Jack Russell Terrier on the hunt

Description and features

The history of the discovery of this breed is described differently in different sources. But, according to the most common version, a priest named Jack Russell, who lived in Great Britain, is to thank for the birth of this animal.

He was not at all concerned about the appearance of the beast. The goal of this person was solely to breed a good working hunter's dog. During many years of selection, he succeeded. A small but very agile dog was born, who was named after his discoverer father.

Jack Russell Terrier is merciless to burrowing animals when hunting

Origin, history, creation

The Jack Russell Terrier dog owes its origin to the English pastor John Russell, nicknamed Jack.
The formation of the breed begins in 1818, when a priest purchased a bitch named Trump in Oxford. He was a passionate hunter and he bought dogs for hunting small game. “The ancestor” Trump had little resemblance to modern representatives of the Jack Russell Terrier breed. But what has remained unchanged is the color. Trump had white fur with bronze-red markings on her head and a tan patch at the base of her tail. Purposeful crossing of Trap and her offspring with white and colored terriers led to the creation of the breed in its modern form. Some breeders even practiced crossing with bull and terriers to give the Jack Russell terriers fighting qualities. However, this was more common during the heyday of dog fighting.

Some researchers believe that the Jack Russell Terrier is the same fox terrier only of the old type. Considering that John Russell was among the founders of the Kennel Club, created for breeding the Fox Terrier breed, this version has a right to exist. The pastor himself never classified the dogs he bred as fox terriers, claiming that his dogs were created exclusively for hunting, while fox terriers were created for exhibitions.

After the death of John Russell in 1883, his dogs were called “working terriers”; only in the 30s of the 19th century the breed was given the name of its creator.

The short-legged, miniature Jack Russell Terrier breed was bred to hunt burrowing animals. What were the requirements for the future breed:

Short hair, since the dog's long hair would stick to dirt after being in the hole. The coated terrier significantly lost speed - the main weapon of a hunting dog.
Light in color, preferably white, to distinguish the dog from the fox he drove out of the hole. In practice, there have been more than once cases where hunters shot at their dogs running out of a hole, taking them on a fox. Terriers were highly valued by their owners, so the breeders aimed to consolidate the white color with red markings.
Drop ears. Standing was undesirable.

The dog bred by John Russell met all these requirements. Her character was decisive and brave. The terrier was brave and vicious towards the beast, and had a strong hunting passion. Jack Russell Terriers have been recognized as the best burrow hunters. They were used not only for hunting foxes, but also for catching badgers, rats, and hares.

Now the breed is very popular in Europe and Australia. In its homeland it is used as a hunting and farm dog. She is happily kept in houses and apartments as a companion dog. As a hunting dog, it is used to hunt foxes and badgers. But after the ban on catching badgers, hunters release them after the dog catches them. On farms, the Jack Russell Terrier does an excellent job guarding poultry and small livestock from foxes and rats.

French hunters take Jack Russell terriers to hunt feathered and fur-bearing game. The dogs bring them the shot animal. Dogs can even fetch ducks from the water. They are also used for hunting wild boar, deer, rabbits, and roe deer.

Breed standard

This charming and dexterous dog cannot boast of impressive dimensions. Its maximum height is 31 cm. Males are usually 3-4 cm larger than females. They weigh up to 7 kg. Jack Russell Terriers are born with a long, thin tail that must be docked. According to the breed standard, it should stand upright. This is a key parameter for determining the “pure blood” of an animal.

He has very powerful hind legs. They are stable and muscular. The front ones are a little shorter and thinner. The dog's body is massive and wide. It has a rectangular oblong shape. Pronounced chest.

Medium sized neck. The head is small, slightly oblong. Triangular ears are located behind the frontal part of the head, lowered towards the muzzle.

The Jack Russell Terrier has a very expressive look. There is a wide fold of skin above each eye. The eyelashes are long. At the tip of the muzzle there is a large black nose. The dog's jaws are tightly clenched and there is no salivation.

The coat is smooth, short or long (depending on the type of breed). Its color is white. Two color options are allowed - with black or brown spots. These standards were determined only in the second half of the 21st century, therefore, this breed, as we know it today, can be considered young.

