Hi Everyone,

Been looking into some more breeds, obviously dont want to get the wrong one if we do. (we were thinking about lowchens in last post). Anyway, wont be rushing into anything. Just wondering what kind of temperament people who own Jack Russells have experianced or even people who know people if you get me :) Any difference between male and female?

Been looking up the breed on the net etc... but thought id ask on here aswell...

Thanks!

Never owned one but have known a few.  My observation seems to be that they are either angels or devils with not much inbetween :)  I would imagine the best thing is to ask around locally and having sourced a breeder go and meet their dogs and try to determine which category theirs fall into.
Where abouts in the country are you, one of our members might be able to point you in the right direction?
Not sure if you mean Jack Russels or the Parson but you will have to sort out that you are infact gathering the correct information for the one that you desire.

If you want a quiet life then don't get a JRT! I love 'em but then I'm biased since I have an 18 week old male JRT - not a Parson Russell - and I've always liked the breed. However, I think it's true to say that there are few half measures with them and they are packed full of "attitude" which needs to be channelled constructively. They were bred to work and have boundless energy and if you aren't going to work them then they need to be well occupied and well exercised. They are bright, loyal and very affectionate but will easily become a "one person" dog if you don't socialise them carefully from the outset.  It's only my opinion but I think they are country dogs and not certainly not suitable for anyone planning to coop them up in a small flat and leave them alone for hours at a time. Having said that, I'm just looking across the room at my own "hyperactive"(!) JRT who has taken up his normal morning position nestled in the pillows on the bed from which he's unlikely to emerge until lunchtime!

As I say, I find them smashing little dogs but they could be very hard work for an inexperienced dog owner.

we have a 2 year old JR male. My husband's family had always owned JRs and if we were going to get a dog it would have to be a JR! He is a real softie but he does like to bark especially if anyone comes to the door and restraining him from the postman is a daily chore! They are strong willed little devils but very intelligent and inquisitive! They are not docile! Having said that my Alfie does spend a lot of the day asleep just like Roz's JR! I came back from shopping this morning and he didn't bother getting up to see who had come in, some guard dog!

A very large dog, in a very small body, bit of a Napoleon complex, ie likes to get in first in many cases IME; like them if they are trained, but loathe them when they are not!

Fab stable ratters.

Would add that life will never be dull with a JRT but absolutely agree with tohme that they must be trained. Otherwise they will quickly train you.

They are quick to pick up the rules but can be reliably trusted to have just one more try to get around them - I rarely finish saying "get off" before Nipper has hastily removed himself from cavorting around on the forbidden dining room table.

I forgot to mention the fondness for barking too and this is something that needs watching. We have no problems with the postman or anyone coming near the house but anyone (or some anythings!) unknown getting too close to the car gets their fortune told in no uncertain terms. Although in true Napoleonic style he hasn't worked out that he's no match for a train at the level crossing. Or even how on earth a train is going to fit in the car and take whatever liberties he suspects it of anyway.

HI

I am writing this due to what I have seen in my friends Parson Jack Russell Terrier.  She has a male and I can simply describe him as:-

a Grower
a barker
snappy
hates children
one person dog
attention seeking (all the time!!!)
manipulative (eg if she leaves him he fouls the inside of the house)
intelligent and he know it!!!

and like many others have said he is a dog with a huge personality in a tiny body.  He has a lot of energy and need to be stimulated and watched practically all the time except for when he sleeps!  When he is asleep he is really cute!

At one stage I considered a JRT but after seeing this one there is no way I was put off the breed and now own a gorgeous labrador!!!!! :-)

I think and am sure though that with consistent training he would probably be the world's best dog!!!!

Good luck with your choice

My sister had a rough coated JRT bitch who lived to 15.

She was full of fun, very sweet, not exactly trained but would do what she was asked most of the time :)

I will never forget the day when as a pup, she walked on top of a large cow pat, right onto the crusty top - and vanished into it when the crust broke, all but her black nose and muzzle. I helped hike her out but don't think I've laughed so much in all my life, you had to see it :P

She was barky but not excessively so, and very affectionate and "bright" - hated cats.
Very curious, and could shriek her head off if very excited. Very active.

Super little dogs but you need to enjoy the terrier personality.

Lindsay
x

Fluffyslippers
Why don't you tell us what your requirements are and maybe we can make some suggestions of other breeds
Archer

Archer...
I tried in my last post "lowchens" when i exaplained how myself and fiance moved in together, terraced house, medium yard, availability for nice walks, students at uni for the next two years so one of us is usually in. In last post i think it digressed... ahh well

Just wanted to ask about Jack Russell as an opportunity has arisen but wouldnt want to take it lightly obviously..

