Help us find the right dog breed/convince DH JRTs are the best?

[Pondies]

DH has two french bulldogs, who are very sweet and everybody loves, but they are very much DH's dogs, and show very little interest in me at all, even though I'm the one that looks after them mostly. My JRT died before I moved in with DH and I miss her very much, and DH has agreed to us getting a dog together.

I really want another jack, but DH is dead set against it, and is opposed to getting any terrier breed, because he thinks they're all yappy and aggressive (even though mine wasn't). I would have preferred to get a rescue, but we think the frenchies would take to a puppy better.

We want a dog that would do well with children (we don't have any yet, but want to start a family in the next couple of years), gets on well with other dogs and poeple, doesn't need a tonne of exercise, DH's dogs can only handle about 1/2 an hour in the morning, though I'd happily do another longer walk in the evening, that doesn't drool and isn't a flat faced breed. We're not too bothered about size, though not something enormous, don't mind shedding or having to do frequent grooming. Stubborness doesn't really bother me either, but I don't want to be followed around everywhere I go.

We were originally thinking of getting some kind of spaniel, but every one I know is exceptionally clingy with their owners, and that would do my head in. I also like poodles, but out of the ones I know, half are completely neurotic. Though they are lovely, I'm not a big fan of labs or GSDs. Any ideas?

[adaline]

Honestly I wouldn't recommend a Jack Russell around small children. I'm sorry you lost yours but your DH is right that they can be quite neurotic and yappy if they don't get enough exercise.

If you're planning on starting a family you need to think ahead - the amount of exercise you can give a dog now might not be the amount you can give when you have a newborn at home keeping you up all night! Our neighbour has a young JRT and he needs a good two hours a day to be calm and even then he barks at everything that moves!

Again Spaniels need loads of exercise and all the ones I've met are absolutely bonkers as puppies. Saying that I think they're lovely dogs but they're a lot of work says the woman with a beagle puppy

What about a staffy? They're great family dogs despite their aggressive reputation. Or something like a Tibetan terrier (although they need lots of grooming).

[Wolfiefan]

I wouldn’t get a JRT if that’s the amount of walking you can manage. All the ones I know need more like a 2-3 hours. At least.
And I wouldn’t want a teen JRT and a baby or toddler.
Spaniels and poodles also require a shed load of exercise. Mental and physical.
Try a breed selector quiz or could you make it to Discover Dogs at Crufts?

[Bunnybigears]

I think you got lucky with your last JRT, I certainly wouldnt recommend them to anyone who wanted a family pet. Much better as a ratter. Why do you think the frenchies will do better with a puppy? Have you taken any potential adoptees on a trial basis?

[Pondies]

I was talking about potentially a much longer walk later on, probably up to two hours, and if we couldn't manage if with kids we'd get a dog walker, but you are right it wouldn't be ideal.

Ive tried dog breed quizzes, but they largely come up with poodle crosses, which would be fine but the ones I know are all completely different from each other so I'm not sure what they would actually be like, or flat faced breeds, and we have enough issues with the frenchies as it is.

The older frenchie gets grumpy around adult dogs in the house sometimes, but loves puppies. He might be okay if we did a lot of introduction, but DH doesn't want to risk it.

[NuffingChora]

Border terrier - intelligent, trainable (but start early, and be especially careful about good socialisation), more likely than most other terrier breeds to be child and dog friendly, moult less than smooth coated breeds (though need regular hand stripping every 4-6 months or so), not yappy, loyal but friendly - not one person dogs, like to be part of the family. Would definitely need 2 walks a day though - as would any dog really, so you would be committed to that second walk. That said, they’re generally fine with as much exercise as is on offer - ours can go from 2x 20 min one day to 2x 2 hours the next and not bat an eyelid.

[AnnabelC]

I am biased. A cockerpoo. Mine is good with children, easily trained. She needs grooming every 8 weeks because she doesn’t shed. Needs walking about an hour a day. With hiding treats in the house etc. She needs brain stimulation as well.

[adaline]

The problem with crosses is that you never know what traits you're going to get. Cockers and poodles are both incredibly high energy breeds and need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation - and you could get one that sheds massively.

A friend of mine has a labradoodle and while he's a lovely dog he's extremely energetic and certainly not low-shedding!

[LittleBLUEsmurfHouse]

Definitely not a spaniel if you don't want to be followed everywhere you go as they do and are a needy dog. They are also nuts. (I say that as a spaniel lover with a cocker and cavalier).

[NoSquirrels]

doesn't need a tonne of exercise

I have never met a JRT that doesn’t need a lot of exercise!

Second the Border Terrier, or maybe a miniature Schnauzer?

[Phuquocdreams]

Bichon Frisé? The one I know has a lovely playful temperament, v good with kids. Non-shed and I don’t think they need masses of exercise.

[bunnygeek]

Rescues get puppies too! Don't completely disregard them because of that little factor. The most common puppy types are small terriers, lurchers or Staffy mixes. Just saw a whole litter of Bichons on the Dogs Trust website though (all reserved of course)

[Wolfiefan]

Kennel club beed quiz won’t come up with crosses. My mum has a border terrier. Could work?