Description and breed standards

By standard description, the Jack Russell Terrier is a working terrier with a strong, flexible body. The body length of a male dog is on average 40 cm, the height at the withers is 25-30 cm, and an adult weighs 5-7 kg. The female's height is on average 3-5 cm shorter.

The dog's head has the correct proportions. The skull is flat, wide, tapering towards the muzzle. The jaws are strong, wide, and the cheekbones stand out well. Scissor bite.

The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, dark. The eyelids are highly pigmented.

The ears are hanging, located on the sides of the head and have a V-shape.

The chest is voluminous and not overloaded with muscles. Dogs' paws are straight, dense, strong, making up half the height of the animal. Fingers bent. The tail is straight, docking of 1/3 of the length is often used.

The animal's gait is free, light, and springy. The average life expectancy of representatives of the breeds is 15 years.

Summarizing all the qualities of the breed and looking at photos of Jack Russell Terriers, we can say that they are small, well-proportioned working dogs, suitable for burrow hunting.

Character

Those who watched the movie “The Mask” remembered the Jack Russell Terrier as an intelligent and cheerful dog. But is he really like that? Let's not forget the purpose of a dog. It was bred to catch small animals. The animal bloodthirstyly dealt with them, very rarely giving the owner the opportunity to take them home alive.

It would seem, how can such a dog, aggressive towards animals, enjoy life and serve humans well? In fact, this is true. It’s hard to believe, but the English priest Jack Russell, who has been breeding hunting dogs for many years, was able to create a truly cheerful and devoted companion for humans.

The main character trait of this savvy and strong rat hunter is his cheerful disposition. He is active, playful and very curious. The attention of this hero from “The Mask” can be attracted by any object in the house, be it dishes or a soft bear. Almost the entire day the dog is in a good mood. There is little that can upset him.

It is interesting that the Jack Russell Terrier does not choose one owner, as many dogs do. He is equally good-natured with all family members. However, the dog, as befits a descendant of a wolf, clearly defines the group hierarchy. Regardless of the family in which he lives, he will divide all its members into “main” and “subordinate”.

However, these cute little dogs often play favorites. Usually, they become children. But don't be confused! The loved one is not the owner of this animal. A dog can be endlessly devoted to a specific person, but at the same time not respect him at all. Yes, the Jack Russell Terrier is characterized by willfulness. He is not only kind and loyal, but also very stubborn.

Such an animal is often bored. Any active dog needs regularly occurring, violent emotions. If they are not there, she withdraws and becomes sad. Remember, any word said to this animal can lift or ruin its mood. They are very smart, therefore, they always accurately read the emotional field of the person interacting with them.

Jack Russell is a very energetic breed that requires frequent walks and active games.

The dog often shows wariness towards strangers. But he adores all children, without exception. Why? It's all about the cheerful disposition of the children. The Jack Russell Terrier perceives kids as his friends, as they are close to him in spirit. Loud noises, movement, laughter and fuss - all these things make a dog happy.

Kinds

The standards for this breed have been amended many times. But the breeders came to the conclusion that it is not at all necessary to standardize exclusively one species as the main one. Popular types of Jack Russell Terrier:

Shorthair. This is the most common type of breed. To the touch, the animal's fur is soft. It's nice to touch her. The animal sheds annually.

Shorthair Jack Russell Terrier

Long-haired. If the fur of the previous dog was soft and smooth, then this one is hard. On the animal’s face there are “antennae”, which are hairs sticking out in different directions.

Longhaired (wirehaired) Jack Russell Terrier

Brocken/light brocken. They have shorter fur that fits very closely to the body.

Raf. It differs from the Brocken in its fur, which is broken in structure.

Not long ago, another variety of this breed appeared - the Mini Jack Russell Terrier. The type and appearance of the animal is the same as that of a traditional shorthair, however, it is lighter in weight (up to 3 kg).

Maintenance and care

The owner of such a dog will definitely need a small brush. Since Russells shed annually (often several times a year), they need to be brushed systematically. It’s rare to find a dog who doesn’t like this procedure. By touching the teeth of the comb to the dog's body, you give him pleasure. Bonus: removing old fur.

