Anyone own a Jack Russell?

[TRAGChick]

YouTube is fabulous....enjoy!

Does this look familiar to you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MqQcOEV ... re=related

[Suzanne]

You know what? We've caught him sitting there watching TV like he understands it. Funniest thing I've ever seen. He tilts his heads like he's really listening to what they are saying.

I had a cat who did that. He only watched Animal Planet and The Cosby Show. I'm NOT making that up. Somethign about The Cosby Show got his attention.

He really stops and pays attn. when music is on!! Maybe I should turn on my Journey video DVD or the Houston DVD for him.

Try it. My cat likes that one! She was never ever a cat who I could get to pay attention to the TV... she didn't care. One night about 2 years ago... I put that dvd into my computer and she hopped up on my lap (which she never does...) and sat there starting at. After that, I noticed Journey music makes her linger around more. I think its Perry's voice that gets her... I've watched her with the dvd... when he hits a high or strong note, or holds it long, she just stares at the screen like... (then again don't we all? LOL) she doesn't do that with other music or TV shows.

Yes.

[stevew2]

You know what? We've caught him sitting there watching TV like he understands it. Funniest thing I've ever seen. He tilts his heads like he's really listening to what they are saying.

I had a cat who did that. He only watched Animal Planet and The Cosby Show. I'm NOT making that up. Somethign about The Cosby Show got his attention.

He really stops and pays attn. when music is on!! Maybe I should turn on my Journey video DVD or the Houston DVD for him.

Try it. My cat likes that one! She was never ever a cat who I could get to pay attention to the TV... she didn't care. One night about 2 years ago... I put that dvd into my computer and she hopped up on my lap (which she never does...) and sat there starting at. After that, I noticed Journey music makes her linger around more. I think its Perry's voice that gets her... I've watched her with the dvd... when he hits a high or strong note, or holds it long, she just stares at the screen like... (then again don't we all? LOL) she doesn't do that with other music or TV shows.

So your cat is a loon also ?

[Jana]

When my dog was a puppy it was a little highstrung and very energetic too. Some of it you will just have to live through. It will get better down the road. But as far as accidents at night, the puppy manual I had stated to not give her water past a specific time at night and food also. Look up the time on the internet. I followed that to the letter and no accidents at night in the crate. I would get a book on puppies. It was very helpful. Once my puppy grew and moved to a larger crate that was all metal, I would put a towel over the top of it, but not the front. still allowing her to see out. It gave her a feeling of safety. Good luck and hang in there. The puppy stage is trying, but so cute.

[YoungJRNY]

About 2 weeks ago a Jack Russel showed up at my girlfriends doorstep. Problem was her and her mom are dog lovers and let him in... needless to say they have a pug themselves and it was just catastrophe. The Jack Russell chewed up everything including my girlfriends shoes, socks, and glasses. Needed attention 24/7 and wouldn't leave the sight of anyone, but when it did it ranked havoc. Very hard dogs to keep under control, esp. when their pups.

[OneJourney]

I do!! His name is Diesel, and that is for a reason! He is non-stop! But I wouldn't trade him for the world!

[DracIsBack]

Socialize Jack Russells and show them who is boss, as others have noted.

For little dogs, they are prone to be pretty feisty and dog aggressive if not trained and socialized. Over Thanksgiving, we kept having to prevent my aunt's 10 pound Jack Russell from starting fights with my 75 pound Chesapeake Bay Retriever. My dog is not particularly tolerant of pushy younger female dogs at the best of times and this dog kept trying to aggressively take a bone from my dog by force ... kind of like lighting a stick of dynamite with a Chesapeake.

[Rip Rokken]

I do! One of my favorite singers of all time!

You own him? LOL You're crackin' me up Rip!

No, the album... but I do wish I owned them personally because I think it would be cool as heck to have Great White as my personal servants. I could command them to entertain me with song at any time.

[artist4perry]

Watch the show on Animal planet called: It's me or the Dog. Or the Dog whisperer, for good tips. Ariandu has it right, they are a percosious (sp?) breed, and can be a super challenge. I had one for a short period of time, it was a stray and we had to find a new owner. Kept us on our toes!

[annpea]

My boyfriend and I rescued this jack russell puppy from a friend. His female JR had a litter under the porch and the puppies ended up infested with fleas, ticks and worms. We got one, got him healthy, FINALLY, and we love him dearly. Here's my question: I know they are high strung dogs and we were prepared for that. I know he's only a puppy but GAWD DAMN he seems to be getting worse about not sleeping all night and messing in his cage. He is almost 4 months old and in the last two weeks, he whines/barks at around 1 or 2 a.m. to go out and then again at 3:45 a.m. Sometimes he whines causes I guess he wants out of his cage to be with us but we aren't sleeping anymore. I'm averaging about 4 good hrs. of uninterrupted sleep a night then about one hour after I finally get back to sleep. Are Jacks different in training them than other breeds? We let him run for about 1.5 hrs in the morning and about 3 or so hrs. at night for exercise and to "wear him out" so he'll sleep at night. Ain't workin'! I haven't trained a dog in over a decade and neither has my boyfriend although he has had many more than I have but even he is ready to ship the poor little guy off. I'm trying to stay patient and remember he is just a puppy but he was doing so good until recently so I wonder what I'm doing wrong.


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He's adorable; he looks like a little rascal for sure. Years ago when I was just a housewife I trained a few dogs but now I wouldn't know how to pour piss out of a boot with the instructions on the bottom, when it comes to training a housepets Don't give up on him, he's just a baby.

