fun with a really endearing personality. I agree with sooper, they need more exercise and mental stimulation than some people realise, they're clever dogs and get bored easily but can work really well in a lively household. I think, whatever the breed, it's all down to the individual dog, if you think he might be right for your family would the rescue centre let you spend some time getting to know him better before you decide? Most decent rescues will and are happy to see adopters taking the time to be sure about a dog before you commit to taking him home. Good luck, hope it works out for you all

[TheoriginalLEM]

i have two of the little bastards. i love them like children.

[Jungfraujoch]

Thanks for the honesty! So, on balance maybe my impressions were correct!

[cuntinghomicidalcardigan]

We have a 16 week old jrt. He is lovely. Wants only cuddles in the house. So far on walks he is friendly and inquisitive and we are socialising him on busy dog walks where he meets between 15 and 20 dogs every walk (twice a day). He is lovely, but we are making sure that he is treated and trained like a big dog so he is not getting away with jumping or nipping.

[Dieu]

The ones I meet on dog walks are yappy and annoying wee shits, BUT I know of people who have them as pets and love them to bits. I used to do volunteer dogwalking at a rescue centre many moons ago, and my favourite dog by far there was a JRT. So I guess what I'm saying is, they're a real mixed bag!

[MaryMarigold]

I have a jrt cross who is sociable, loves other dogs, doesn't bark excessively, doesn't nip, doesn't yap, gets on ok(ish - they hate him!!) with our two cats and is generally lovely. He is an absolute maniac though, would run for hours and hours...

[Noitsnotteatimeyet]

My dog is terrified of them - every single one we see barks and growls at him - one kept trying to hump him yesterday and he was backing away and trembling.

[Jungfraujoch]

Think that's a no then!!

[BagelGoesWalking]

I don't think it's necessarily a "no". I think a lot of people forget the Terrier part of a JRT. My next door neighbours (now moved) had a JRT rescue. He was lovely. Didn't bark a lot, very friendly to us. They didn't have to walk him excessively.

I think a lot of people just don't train/socialise small dogs as well as larger dogs and so they're allowed to get away with barking/jumping behaviour(s) that bigger dogs would definitely be trained to cease. So, it's really up to you.

Can you contact the foster family and see him again in a home environment, take him for a walk perhaps (as presumably they're fairly local to you). Training classes are always a good idea with a new dog, of whatever age, so you could do that.

I wouldn't write him off just because of some comments here!

[BagelGoesWalking]

Just seen this on another thread - thought it might be of interest as it's a JRT the person is describing. Sounds great!

^DH and I both work full time and have a young dog we got as a puppy (a Jack Russell). Some days he goes to work with DH but on the other days I leave him while I go to work. He gets an hours walk first thing (mostly off lead across fields). Then he comes home, has his breakfast and settles down with some toys in the kitchen. I come home at lunch time and we have a small walk. After work he gets another hours walk. On occasion I've been late back at lunch time and - he's absolutely fine. He's never destroyed anything. He's a sweet sociable dog. The neighbours say they've never heard a peep from him. If you are prepared to train and walk a dog regularly, love him and look after him responsibly it will all be fine - honestly!
Consider puppy training though - it's so useful - and perhaps accept your garden might never be the same again!^

[greatscott81]

My Jack Russell couldn't be lovelier. Yes, she's protective and can be a little clingy but she's super sensitive, perfectly behaved, listens to instructions and is the most loyal dog you could ever wish for. She is a much loved member of the family and puts up with so much harassment from my 3 year old (who adores her - sadly it's a fairly one-sided love!) I trust her completely and would recommend the breed wholeheartedly.

[georgedawes]

Yes but on that walk bagel is the jrt barking its head off at every other dog it sees!

On a serious note, not saying they're all bad. But they do have a tendency to bark or they wouldn't have the reputation they do, personally I think they're a tough dog for a novice owner but then I'm more of a big dog person, so maybe I would say that. It's just on my walks in the last 2 days alone I've had 5 different jrts have a go at my dog for no reason. I used to avoid one path where we would be harassed by 2 jrts who lived on the neighbouring farm who would bark and run for 2 fields length to have a go at me and my dog. Thankfully not seen them recently.

Best to know the potential pitfalls of any breed, at the very least it helps with training.

[villainousbroodmare]

Some are lovely. Almost all are intense and high energy, busy dogs in the house as well as needing plenty of walking. They can be barky, can be snappy, tend to be diggy (terrier from 'terra', earth) and tend to shed like mad.
Very distinct individuals and I'd second pp's advice to check out the dog yourself if possible.

[frillyflower]

Actually that's my post Bagel quoted and I have to say our JRT hardly ever barks. He's v friendly to other dogs a bit submissive in fact.
All in all, apart from a few problems with recall which we are addressing now, he's a lovely little dog. He doesn't even bark if people come round.
They need you to be firm with them (occasionally he decides he wants to walk somewhere I don't) but he's not snappy, bitey or barky - and he looks great in a hat!!

[neonrainbow]

If you're not experienced with dogs i wouldn't get one. Very clever and active and need a lot of careful training and stimulation and tons of exercise. They make great farm dogs.

[georgedawes]

Sorry frilly I was trying to make a joke, your dog sounds lovely. Wish I saw more jrts like yours on walks!

[KP86]

We had two JRTs.

They were escape artists (seriously, one of our girls could CLIMB 6 ft fences), very territorial, jumpy, barked at a mouse farting and had bad small dog syndrome with any other dogs.

Most of this was down to us being poor dog owners and not training them properly, or knowing how to I guess.

Despite what I said above, they were lovely dogs and we loved them. I had no trust issues with my infant son and they weren't nippy at all.

Other pluses: they don't eat a lot and you can buy the medium breed flea and worming tabs and cut in half to use for them so that's cheaper. Good for snuggling on the couch too.

They can shed a lot of hair, so that's another consideration.

If you have time and energy to train and exercise your JRT regularly you will get along just fine. But definitely find out why it was rescued in the first place.

[Eve]

We have a parsons JR, walked twice a day, sleeps the rest!

Loves my 2 DS's on their laps, on chair with them, in bed with them... Basically never leaves them when she can.

We do need to be careful with her as she can be protective & suspicious of new people.