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Original poster

Where can I get a Jack Russell terrier quick smart?

45 replies

handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 11:38

Was thinking of getting a dog as a family pet anyway, but the need for a dog is now more urgent - to control out of control rat population (currently in garden but no long before they get into house perhaps)

Where do you get hold of pure breed dogs? We had started looking for Bernese Mountain dog breeders previously but quickly lost heart since local breeders had no litters and a forever long waiting list. Will it be the same for Jack Russels?

OP posts:
throckenholt · 23/05/2005 11:49

before you jump to any decision hastily - make sure the dog breed is good with kids. I know very littel about jack russels but we always used to call them ankle-snappers - and anything bread to tackle rats must be a touch dog.

spacedonkey · 23/05/2005 11:50

I have heard JRs are the worst for biting!

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 11:58

Umm - perhaps I should breath deeply and pause for thought!

I'm not going to be quite as impulsive as I sound. Have read the page on Jack Russels in my 'Choosing a Dog for Dummies' book, and it says 'good with well - behaved children' but warns that they won't tolerate being poked by an inquisitive toddler.

Will definitely find out a bit more

OP posts:
Mothernature · 23/05/2005 12:04

The Jack Russell terrier is a hunting dog and not for everyone.
Steps:

  1. Choose a Jack Russell if you want a smart, loyal and energetic companion. They're good watchdogs.

  2. Remember that while they're easy to train, Jacks have short attention spans. They require consistency and a great amount of patience.

  3. Reconsider buying a Jack if you have children. They won't tolerate rough treatment and are a poor choice for families with kids under 10.

  4. Adopt a Jack Russell only if he will be your only dog. While some puppies will do fine with a cat already established in the home, they tend to be very aggressive with other dogs, even those much larger than themselves. They won't willingly share food, toys and so forth.

  5. Expect your Jack Russell to weigh between 15 and 18 lbs. and stand 10 to 14 inches at the shoulder. There are short- and long-legged varieties.

  6. Keep in mind that while he looks like a small dog to you, the Jack is essentially a 130-lb. dog in a small body. These dogs are extremely intelligent, very bold and have no sense of their small stature.

  7. Expect to pay between £200 and £400 for a good-quality dog.

  8. Consider adopting from a rescue group. Many of these dogs are already housebroken and finished with the chewing stage. There's usually nothing wrong with the dog; the owners didn't research the breed and later discovered that they and the dog were incompatible.

  9. Note that terriers require a lot of attention. This is an extremely active dog. The main reason people give up a Jack Russell is that they weren't prepared for the activity level of the breed. The second reason is that the Jack nipped at the children.

  10. Be prepared to enjoy a full 15 years with your terrier, as this is the average life expectancy of a Jack Russell.

Tips:
Make sure you or someone in your home is willing to spend at least 60 minutes a day playing with and exercising the dog.

Keep your Jack Russell in a secure yard - this breed will dig under and jump over 5-foot fences. Don't underestimate the escape skills of this terrier. If he sees something he wants to chase, he will do everything he can to go after it.

Remember that terriers are bred to dig. Expect this behavior, particularly if you leave your dog alone all day.

Keep a roll of tape handy; the Jack sheds constantly and a vacuum will get most, but not all, of the coarse hairs.

Warnings:
This is a dog that will test your limits. You must be able to be firm and kind to him. If you tend to be the doting type of pet owner, the Jack is not for you.

Most Jack Russell terriers don't do well in apartments or condominiums. They need more space than that and require a lot of exercise.

This breed is not good with children or other pets.

HTH

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 12:26

Mothernature,

Yes it does help. From that description, probably not the breed for us!

OP posts:
Blu · 23/05/2005 12:43

So what dogs are child-friendly and efficient rat-catchers?

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 12:52

Blu,

I'm thinking of ringing some of the breeders of jack russels (have been googling all morning and have come up with numbers) for an in depth conversation because a lot goes on temperament as I understand it - and gentle bitch and dog parents would help

OP posts:
elastamum · 23/05/2005 12:52

How about a border terrier, great with kids, dont need walking a lot, not sure about the rats but suspect they would chase them off

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 13:07

Border terriers get a good write up in my book ('Choosing a Dog for Dummies') and are probably a better choice with children. Will try and find out more re if they can be put to good use with ratting!

