Jack Russells

[Flypony]

Do Jack Russells get used in the hunting field? Some one had told me they were used to flush foxes out of holes etc. Check out my 4 year old Terror, in my webshots. She is good around the horses she just avoids them.

[Hunter's Rest]

They WERE used to flush foxes from dens-holes in England. They are (I think) still used for same in Ireland. Not much in US. Some hunts did; none do (I don't believe.) That's why their tails are cut short - you leave a 'handle' of 4 vertebrae so you can pull JRT from where he's stuck, face first, in a den.

[OakesBrae]

And in my experience with my 1/2 JR, you'd have to. Once she decides she's getting into something she's getting into it. There is NO dissuading her.

She even looks like a fox :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/Aeowen/Misc142.jpg

[Daydream Believer]

They were originally bred to hunt foxes by Parson Jack Russell. All JRT's are supposed to descend from Trump, his foundation bitch. JRT's are still used to work below ground by many breed aficionados. The JRTCA is the organization in the US that I know of that promotes working these dogs below ground. I used to be a member and my old stud dog holds his Trial Certificate he earned proving his ability to work an earth and find/work the quarry.

JRT's were bred to be baying terriers...in other words their job was to flush the fox or quarry from it's den through the bolt hole. If the animal did not bolt, than the terriers would stay with the quarry and "bay" loudly so the terrier man could dig down and kill the fox. It is considered a fault if a Jack Russell terrier attacks and tries to kill the quarry in an earth. A terrier that does that is called a "hard" terrier. A good example of a breed that is a hard terrier is dauchsunds who were bred to hunt badgers.

Everything about JRT's is functional...their mostly white color is to make them visible in an earth and their small flexible chests allow them to go where the fox could go in a tight earth. They are very brave little dogs also and utterly fearless. Many a JRT owner has had their dogs go to ground and refuse to come out also. I have heard horror stories of backhoes being brought in to get them out. I've also heard of terriers killed in earths...skunks underground are deadly if they spray for example. Cave ins also can take a toll on the dogs.

I don't know if modern foxhunts use JRT's any more or not...but I saw your post and thought I'd fill you in with what I know of the breed from years of involvement as a breeder.

[Czar]

Thanks for the informative post Daydream...I have a year old JRT and am slightly dismayed at his inability to hear me shouting when he gets after something :no:

Thankfully he doesn't chase horses but anything small that runs is fair game...I'm pretty sure he would not actually kill it as he loves to play with the barn cat and is mostly afraid of him (except of course, when he runs)...and he is wonderful with other dogs and small children.

And never one to pass up the opportunity to show a pic of him...here he is - characteristically with dirt all over his face :)

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2681659390097913210doeXSC

and a puppy shot for good measure:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2961813300097913210lBkCPU

[Daydream Believer]

You are welcome. I am happy to share what I know.

AWWW! He's a cutie! I love that puppy shot! He certainly sounds typical for his breed! Selective hearing is a classic terrier trait!

One of mine...Casey...a pup I kept from my last litter...is a sweet lover boy with kitties. He wants to clean their ears and all the cats have learned to love having their ears washed out. It is funny to see him "mothering" the kitties. I found him in the nest with a kitty the other day...just piled in there with her and huddling. Funny dogs JRT's and they have so much personality.

I find them to be great dogs to have on a horse farm also. They are good around the horses and great little ratters also.

[dawglover]

yep JRTs do have "selective hearing" LOL

I have five right now...4 of them get along just fine, and for the most part, hear pretty well...although I do have to occasionally get the lunge whip out to threaten them when I see them conspiring to gang up on a barn kitty.
I have one that only hears what she wants to hear, and picks fights with the other terriers, so she can only come out of her outdoor run when all the others are locked up.
All of mine are great hunters and love to go mousing along the edges of the soybean and corn fields and ditches where the grass is tall and the field mice hide out. I walk along beating the grass with a stick, mice run,
terriers catch them and break their little necks.