Next, the ears. Sulfur regularly appears in them. Some owners, trying to clean it, use cotton swabs to penetrate deep inside the ears, thereby causing severe pain to the animal. You can't do that. Only the visible part should be cleaned. Ignoring this care will result in inflammation of your pet's ears.

As for the eye mucous membranes, they need to be washed with water once a week. Some breeders advise using saline solution. The main thing is to prevent eye souring.

The Jack Russell Terrier is very active. He sharpens his claws himself. But in old dogs, whose age exceeds 10 years, the level of activity decreases significantly. When washing or scratching, they can seriously injure the skin. In this case, the owner will have to grind off the sharp claws.

Since we're talking about skin. Its condition in dogs depends on several factors, including nutrition and care. Frequent bathing is something that can trigger the appearance of epidermis or other skin diseases in dogs. Such an animal should be washed no more than 2 times a year.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog that will do well in an apartment. It is important to give him space to play. Limiting your dog's mobility will cause stress.

Of course, no one is calling for giving her a separate room, but it would be nice to provide the opportunity to sit on a large armchair, which offers a good view of the home.

It is better to place the dog's sleeping place at the front door. This is required to develop her guard skills. Thanks to his excellent sense of smell and hearing, the Jack Russell identifies a person on the landing even before he approaches the door.

Don't forget to buy a soft toy for your dog! If you cannot go with him into the forest every day to hunt rats and other small animals living in holes, you need to provide him with an “escape route.” During the day, a hound dog accumulates a huge amount of energy that needs to be released. Let him torment a soft toy, imagining a fat mouse instead.

Important! There is an opinion that such games have a destructive effect on the dog’s psyche and make it more aggressive. Yes, this is true, but not with the Jack Russell Terrier. This is a human-friendly hunter who needs an active pastime.

How to maintain and care

In everyday life, the Jack Terrier is extremely unpretentious and docile. But we should not forget that when kept in an apartment, he needs physical activity, an influx of fresh impressions, so you need to take him for a long time and partly for a walk. The Russell's coat is quite short, and it is enough to brush it weekly, and after running through the slush, the terrier needs to be washed so that dirt and microorganisms do not harm him. But do not overdo it: frequent water procedures can harm the Russell’s skin: dry it out, initiate the appearance of dandruff, cause hypothermia if the not-dry terrier suddenly finds itself in the cold.

The Jack Terrier is not a frost-resistant breed; there is no undercoat in its hair. For this reason, in the harsh Russian winter, you should get a special dog suit and shoes for walking.

You should also regularly pay attention to the dog’s ears to see if water has gotten into them, clean the ear canals with cotton swabs with a drop of hydrogen peroxide or a special hygienic composition from the pet store.

Long and fairly quick exercise (a walk in the fresh air) is a terrier’s need. Without them, he will feel sad, his discipline and health will weaken. In order for your pet dog to get his daily walking quota, you need to walk him at least 2 times every day for a fairly long time. Play with him, let him run through the wasteland, chase sparrows - these activities make the dog happy and lively.

Nutrition

Fatty foods are poorly digested by the small stomach of such a dog. In order for Jack Russell Terrier puppies to grow into strong hounds, they need a lot of protein. Until they turn 1 year old, their menu should include natural ingredients:

Meat.
Eggs.
Porridge.
Vegetables.
Fruits.

Giving sweets or processed foods to animals is strictly not recommended. Eating this can cause gastritis. It is important to prepare low-fat food for them. Another requirement is that it must be rich in microelements. Spoiled foods are poorly digested by the Jack Russell Terrier's stomach, so you need to select only good, high-quality food for him.

Gradually, the dog should be switched to dry food. If the transition to another food system is too abrupt, the dog may refuse to eat. Therefore, it is better to add eggs or vegetables to the bowl of food. This will make it more tasty. Gradually the animal will get used to the updated menu.

Puppy's first steps in a new home

The Jack Terrier is a wonderful and faithful friend, a cheerful friend of all family members, a cheerful lover of all kinds of outdoor games. With all this, its proper development and good health depend on very specific points.