[bobstersmum]

Had a jrt male (uncastrated) for almost 17 years until he was so poorly we had to have him pts. He was amazing, loyal, funny, never showed any aggression. We didn't think we could ever replace him but by chance 2 years on came across a male jrt five month old needing rehoming. We went to see him only because his face was identical to our old boys. We took him home and he is absolutely perfect. He could be the same dog. So glad we got him.

[joystir59]

JRT rescues will have unknown issues. Our JRT rescue would be dangerous with children as he can be seriously aggressive. He is much more aggressive than Batteries let on and his aggression only surfaced after he'd been with us for about 6 months and really felt at home and bonded with us. We love him to bits and have learnt how to handle him, but we don't have children.

[bobstersmum]

Ps, we have 3 dc age 5 and under, and our little dog is great with them. No dog can be fully trusted with children.

[QuickWash]

Our JRT was seriously seriously seriously hard work as a young dog and having small children alongside was almost more than I could cope with on many occasions. Personally, I would not repeat our scenario and in fact would put getting a new dog on hold altogether rif considering having a baby.

[missbattenburg]

Two JRTs and a springer here...

You've correctly identified the issues with both breeds

The Female JRT has still got a full battery, even though she's 13 years old. Still needs a GOOD walk and is prone to over excitement and obsession about things if not kept super calm. E.g. the latest thing is hitting the back fence at full pelt because she saw a squirrel in it the other day. That means more training to make sure it doesn't become a permanent habit as it is easily could with her. She has lots of lovely points as well such as being snuggly after walks and caring if you're sick and brilliant with other dogs and still smelling like a puppy...

The male JRT is a quiet little thing who prefers snuggles to walks but is a mix of something else, I think, so not typical. Never met any dog like him before.

The springer is my dog. I know this because being more than about three feet away from me is a situation he always seeks to rectify. He also needs two hours of good (off lead) walking a day. He is 18 months old and still not mature - but just starting to get there.

A border terrier is a great suggestion and I always think they are JRT-like and all dog but without the maximum dose of beans that the JRTs get. Lovely dogs. If we had space I would get one (but then I say that about a dozen breeds every day so maybe I am no good judge!)

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

There was a thread about JRTs on here not long ago www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/3399740-Does-anyone-own-a-Jack-Russell

They absolutely need a tonne of exercise. If 2yo DDog (who's reputedly only half JRT, half a much lower energy breed) doesn't get his 2 hours per day, he's a complete pain in the arse. Somehow it seems alright in the summer when the weather is warm and the daylight long, but coming into another cold winter with dark nights I have had a few FML moments. I'm assured by other JRT owners that they never actually slow down until they die. DDog has been around kids once or twice, but I watched him like a hawk for fear of something going wrong.

[Snappymcsnappy]

Not a massive jrt fan myself.
The only dog I’ve only been bitten by.

My mil has one, it’s nice enough I suppose.
Bit nervous around kids and horrifically territorial though.

I imagine a puppy off good temperament parents, trained and socialised well would make a nice family pet.
I wouldn’t touch a rescue JRT personally.
Or any rescue dog actually if there are young kids, controversial but you just don’t know the full history.

[joystir59]

JRTs are a different kind of dog. Super intelligent, and need to be understood. We are still getting to know ours 18months down the line. He barks loads, guards us, intercepts (rips up) the post, goes for children who point to him and say "look at the lovely doggie mummy!" Gies for anyone in a high vis jacket. He has nipped (bit) every member of the family, but is a rescue and was very stressed when we got him. Needs tonnes of exercise and lots of attention and brain work. Has a delicate tummy (colitis), so has all his meals cooked specially. Is great fun- everything is a game, glued to us when we go out. Hates windy wet weather (handy now we've moved to the North East coast). Gets easily bored. Lays down on the pavement and refuses to budge, for ever, if he wants to go a different direction. Absolutely love him to pieces, and THINK he loves us!

[MuttsNutts]

Love JRTs but what about a Cairn Terrier? They still have the terrier personality but are notoriously good with children (assuming socialised properly as with any dog). I have never met a nasty Cairn and ours had the loveliest temperament of any dog I’ve ever owned.

She grew up with my son (got her when he was 5yo) and not once in all her years did she show any impatience or anything other than adoration for him and all his boisterous mates. And not a nasty bone in her body when it came to other dogs. She just wanted to be everyone’s friend.

We love and miss her very much 😢

[MuttsNutts]

Oh and she never shed her hair or barked (unless someone touched the letter box )

[itsnowthewaitinggame]

I'd second the suggestion of a border terrier. They have big litters so relatively easy to find a breeder with pups. Another option is the gorgeous Norfolk Terrier. IMO the sweetest, brightest and most brilliant with children of the terriers. The down side is they have tiny litters so very hard to get hold of and very expensive ( not on a par expense wise with Frenchies though!)

[itsnowthewaitinggame]

Oh but Norfolks do shed madly and need regular hand stripping

[DartmoorDoughnut]

Thirding the border terrier, ours is fabulous and I think we’d always have one now tbh. He can be a bit barky at the back fence as it backs in to our local park so he likes to tell everyone walking passed to bugger off but his bark isn’t yappy unlike my parents JRT who frankly is an utter pain in the arse.