Several years ago the farmer up the road from me raised hogs and in the winter he would put the hogs in the bean and corn fields to clean up what the combine missed. He also had big wooden self feeders that he filled with hog chow, and the rats would tunnel under those and make even more rats...he'd call me to bring the terriers when it was time for spring field preparation...he'd lift the feeders with the bucket of his tractor and rats would scatter...and the slaughter would commence.
Kind of gruesome but it tickled the heck out of that old guy to watch those terriers in action.
The bonus was he let me ride on his property in exchange for the entertainment!

[marta]

[QUOTE=Czar;2075909]Thanks for the informative post Daydream...I have a year old JRT and am slightly dismayed at his inability to hear me shouting when he gets after something :no:

Thankfully he doesn't chase horses but anything small that runs is fair game...I'm pretty sure he would not actually kill it as he loves to play with the barn cat and is mostly afraid of him (except of course, when he runs)...and he is wonderful with other dogs and small children. [QUOTE]


cool dog:) i love the puppy shot:))

i have my first terrier, albeit it's an english bull terrier and she has the same hearing problem;) maybe it's a terrier trait? i've learned that on certain hikes where there are ravines, she needs to be on a leash b/c if she picks up a trail or a scent she forgets about the world. i almost had her go off a cliff into a river once - scary!

[Czar]

Thanks for the compliments guys...I absolutely love him to pieces.

However, I am worried to hear that selective hearing is a terrier trait. I thought perhaps he would grow out of it.

We are in the process of moving out to the country and I am afraid he will go chasing after something and right onto the road.

We had Jacks on our farm as kids but they grew up savvy farm dogs and knew the limits. Coop, however, has only known city life on a leash other than when we go to the farm and he's allowed to run free - but I am always around and the road is far away.

I don't really want to tie him up since the idea of moving was to give him room to run. Any suggestions?

[Daydream Believer]

I would fence off an area for him. I hate tying dogs. We have a fenced yard for our dogs and a dog door. They can come and go as they please. Mine only go out around the horses with me along. My old stud dog (almost 14 years old) is nearly deaf now and he cannot hear the horses running up on him and sometimes the babies like to play "chase the JRT."

When you do introduce him to the horses, having him on a leash is probably a good idea. Mine all grew up with horses so I'm not sure the best way to introduce him but hopefully someone will chime in with some good advice.

[Long Shadow Farm]

Obedience, Obedience, Obedience training. And yes..... they still can have selective hearing. You should have heard all the interesting things coming out of my mouth when I was standing in the rain last night trying to get my 4 to come back into the house when I got home. I am sure I would have been entertaining to someone. 2 of mine hate cats and have rapidly reduced the population at my place since their arrival a year ago. The other two like them. Go figure.

Good luck...... your's is a cutie.

Bobbi

[AppJumpr08]

Czar, he is adorable!!! I was also very concerned about mine using their "selective hearing" when chasing something, so when they were puppies I taught them to come back when I called after throwing a ball or stick (so they had to stop and return in mid fetch) worked out pretty darn well! They do occasionally ignore me, but it's usually when someone they know is coming in the driveway (I had a boarder who used to stop the car and let them get in for treats :mad:). They do, however, stop in mid-chase of the cats and most other things.
JRTs really are the best little dogs - I wouldn't trade my two for the world!!!
(And because I take every opportunity to share pics too, here are a couple)
puppy Bella "helping" Sadie retrieve... http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1507092865047997541loUtmD
And proof that not all JRTs and cats are like oil and water ;): http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1507092848047997541XwRIPP
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1507094079047997541ZBmmAG

[dawglover]