[xflajrnylvr]

They do eventually settle down i have had 3

[Arianddu]

They do eventually settle down i have had 3

Exactly! Like I said, at the moment you have the puppy equivalent of a hyperactive five year old who wets the bed. And if he's bored from being alone all day, he's going to do the puppy equivalent of cutting up the curtains with the good scissors, or singing 'This Is The Song That Never Ends' at 2 in the morning. In 2-3 months' time, you're going to have the equivalent of a hyperactive 12 year old boy who's just discovered masturbating (which is why I recommend getting him fixed as soon as he's old enough; all the Jack Russells I know with a 'humping habit' got fixed late); from around 9 months through to 2 years, you're going to have the equivalent of a 16-23 year old energetic young man who just wants to hang out, party and have fun ("consequences? what does that mean?")

I mentioned the problem of him being at home by himself all day to a friend who has owned Jack Russells all her life, and she suggested that if your kitchen is suitable, get a 'child gate' for the door to it that he can't get through, make sure there is nothing in there within his reach that you don't want him to get to, and then let that be his space during the day when you are out. Lots of paper for him to 'go' on, his food bowl, plenty of toys (and she suggested rotating them so he gets different ones each day) a kong with nibbles in it for him to work at (http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/prodsublist.cfm?group_no=6815) and stuff like that. She said if you're going to do that, then you have to make sure that he's allowed in the kitchen with you whenever you are there, and you need to do a lot of cuddling and playing in the kitchen too, so he doesn't associate that room with being alone. She also said you need to make sure he is never shut in there when you are home, or again, he'll have bad associations.

Good luck with him - they are the sweetest, most loyal dogs; demanding and hard work at the start, but you get it all back in love tenfold.

[SherriBerry]

Hi Suzanne

We have a Jack Russell too and she is the best dog - very affectionate, super smart, but very headstrong and determined! They start out very hyper and don't like to be alone for long periods, particularly confined in their crate because they can't work off that energy. If you can, it would help if someone can come home and let the dog out at lunch. When house training a puppy, they need to be taken out every couple of hours at least, even at night - it goes against a dog's natural instincts to mess its crate, but puppies just can't hold it for 8 hours!

I believe Arianddu wrote that you should not use the crate for "punishment" and that is good advice - it's the dog's sanctuary, but also he will come to associate it with being punished all day because he can't understand the difference. Having the kitchen sectioned off is great advice too - my friend Pam also raised a Jack Russell (Jack) and she did the same thing. Just be careful that there really is nothing to get into and that cupboards/drawers are locked like you would for a toddler. He also needs chewies and toys so he doesn't get bored and eat a hole in the wall (Jack, not Ruby). Ruby used to run laps around the livingroom and hang off the wire of her gate with her teeth, but she has calmed down into a lovable snugglebug.

When Ruby is home alone, we leave HGTV on for her and she does watch - I think having the same shows and voices every day is familiar and comforting and we know nothing loud or screwy will come on and freak her out. She knows the commercials and gets ready to pounce on the cat in one particular one before it appears. Jack had to go to obedience training, but one thing to note - most Jack Russells are very dominant and do not like other dogs, particularly in their house. Jack couldn't go off leash because he would try to take on German Shepherds!

Perhaps the best thing would be to take your dog to a trainer, particularly one that has experience with Jack Russells and contact a reputable breeder, who should be able to give you lots of tips and perhaps recommend a trainer - some breeders are also trainers themselves. Short term, I would say go to the nearest bookstore tomorrow or go on Amazon and get a book called 'Jack Russell Terriers for Dummies' - it will give you a great crash course and lots of information on all the quirks of raising a Jack Russell. They are initially a handful, but are worth it - I cannot imagine life without Ruby!

[trekman]

We have had Daisy about 2 years.


I agree what the other JR lovers have told you so far. Yours is still a pup and will in time adjust to you and yours. The crate should never be used for punishment for sure. How often you take her out also will determine when she has to go the bathroom. Ive always found if they understand that the outdooors is for going to the bathroom it helps. All our puppies we took them out every hour or at least every two hours when possible. Even if they didnt have to go.

My wife and I arent very active people. We are home bodies. I work everyday of course. But the wife is here every day and doesnt go out much. So Daisy has adjusted herself to us. She has never been high strung or overly energetic like you see and hear for jacks. And Ive also read and seen that leaving them alone a lot depresses them and they feel neglected. Like someone suggested leave thier crate in a room with the TV or music going. Weve always done that. We take her with us in the car if we are going to be gone any longer than two hours. When its possible. She is kind of strange about riding in the car though. Its not that she doesnt like it, she does. But, if we go any faster than 10-15 MPH she wont look out the windows. She has to hide her head. I believe that she is trying to focus on a single spot out the window and everything is blurred with the speed of the car. So its making her feel sick. But going slow or stopped she is fine. LOL

But be patient with her, she is only a pup and will be for a while. If you can afford it training would probably help. We couldnt/cant and Daisy has turned out fine. She is extremely friendly. She does like to bark when someone is outside, but I think she is letting us know there are strangers in the area. Or wants whatever is out there. LOL We calm her and she stops.

We are thinking of getting another Jack Russel to help keep her company too.

[Abitaman]

They are very easy dogs to train!!!! Nothing hard about them unless you get an older one. But they want to learn. They want to please. They do not like to be left alone. They are very smart dogs and high strung. Had one for a year now. Minds and listens very well. But I put her in her room when we leave. She ate the couch, and was about to give her away, when I talked to a trainer. The younger to better to train. Once they have been with another family they get use to their ways and it is hard to retrain. They love attention and are very loyal.

[Suzanne]

Thank you all again. You gave great advice and the pics were great- what cuties!! I've used up a whole of film on just my Rex.