Jack Russell

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Size

Small

Life span

16 Years

Weight

8.2 Kg

Group

Terrier Dogs

Jack Russell Overview

The Jackapoo is a small to medium size dog breed, a cross between a purebred Jack Russell Terrier and a purebred Poodle. It is also sometimes called Jackadoodle. Dogs crossed between two different purebreds are also known as hybrid dogs or designer dogs. The Jackapoo usually stands at 38 cm at withers and weigh around 22 to 38 kls. This hybrid dog possesses the good qualities of its parent breed – loving, cheerful, lively and forms strong bond with its human companion, a true family pet. Physically, the Jackapoo resembles the rough coated Jack Russell Terrier but has the temperament of both breeds. The coat of the Jackapoo is short and curly which can be coarse or soft and comes in all sorts of colours including black, white, black and white, blue, brown, brown and white, cream, all shades of brown, golden, grey, and silver.

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Jack Russell Characteristics

Size InformationIntelligence
  • 5
Size InformationExercise Needs
  • 5
Size InformationDogs Health
  • 4
Size InformationChild Friendly
  • 4
Size InformationApartment
  • 3
Size InformationShedding
  • 3
Size InformationGrooming Needs
  • 3
Size InformationBarking
  • 4
Size InformationAlone
  • 3
Size InformationTrainability
  • 4
Size InformationEnergy Levels
  • 5
Size InformationDog friendly
  • 5

Pros

  • Highly intelligent and very easy to train
  • They shed very little
  • Very little grooming required
  • Good choice of dog breed fort first time owners
  • Great with children and other pets

Cons

  • Known to be stubborn and demanding
  • They like to bark
  • Prone to becoming bored if they’re not exercised correctly
  • They have a very high prey drive

History & Origin

The Jackapoo was first developed with the sole purpose of producing a family dog and a hypoallergenic guide dog for disabled people suffering from allergies. Breeders decided to cross two pedigree breeds, namely the Jack Russell Terrier for its cheerful, energetic, and friendly temperament and the Poodle for its hypoallergenic properties. First generation puppies inherit their parent breed’s characteristics and temperament which means that puppies from the same litter may look different from each other.

The Jackapoo is known to be a wonderful companion and family orientated. They’re loyal, playful and love to show their owners lots of affection. This dog breed is especially good for first-time owners as they’re very easy to train. They are also known for being very good around children because of their temperament and relaxed nature.

Jack Russell Appearance

The Jackapoo is a cross between Toy or miniature poodle and a Jack Russell. In general, the Jackapoo is a small to medium sized dog breed with a flat head and large ears. This dog breed is known for having an alert expression to their face. Their bodies are compact and strong. Their legs are muscular and trimmed. The Jackapoos coat can be either smooth or coarse with a slight wave or lots of curls, which largely depends on their parents.

Jack Russell Temperament

The Jack Russell Terrier is alert, courageous, energetic, intelligent, lively, and stubborn at times. It is a muscular, rough, and obstinate working terrier and many Jack Russell Terriers are moody or destructive if not properly exercised or mentally and physically stimulated. It has a tendency to become bored very easily and will often channel its boredom into its very own unique amusement when left alone for long periods of time. It is not an apartment or condominium dog because it needs a lot of physical activity in order to stay healthy. It is best suited to a home with a fenced-in yard because this breed will take off like a shot when it encounters any unfamiliar moving animals or objects such as rabbits, cats, other dogs, bicycles, and cars. This breed is also an escape artist who can dig his way out of the fence so make sure the garden fence is buried enough to discourage the Jack Russell Terrier from digging an escape route.

Jack Russell Training

This high energy terrier makes is ideally suitable to a number of dog sports where it can be exceptionally good, including flyball, sprinting, retrieving or agility trials. Obedience training is also highly recommended to potential owners as this small dog packs a lot of attitude. It has a stubborn streak and can become aggressive towards other animals and humans if not properly trained and socialised early. Training should be firm, gentle but consistent and must be handled by an owner who is committed to getting the dog to do what it is commanded of it. It is not a pet for a first-time dog owner. In that sense, it is more suitable to an owner with prior experience to handling terrier-type breeds.

Grooming

The Jack Russell Terrier will benefit from weekly brushing to keep the hair clean and neat-looking, no matter what the coat type is – smooth, rough, or broken. The coat of the broken-coated Jack Russell Terrier should be plucked or stripped using a stripping knife twice a year to allow new hairs to grow and maintain proper coat texture. Stripping will also lessen shedding. Bathing is on an as-needed basis. Inspect the ears for signs of infection and wax build-up, cleaning as necessary. Teeth should be brushed on a weekly basis to prevent gum problems and bad breath. Nails should be trimmed monthly if clicking sound on the floor is heard when the dog is walking or running.

Health

The typical lifespan of the Jack Russell Terrier is 13 to 16 years and is considered a long-lived dog. Strict breeding practices for generations kept the breed generally healthy and free from major hereditary health issues, unlike other dogs. There are however, certain lines of Jack Russells that have been observed to be affected by a few minor health issues, including hereditary cataracts, lens luxation, congenital deafness, luxating patella, ataxia, myasthenia gravis, Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome, and Von Willebrand disease.

Jack Russell Exercise Needs

The Jack Russell Terrier is a very high energy dog because it is a working dog. Despite its small stature, this breed is not recommended for an apartment or condominium life, unless it is given proper physical and mental exercises on a daily basis. Take note that this breed has a tremendous amount of energy for its size, which can become a potential problem towards other animals, especially larger ones. A great way to exercise the breed is to play catch with a ball. Jack Russell Terriers love to chase balls so much that they seemed obsessed with it.

Children and other pets

The Jack Russell Terrier is a wonderful companion dog in a hunt but the same may not be true as a family dog. Although different dogs have different personalities, in general, the Jack Russell Terrier will not tolerate abuse from children even if it is unintentional. However, with early socialisation and proper training, this breed can be friendly towards children. It is generally aggressive towards other dogs.