Alice

Has an opportunity to get a pup or an older JRT arisen, fluffy? Only be thoughtful about getting a JRT that someone else can't manage!! Also, if you are going for a pup do choose a good and experienced breeder only I see far too many JRTs advertised in the sort of places nobody should consider buying any pup from, let alone this breed.

Well i should get someones opinion, its a 8 week old pup which was advertised on epupz and shelter helper, the owner has received bad news that she has skin cancer and her husband does 12 hour shifts so they cant keep puppy. She has told me that she got her from a breeder, no vaccinations yet but has been wormed. Dont know if i can put the links on here...

I am on my 2nd JRT.(Not a Parson) My first was a female and she was sharp and very dominant of other dogs also not good with children.
I now have a male who is very sweet natured.  Loves all people and dogs and wouldnt know how to be aggresive.  He is in fact very submissive to other dogs.

Bev

I'd be very wary if I were you, fluffy. Only a good breeder would immediately take the puppy back under the circumstances you describe. In fact my breeder would go completely doolally if she discovered one of her pups was being advertised anywhere - let alone at 8 weeks old when, to be honest, a pup should only just be leaving its mother and certainly not be in the position where it is looking for a second home.

I did think that myself roz especially since reading these boards... dont know whether i should see if they could talk to the breeder about taking the puppy back on?

Its difficult as i think that we would be able to provide a lovely home for a dog and give it a good walk each day, the attention it needs etc... the type of dogs i think we would be suited to are (this is going to sound awful) just soo expensive to by in the first instance from breeders, i looked at cavaliers and its £550 which is money we dont have to spend at one time, we would be able to afford upkeep each week month but hmmm..

Alice

Hi Alice, I've done a bit of research and think I've tracked this pup down from the sources you quote. I'd still advise caution since the pup was only 7 weeks old when the advert for rehoming was first placed. It's not unreasonable to assume that the present owner had had the pup for several days before the need to rehome arose and thus this pup left its mother far too early. Something that, in itself, does not bode well and may result in various developmental and behavioural problems.

I realise that there are sad personal circumstances that surround the need for this pup to have a new home but a good breeder would want that pup brought straight back to them.  To be honest, though,  I don't know any good breeders who would be selling 6 week old JRTs so I wonder what sort of response the present owner might get if she tried to return the pup. 

I take your point about costs but, like other well bred dogs from reputable breeders, a good JRT won't come cheap and, with respect, you wouldn't want it to! Much better to save up until you can get the right breed from the right breeder.

fluffy slippers I agree with Roz and urge caution with this pup and that maybe it's not the one for you.

Whatever you do, don't go and see it, telling yourself "we are only looking, we're not going to take it", because those are famous last words with puppies and you will prob come home with it.  It's not like getting a car, where you can go and see 50 of them before you choose one, and remain completely unattached emotionally!

I would also say - if you find the price too much, why not get a rescue from a shelter?  They often have pups in from accidental matings and if you keep your eyes peeled you might find a JRT cross.  Or another small breed you like.  Nothing wrong with having a rescue and a mutt, they can make great dogs.

The other thing to point out, if you think £500 is too much, is that dogs cost money in other ways.  Food, chews, toys, beds, leads, collars and all sorts of other paraphernalia you might not have thought of at the moment soon becomes necessary.  Puppy training classes are essential, in my opinion, and the average seems to be about £60 for a 6-8 wk course there.  If you get a JR, further training would be a good idea to make sure you stay on track.  Kennels when you go on holiday (or pet sitter) and so on.  There are lots of hidden costs.

Not trying to put you off, but don't go into it lightly.

My only experience of a JRT was my aunties.  It was a VICIOUS VICIOUS evil little spiteful dog!!!  She would guard everything - especially her basket.  If you even walked past the basket, it would vibrate with a low growl.  Admittedly, it was badly socialised and probably totally untrained.

Hi again

Thanks for the replies, I talked with my fiance and told him that i dont think that this would be the right dog for us, it was all too coincedental that we were looking, the puppy is in need etc etc and me being a emotional woman hehe didnt help so ive emailed the owner and said im sorry but im not going to pursue it further..

If we go to a rescue centre what would you suggest we should be cautious of? When is it a good time to visit one? Now? New Year etc

Alice :)

Rescue centres have dogs in all year round, unfortunately.  Most are always full.

Be warned that it can be quite distressing to go there and see them all.

If you definitely want a pup and not an older dog, then I'd suggest you give them a call first and ask if they have any pups in. 

