Lively, energetic, smart and friendly, the Jack Russell Terrier is a well-known family pet. They may be small and adorable, but they pack lots of personality into their compact body. Originally a working dog, they have plenty of energy and stamina, backed by intelligence and an ability to learn fast.
Jack Russell Terriers suit an active family, that will commit to training and offer plenty of love and attention to this loyal, loveable breed. Read on to learn more about the Jack Russell Terrier with these fun facts.
1. They are great jumpers
Jack Russell’s may be small, but they are strong and agile and can jump up to 1.5 metres high. That’s over four times their height! So, if you have a Jack Russell, it’s important to make sure your fencing is both tall and secure enough to prevent backyard escapes. Not only can they jump high, but they are great climbers and diggers too!
2. Smart animals
Jack Russell Terriers are highly trainable and fast learners, so get them into puppy school as soon as you can! Whilst they often excel in training exercises, they also need plenty of physical and mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructiveness. Their intelligence and high energy levels makes these dogs well suited to a variety of dog sports including flyball or agility.
3. They have big personalities
Jack Russell Terriers are known for their lively, entertaining and energetic temperament. They enjoy being the centre of attention and aren’t afraid to tell you if something isn’t going their way. Training and positive reinforcement are important to ensure you and your pup work well as a team. They are also fearless, so you need to watch they don’t get into trouble with other, often larger dogs. Socialisation from an early age can make a big difference towards their friendliness with other dogs.
4. Very active
Originally hunting dogs, Jack Russel’s are built to be fast, agile and curious and they have plenty of stamina. They enjoy the outdoors and can play for hours on end, often expecting you to join in on the action. These dogs need plenty of exercise and firm, consistent training to keep them happy, entertained and well behaved.
5. Working dogs
Jack Russell’s were originally bred in England in the 19th century to hunt foxes. Their job was to flush foxes out of their holes using their loud bark. Jack Russell’s can be quite vocal as a result, however they are alert and make great watchdogs. They also have a natural instinct to explore, wander and chase so need to be kept on a leash when outside your home to prevent them running off after a cat, unfamiliar dog or other small animals they want to play with or hunt.
6. They love to dig
Due to their origins as hunters, Jack Russell’s love to show off their excellent skills in digging. Jack Russell’s are known for burrowing and digging in search for rodents or other critters crawling underground. They may also be digging to escape, seek attention or for entertainment. Plenty of positive training, toys, quality time with the family and exercise can help reduce or prevent digging. A designated digging box or zone can also be useful for persistent diggers.
7. Different coats, different colours
The Jack Russell Terrier comes in three different coat types; smooth, broken and rough. The smooth coat is short, broken slightly longer and rough is longer again. They are normally white and can have black or tan markings or a mixture of the two.
8. Famous actors
Jack Russell’s are successful working dogs in Hollywood due to their clever nature and high trainability. Jack Russell’s on screen include Eddie in the American sitcom Frasier. Soccer in the American TV series Wishbone. Friday in the movie Hotel for Dogs and Skip in the movie My Dog Skip.
A Jack Russell named Uggie was the first dog to place a paw print in the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his performances in The Artist and Water for Elephants - well done Uggie!
9. Guiness Pet Record Holder
A British explorer named Sir Ranulph Fiennes is famous for his record breaking journeys around the world. His Jack Russell Terrior,Bothie has broken some records of his own too! Alongside his owner, he is the only dog to have visited both the North and South Poles which earned him a place in the Guiness Book of Pet Records. Bothie kept warm and snuggly during the expedition by wearing a red coat and matching boots - how cute!