You need to choose a bowl for the puppy in advance. Its upper edge should reach the level of his chest; for the baby you will need to install it on a stand. He also needs constant access to drinking water.
Among the basic primary tasks of training a puppy is the adoption of his own nickname. Rewarding with food will help speed up the puppy's adaptation to this word.
Take his food bowl in your hand, call the puppy, offer him food. Subsequently, training can be varied. In particular, call your pet, and when he listens, place a bowl in front of him. Alternatively, call him and start a fun game with him. In any case, your task is to make the dog’s name a pleasant hint for him of something good.
The Jack Russell Terrier, whose puppies are extremely inquisitive and adventurous, needs to gradually get used to the collar. A cheerful baby will be afraid of an unfamiliar thing at first. Before you start exercising outside the house, put the collar on him a few times, then give him something tasty. As a result, Jack will get used to the new object and his fear will stop. Walking without a leash is not allowed as it is unsafe for your pet.
The first exits from home are also the first steps in exploring the unknown world. At the same time, it is extremely important to accustom the Russell to do his small and large tasks in the fresh air. If the dog did the right thing, show him your joy and give him food so that he understands that toileting outside the house is the right thing to do. More often, the desire to go to the toilet occurs after eating, resting or playing outdoor games. And it will be more convenient for the puppy to do the relevant things in a deserted and quiet place.

Reproduction and lifespan

Before breeding a Jack Russell Terrier with another representative of its breed, you need to analyze it visually. Each partner must comply with international standards. If you are planning to breed a short-haired hound, then you should select a similar candidate for mating. And vice versa.

The owner of the dog is the receiving party. A female dog that meets a male for the first time on her territory will not allow him to approach her. The owners may be present during the mating of their pets, but they should not interfere with them or take any actions during this process.

A pregnant female Jack Russell Terrier should spend a lot of time outdoors and eat food rich in protein and potassium. A month after conception, it is recommended to reduce the duration of walks. Her physical activity should be reduced.

Pregnant hunting dogs often become more affectionate with members of the household. If an animal trusts and loves a person, it will not hide its litter from him. However, people are not recommended to touch puppies in the first days after their birth. If the dogs do not smell like their mother, she may refuse to feed them. Representatives of this noble breed serve for 13 to 15 years.

Breed characteristics, behavioral characteristics

This breed is characterized by its small stature, which allows the animals to easily crawl into holes and move nimbly through them. Russell walks with a springy, relaxed gait, his strong paws provide him with high speed and running time in pursuit of game. Its strong jaws and strong fangs provide a reliable grip on prey, both underground, on land and on water. As mentioned above, this breed is characterized by a light or white color with dark or brown spots.

If you decide to get your own pet Russell Terrier, you will most likely find a cheerful , loyal and friendly friend. He will be happy when all your household members get together. Four-legged friends love to take walks with you for company and willingly play outdoor games with their owner. They are characterized by extraordinary activity and liveliness of nature.

Let's name a few more characteristic character traits:

Russell is cheerful, friendly to his owners, and willingly plays with them. And he does not lose these qualities until old age. Like other small breeds (dachshund, beagle and others), with proper care, the Russell can live up to 15 years, but even in his “retirement” years he will not stop entertaining household members with his gaiety.
This breed is brave and can behave independently, which sometimes causes difficulties in training.
The Jack Terrier is friendly towards children and is not aggressive towards strangers - but only if it is raised properly.
A powerful hunting instinct forces him to rush at cats and other small animals, including those he saw on the street. All these creatures are just likely prey, and the dog is able to attack them to make them prey.
The breed is characterized by curiosity, and the boring and monotonous life of Russells is depressing. They need a rotation of vivid impressions to satisfy their interest in the world around them.
They are distinguished by endurance and restlessness. Therefore, it is better to get a Russell not for those who prefer to lie down or live at the computer most of their free time. The best owner is a restless person or a family in which it is customary to constantly move, play, travel, and work in the fresh air. Terriers need exercise to stay healthy.

Price

Pedigree - every person who makes money from their four-legged pets knows this word. No structure will allow a dog to participate in the competition if it is not standardized by this document. Usually, it is issued in nurseries, but some breeders are authorized to sell pedigrees privately.