Personally, if I was going to take a dog from a Rescue centre, it would definitely be a pup, the younger the better (but no younger than 7 wks obviously!).  This is so that I could be completely responsible for the pup's socialisation, training, early experiences, etc.  I would also look for a pup no older than about 7-8 wks if unvaccinated and 10 wks if fully vaccinated, to give me enough time to socialise the pup well, before the 18-20 wk socialisation window closes.  And also preferably from a litter which has come into the centre, rather than a pup which has previously had a home and then been sent to Rescue and is effectively on its 2nd home already. 

Best thing to do is to make some calls.  There is a great website here: http://www.dogpages.org.uk/  Which lists what dogs are in a lot of rescues around the country.

Hi Alice! I think you've absolutely done the right thing with this pup because I know that you'd never have been able to resist her if you'd just "gone to have a look"!!

(Edited because onetwothree has already given such good advice about rescues!)

JRT's are fantastic, we have never had a "bad" one. The hairloss is the worst thing I could say as the hairs are like little pins everywhere. We even bought the last pup from a guy in a rough area who turned out to be a badger baiter and she was the sweetest bitch ever, who lived to 14 and had not 1 bad day.

If your considering one? I've always offered this advice to people who fell in love with ours; Just remember....they are not a small dog, they are huge,.... big,..... massive!!!!

My feeling on this is if someone has to ask what a terrier temperament is then its perhaps best not to take one on, no offense meant.  There's no grey areas in living with the little b******r's, you either sink or swim, love them or leave them, laugh with them or cry.  It's almost vocational, either the strutting little ego's on four legs make your eye's twinkle or they don't, if they don't, run ....

Personally, I can't live without them!

If no offense is meant, then why do people say things that they think may cause offense.... argh..

I was only asking....

Because sadly there are people who'll take offence if anyone has a different opinion to them! :(

true... i think that it just fustrates me as i dont mind what people say its just more simple to say in my opinion which i would then think fair enough, if people say no offense i think of if you dont have anything nice to say dont say anything... I didnt take offense though.. just saying :)

I suppose the reason I asked for you not to take offense is because I was inferring that perhaps you may not have the experience necessary to live successfully with a terrier (never mind a jack russell) if you have to ask what it's temperament is.  There was nothing unkind said but unfortunately it's just the sort of statement that people do take offense at, trying to soften the intent is all .... didn't work obviously but that's life.

Well i have 26 JRT's all the small ones, most are workers (some retired now, lucky beggers!LOL) all ours live in the house, they are not a problem at all. The only time we have scraps is when bitches are in season so we seperate the boys & let them out routinely when the in season bitch is away.
Some people love JRTs others hate them, if you a lap dog kind of person rather than an outdoors type then a JRT wouldn't be for you. Just remember though because a JRT is a worker or bred from workers dosen't mean its going to be uncontrollable, infact many of ours do well in agility & obedience, i think doing such an activity with these dogs channels their energy.

I mean't to add on my post that although mine has a fantastic temeprement with humans and dogs alike he is a live wire, NEVER gets tired, constantly stirs up my 5 month old GSDxRottie to get her to play.
I can't wait till he is a year and can start agility and chanel some of that energy LOL.  Wouldn't be without him though as he has real character.

Bev

>I can't wait till he is a year and can start agility and chanel some of that energy LOL.

Snap!

26 JRTs conjures up a wonderful picture too! Your house mustn't ever be dull angienelly! :)

Hi..I am new to the site, but I have an adorable black and tan JRX. We got her from a rescue centre when she was 11 weeks.She is now nearly 4mths. She is bright and feisty but has the sweetest nature, and she is incredibly easy to train. She does most of her wees and poos outside now, walks good on her lead and knows sit, give paw, down, up and let go as well as wait and come. I adore her and she has become part of the family. We are actually waiting to hear about another JRX rescue dog. Yes, they need alot of attention but they are worth it

Wow! She sounds like a little angel. Nips knows all of those commands in theory but "give" is often interpreted as "OK but couldn't you wait until I've finished frightening the bejesus out of this squeaky pussy?"

I'd be a little thoughtful about introducing another JRT into the house while your pup is so young though. 

Hi Roz...we are going to make certain that they get on ok first. I do not want to upset my little girl !! She loves the company of other dogs though, and came from a foster home with 11 other dogs. If we do adopt another it will be completely down to her reaction and acceptance, and I wouldn't dream of just bringing in another dog. As I said, she is 4 mths, and the other is app 10mths, a neutered male, so we will play it by ear. He is quiet and subdued apparently, and another pup could be really good for him and puppy company for Tansy. Thanks for your concern...I think it is great to see people who have the dogs best interests at heart.

Let us know how you get on Tansy. I'm currently trying not to put my name down for another pup late next year when my breeder's bitch is likely to have another litter! I don't hold out too much hope for my willpower, mind. :)