The Jack Russel has recently become more and more popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. His size, great will to play and his cheerful, stuffed nature make him the ideal house dog.
Breed characteristics
There are long-legged and short-legged Jack Russels. The smooth-haired, long-legged Jack Russel is very similar to the rustic Fox Terrier. They therefore have the same origin. Jack Russels are hard workers. They have great stamina and can also keep up with horses, for example. The following breed points belong to the Jack Russel:
- Height
- Head
- Eyes
- Ears
- Body
- Tail
- Front
- Hindquarters
- Coat
- Color
The short legged Jack Russel can be up to 11 inches (27.94cm) high, the long legged from 11 to 15 inches (27.94 to 38.10cm), measured up to the shoulder.
The head has strong bones, powerful jaws with a scissor bite and good, strong cheek muscles.
The eyes are dark, with well-pigmented edges, and they are almond shaped.
The Jack Russel has small V-shaped hanging ears. They are worn close to the head.
The Jack Russel has a muscular neck, a straight back with a high tail set.
The tail must be at least 4 inches (10.16cm) long.
The front of the body is well-muscled and has dry shoulders. The legs are straight with cat feet attached. One must be able to span the chest behind the shoulder with two hands.
Hindquarters are strongly muscled, well built and well angulated.
A Jack Russel’s coat is smooth or shaggy. Not woolly.
The color is mostly white with black, brown or hound-like markings.
Character
The Jack Russel is a small, spunky dog. He is good friends with children and other pets. In general, he is not that pugnacious. Aggressive behavior will almost always result from poor socialization and parenting. He loves games. He will quickly learn what people want from him while playing. The Jack Russell may be small, but his strength, stamina, good nose, intelligence and guts should not be underestimated. It is generally not a lap dog, it does not just want to be pampered. He is fine with a hug and pet from time to time, but it remains a real working dog. He likes to move and nothing escapes him. That is why it is important that he can take long walks.
Purchase
When a litter has been found at a breeder that meets the requirements, it is important to pay attention to the conditions in which the puppies live. The nest must be in a clean area, eg in a whelping box. It should not be cold, damp or dirty. A puppy should have a shiny skin, clean eyes, nose and ears and the tummy should not feel swollen. This often indicates worms. If the litter is shy, the puppies may have had too little contact with humans. It is also possible that the mother is a shy dog and passes this on to her children. Unfortunately, these are traits that will belong to the dog for life and that in turn can pass this on to possibly. offspring. A puppy in the front can be a bit dominant when it is mature. The puppy who is reluctant to sit in a corner may be scared, but it may also be that the animal has just woken up and is still a bit timid. It is best to ask the breeder for advice on which puppy suits you best.
Children and Jack Russels
A Jack Russel is a very nice playmate for children, because he is always energetic and therefore always up for a game. He is generally good with children because he is so fast and quite hard and can take a beating. And the best of all are the wild games, which children also enjoy so much. A Jack Russel likes to go for a walk, play football, return stones, sticks or balls, swim, he likes everything. However, the owner must ensure that children do not (unintentionally) tease or hurt him. A Jack Russel is small, so carrying it around on the arm (or lugging it awkwardly, as children can do) is easy. Parents often expect a dog to accept everything, even if they would never expect the same from their children. In their view, the dog must let everything go over his side, but this simply does not work. A Jack Russell who is being teased will certainly show that he does not want this, that is a normal reaction and must be recognized well.