Where can I get a Jack Russell terrier quick smart?

[handlemecarefully]

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?

Molecule,

Thanks for the advice - no I will protect the pup from gladiatorial combat until he / she is old enough. Wouldn't want the dog hurt - certainly not!

Thanks for the website reference shimmy

Wasn't there a little thing in the news lately about The Hunting Act a certain ban on hunting with dogs?

At get-outta-here Mothernature you trouble maker

We've got a mongrel JR crossed with collie and he's great with my two kids. And he is an expert rat catcher! Do consider a rescue dog - if it's from a proper rehoming centre they will know which dog is best for you, although I know some places will not rehome dogs to families with small children. Our dog is fantastic, was free and we didn't have the house training/chewing stage!

My BIL has two borders, they are great family dogs, but need at least an hour walk every day.
They will kill rats, but also rabbits, hamsters, gerbils and one of them has a particular penchant for Hedgehogs
Terriers are 'nature raw in tooth and claw'.

Yes, I have a couple of gerbils. They live in the downstairs loo (lucky for them eh). Will have to make sure that the dog when we acquire it never gets access to the downstairs loo!

Daft question - will a terrier be okay with chickens when I let mine go free range for a walkabout around the garden (will be living most of the time in their ark)

Oh blimey HMC, probably not. My sister has terrible trouble with the JR's and her chickens, and she's stopped keeping ducks altogether, cos they can't run fast enough to stand a chance with the 'terrors' (as she calls them).

Border terriers, suggested further down here, might be an option tho'. A bit less determined I think than JR's , altho still game against the rats.

Anyway, just the smell of terriers on your land may deter the critters.

Just to let you know, some friends of my sis had rats living under their poly-tunnel. Sis's JR's had tremendous fun getting rid of the blighters, altho' the polythene had to be replaced beca\use it got all ripped!!

When I was a teenager I had to clear up the remains of 4 rabbits (pets) killed by a JR before the owners small children got home from school. Not nice, they are hunting dogs and are fearless and loyal but the downside is that they may well kill your chickens and small pets given half the chance, thats just the way they are. Might be wiser to go for something else. We are considering getting a poodle or a labradoodle (yes it is a real breed!)but probably not for a year or so until our youngest is at school

Ummm - well I suppose I could put the terrier inside whilst I let the chickens free range for an hour or two outside (but it's all getting rather complicated now)....or I could get an electrically fenced free range pen (I've seen the fencing advertised in Practical Poultry).

I think it will have to be a compromise with a slightly less feisty border terrier.

Sigh (at life being complicated)

Try lamping instead....[runs off before someone grabs her by the hoodie....] bye...

JRs really do seem to be the Arnie - terminator - schwarzeneger of the canine world......

I'll lamp you one in a minute Mothernature. Just hold still whilst I fetch my rifle

The bargain pages?

eh?

Just looked up Labradoodles - cute!!! I want one.

Labradoodles

Yes cute - but probably not all that lethal with rats!

we had a border she was lovely with children and would have ratted given a chance-she killed next doors rabbits anyway (have since moved ) and she was fine with our freerange chicken.
Think carefully about a farm reared jrt as they wont have had the socialisation at an early age to make them a good pet with kids.