The average price of a Jack Russell terrier with documents is from 25 to 30 thousand rubles. At the nursery, the buyer is told about the breed standard, its possible deviations, and is also helped to choose a puppy.

When making a purchase in such a place, you can be sure of the health and purebred of the dog. The second purchase option is private, that is, “from hand”. Today, you can buy a small rat catcher in Russia from 5 to 15 thousand rubles.

Buying a puppy

You should choose a purebred puppy only from good nurseries. By taking an animal from your hands, you do not receive a guarantee that the animal has any pedigree and does not have birth defects.

The price of a Jack Russell Terrier directly depends on its class. A purebred animal that has deviations from generally accepted standards (without pathologies affecting health) and is unsuitable for further breeding belongs to the pet class and has a price of about 10 thousand rubles.

For an animal of breed class, desirable for breeding, you will have to pay at least 30 thousand rubles. The most expensive are representatives of the show class, that is, exhibition pieces. The price for them starts from 60 thousand rubles and above.

There is no need to be afraid of such conditions - usually pet-class animals carry defective genes that will worsen in subsequent generations. Responsible breeders prevent this situation, caring not only about their reputation, but also about maintaining breed standards.

Socialization and education

A person must help his Jack Russell Terrier puppy socialize. This process occurs from the first seconds of interaction with the animal. You need to demonstrate to him your primacy, but not with brute physical force. Any type of violence against a domestic dog is unacceptable!

You can talk kindly to the dog, give him treats, pet him as encouragement. But you shouldn’t spoil him with this. It is important that the animal treats each member of its family with respect.

To earn the trust of the Jack Russell Terrier you will have to try. The dog is quite stubborn by nature. It requires a special approach. You should start raising her after successful completion of primary adaptation. It passes 3-7 days after the animal begins to settle into its new home.

Give him a nickname right away. It should only be said in the presence of a dog. This will help her identify with the name you give her. The second command that should be taught to the dog is “come to me.” For better assimilation, repeat it along with a nickname, for example, “Ball, come to me!”

Every time he does something well, treat him with food or cheese. Some dog trainers advise using the carrot method only in the early stages of training a dog, since regular feeding and reward will become an obstacle to progress in training. A spoiled dog will refuse to obey unless you motivate him with a treat.

If you want to develop the hunting potential of your Jack Russell Terrier, you should definitely take him outdoors. There is no need to teach him to catch rats, since this skill was inherent in him from birth. However, a slight provocation of aggression towards rodents will not hurt. Classic technique:

Stay calm, it should rub off on the dog.
Put a collar and leash on her.
Keep the animal close to you when it spots a rat or mouse.
Begin to loudly pronounce words calling for an attack, lightly pulling back on the leash. This will encourage the animal.
When the dog starts barking, let him off the leash.

You often need to resort to this method of training only if you plan to keep a dog at home that is suspicious of strangers and animals. If your goal is to raise your Jack Russell Terrier to be good-natured and trusting, do not allow him to show aggression towards animals, look for rat holes on his own and bark at people who come into the house.

Important! The “Place” command is useful if you want to be indoors without the dog. With this gentle word you will send him to the territory that he perceives as his own. Usually, this is resorted to when people who do not sympathize with dogs appear in the house.

Possible diseases and methods of treating them

There are no genetic abnormalities in this breed. Its representatives have the genes of fighting dogs, which nature has endowed with endurance and enormous strength. But absolutely any four-legged friend of man can get sick, especially if he is poorly cared for.

Some Jack Russell Terriers are born with eye abnormalities. For example, they may be diagnosed with cataracts. In this case, you will observe clouding of his pupils. You should not try to treat this disease at home. Need help from a specialist.

Despite their excellent sense of smell and good eyesight, these hounds cannot boast of good hearing. Therefore, their owners are required to pronounce commands loudly.

To reduce your Jack Russell's risk of illness, it is recommended that he be given vitamins for small dogs. They will help strengthen his immunity. Also, once a year the dog should be given deworming tablets and sprayed with flea spray.