OP posts:
Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 13:08

Hang on there,

last paragraph re border terriers says ' rabbits or stray cars are deemed rodents and are prey like other vermim'

So that sounds good re rat catching!

OP posts:
misdee · 23/05/2005 13:10

get a cat?

Mosschops30 · 23/05/2005 13:19

Message withdrawn

sparklymieow · 23/05/2005 14:00

we have a jack russell, he is a wimp and sits and shakes at the time, I think if someone broke in here he would cower in the corner.......

oops · 23/05/2005 14:15

Message withdrawn

oops · 23/05/2005 14:17

Message withdrawn

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 14:55

oops,

I realise as a puppy it wouldn't be an efficient ratter...but I do think we are over sentimental about pets these days. The primary purpose of breeding terriers in the past was as working dogs and especially for pest control. A terrier kept for the dual purpose of family pet and rat control dog would be very happy, I think....

As a child we had a mongrel - father was all sorts of breeds, but mother was a jack russell. I saw our mongrel catch a rat in next doors garden once - she was lightning fast and hugely impressive, caught the rat and tossed it in the air to break it's neck.

We've been thinking about getting a dog as a family pet for some time now. Our rat problem is just expediting our decision and influencing our choice of breed.

Can't get a cat Misdee - I loathe them, am allergic to them (which might be part of why I don't like them as they make me ill) and we live on a busy A road.

OP posts:
Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 14:59

Oops

Sorry if I sounded a bit brusque in my reply - just trying to reassure you that I am thinking about this carefully, and I am a dog lover so I am keen to make an appropriate decision

OP posts:
oops · 23/05/2005 15:09

Message withdrawn

BadgerBadger · 23/05/2005 22:27

FWIW, we had three different jack russells when I was young and they were fantastic pets as well as fantastic working ratters. We bred them too, though without papers. A good bet is to try farms and smallholdings for litters, they do tend to be good allrounders IME .

Easy · 23/05/2005 22:41

haven't read the whole thread here, no time, but don't believe what you may hear about JRs being snappy, any dog brought up with children, and given proper discipline (just like kids really) will be alright with your kids.

I was brought up with a terrier, my sister has had 5 (yep 5) and none has had a problem with my niece, in fact they are more likely to be protective of your children.

And I agree, if you want a lon-term rat deterrent, a JR is your chap. If you live in the country, by all means contact farms, look for people walking with JRs and stop and ask them.

One word of advice, don't have more than one dog at a time if it's a JR, they are poseesive and territorial, and will cause havoc in a multi-dog household.

Any queries, CAT me (no pun intended)

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 23/05/2005 23:04

Thanks - only thing about JRs (and I do like the dog actually) - will they try to escape if caught up and over excited in their pursuit of a rat?

Whilst I've got a farm on one side with a big impenetrable hedge thingy separating us from the field next door, on the other side I've only got a wire mesh fence (4 foot high) separating us from other neighbour. Will this be secure enough.

And will they tolerate a bit of solitude Monday to Wednesday (as I work part time)

Hadn't thought about contacting farmers to see if they have JR's - but now you mention it, it seems quite logical that they might have!

OP posts:
assumedname · 24/05/2005 01:57

Won't the council sort out your rat problem?

Original poster
handlemecarefully · 24/05/2005 09:21

Yes assumed name - but given our location next to a field, we are likely to get repeat infestations unless we have a really effective detterent - like a Jack russell

OP posts:
shimmy21 · 24/05/2005 09:30

To answer the original question (and steering well clear of debate about Jack Russells) - I have just discovered www.epupz.co.uk (board of puppies for sale in UK) and you are able to see pups for sale in your area plus answers such as whether pups can be seen with their mum etc

Molecule · 24/05/2005 10:18

We had a border terrier who was wonderful with children and an excellent ratter (our previous farm was close to a river so constantly plagued with huge rats). They certainly seem to be able to separate their working lives from home lives. But, you must not put a puppy onto a rat until it is at least 6 months old, and probably nearer one, as rats fight back and the puppy will be scared for life. You will probably have to work with the dog, flushing out the rats etc, so need to be ready for some fairly bloody sport. DH spent many a happy hour with our border, but it was not really my thing.