Jack Russell Terrier.

As a high-energy breed, the Jack Russell should be fed a diet full of high-power fuel foods. They should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval.

Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior) and adjustments will be required as their needs change with age. For puppies, their meals should range from 800 to 900 calories for proper growth until they reach approximately 1 year old. Some dogs are prone to getting overweight so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Jack Russell Terriers’ coats shed a moderate amount. Typically, the shorter the hair in this breed, the more it will shed. Whilst this dog sheds all year round, it may get worse when the seasons change. Shedding is particularly heavier for dogs who are bathed more frequently, along with dry skin. All Jack Russells require regular brushing to maintain their shedding. Broken and rough-coated Jack Russells also need their coats to be ‘stripped’ regularly, to ensure their coats are kept harsh and waterproof.

The Russell Terrier’s rough and ready appearance is easily maintained. Coats come in three types: smooth, broken, and rough. The broken coat is slightly longer, with eyebrows and a beard. The Jack Russell’s dense, short, smooth coat can be kept looking great with an all-over rubdown with a soft brush or a hound glove once a week. The rough and broken coats will require going over with a brush or a dog comb weekly but are kept mostly natural, with minimal grooming. If your Jack Russell is brushed regularly, he will rarely need to be bathed.

Trim the nails as needed, usually every week or two. Brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath. Check the ears weekly for dirt, redness or a bad odor that can indicate an infection.

The Russell’s nails should be trimmed monthly, and his ears checked weekly for debris or excess wax and cleaned as needed.

Jack Russells need vigorous exercise at least once or twice a day. Although small, this breed requires lots of exercise to satisfy their adventurous tendencies. Off-leash play is a great way to ensure your dog gets enough physical exercise. It is best to keep him in a fenced yard, where he cannot climb, dig under or jump.

Furthermore, Jack Russells are great for a family that loves being outdoors, and goes on frequent hikes, bike rides and long daily walks. The Jack Russell has an almost limitless amount of energy, so he makes a great companion for active owners.

Jack Russells have a reputation for being healthy and fall in the lower risk category for developing health issues. Some common health issues include lens luxation, hip dysplasia, deafness and blindness as well as patellar luxation.

Veterinary care is essential to a dog’s health and wellbeing, however the frequency of treatment and checkups will depend on the dog. Scheduled six-monthly health check visits with your vet are important to ensure your Jack Russell is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. In these annual visits, your vet will complete a physical examination, take your dog’s temperature and check his heartbeat, among other things. Routine maintenance for your dog gives you a chance to track your dog’s growth and development and discuss any concerns with your vet, and forms a key part of preventative care.

As people-oriented dogs, Jack Russells need a family that is able to spend lots of time with their energetic, little dog. This dog is friendly and outgoing, and thribes when he is with his family.

He is loyal and loving, and can do well with children if socialised properly. Due to his lack of patience, the Jack Russell is more suited for families with older children who know not to irritate dogs by pulling at their ears or tail. Otherwise, bites and yapping may occur.

As they require lots of physical activity, they are not suitable for apartment dwellers. They are also recreational barkers. Thus, they make great watchdogs.

The Jack Russell has an independent nature, which can make him quite stubborn when not trained well. They can get bored easily, so training sessions should be kept short without repetition. Their hunting instincts cannot be curbed by training. Therefore, when combined with a high energy level, firm, consistent training is essential for the Jack Russell. Training and early socialisation with other animals are necessary to ensure your Jack Russell gets along with other animals in the household, which he may otherwise view as prey.

Whilst this breed can be rowdy and intense at times, a well-trained Jack Russell makes a loving and loyal companion. Jack Russells are intelligent breeds and will need strong leadership from an early age to prevent behavioural problems arising later on. As working dogs, this breed will throw themselves into any job or activity with the same vigour and dedication they were originally bred for, for hunting purposes. They excel in canine sports including agility, flyball, obedience, rally and lure coursing.

Jack Russells tend to show aggression towards other dogs, especially those of the same sex. Moreover, their hunting background is clear through their determination to pursue prey, which may be seen through chasing smaller animals. This makes the breed typically unsuitable in households with cats, hamsters, or smaller pets. When taking Jack Russells on walks, they are notorious for chasing anything from birds to other dogs, joggers, cyclists and even motor vehicles. With proper consistent training, this behaviour may be curbed. On top of this, early socialisation is encouraged to dull any dog-on-dog aggression.