I agree tying up a Jack is not a good thing unless you want the area he's tied in to be a crater, and it will make him more aggressive towards cats, other dogs, etc...
A friend of mine moved to the country after several years of city life with her JRT...he was soooo happy to have room to roam but REFUSED to come when she called. She had a fenced yard for him but he learned to climb out of there...
She resorted to electricity for training...electric wire around the inside of his exercise yard, which immediately deterred his climbing and a shock collar for his "free time". He is now the most responsive JRT I know...all she has to do is softly say his name and he's RIGHT THERE! He knows if he gets too far from his mama, something bites his neck!
The key to successful use of the shock collar is never shock him if he's on his way back to you as if to hurry him along.
If you call, and he ignores you and turns around and goes the other way, thats when you zap him.
Then cheerfully call him back and give him lots of praise and a treat for being there.

good luck... he's a cutie!

[marta]

have more of a prey drive than others.

i rely on a 50 foot training lead most of the time. but i admit that i during the summer/fall months (when there are no baby deer to kill or hunters to shoot at my dog) i let her off the leash. does she run? yes. sometimes she'll take off after a deer scent and disappear somewhere in the woods. i have a whistle i carry w/ me and i stand there and whistle once in a while (every 30 seconds or so) to let her know where i'm at. she comes back, usually within a couple of minutes, no longer than 10 minutes (which does feel like an eternity).
my dog trainer finds that they respond better to whistle for recall. maybe b/c they're used to hearing us yapping all the time? maybe b/c it's a more precise sound than our voice? it works for us.
so i'd start working on his recall w/ a whistle. "coon come", whistle and when he comes treat, treat, treat! repeat that for a while. then try to slowly replace the voice call w/ a whistle.

good luck!

i complain about my crazy terrier all the time, but i think i'm hooked. they all (terriers that is) have such interesting personalities, they're agile. i like them:)

[sporthorselover]

...keeps my jacks alive.

[aurum]

We are breeding the small Jack Russells they are going back to the Foxwarren Kennel in UK. In Germany they are used to hunt the fox and they are even used in herds to hunt the wild pig.

Have a look at http://www.jrt-vom-falkenhorst.de
only the German version is working yet

[Czar]

Thanks for all the advice guys....Cooper is actually very good with horses - he seems to respect their size so he doesn't chase when they run and he stays out of the paddocks for the most part.

We're only renting so I don't know if we can build a fence - he's actually good about staying around when we go for walks in the country. He's suprisingly affectionate and attached for a JRT so I'm not nervous of him taking off completely...I just don't know how I'll teach him to stay off the road.

I like the shock collar idea - I will look into that.

[Silk]

Mine can jump out of a four foot fenced yard. She really can jump!! Evil little witch, but I love her to death!

[myguyom]

What an informative post! I have a three year old female JRT, who is expecting her first little the mid part of January. Gidget (she came with that name!) is very affectionate and gets along well with our Siberian Husky as well as our two cats. She is however, very keen on escaping the house through the front door when we go to retrieve the mail. She has done it twice, and both times I've had myself a merry hour long chase through the neighbor's back yards and the corn field that is adjacent to our street. She escaped on my elderly mother just this morning, but fortunately the letter carrier saw her scoot and followed her to the neighbor's yard. Although she plays deaf to my calls, she will gladly romp up to anyone else within range. The letter carrier called her once and she went right to her. I've taught her the basic obedience commands, sit, down stay and come (when she is done running!) and she knows to heel on lead and heal position. After her pups are weaned and placed in their new homes, she and I are undertaking an eight week obedience course with professional dog handlers.My goal is to be able to take her on hacks with me and not worry about her taking off or running after other animals. Wish me luck!


here's a pic:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/gidget22.jpg

[Czar]

Just after I posted last, I went out to ride and Cooper made a liar out of me (regarding not taking off completely).

He usually sticks around the barn while I tack up and pops in and out - well, he popped out and didn't come back. So I looked around a bit, not too worried, but I couldn't find him. He doesn't always come right when called but it he eventually listens so when he didn't show up I started to get worried.

I got on my horse and went looking - no where to be seen.

To make a long story short, he had followed something down to the road and was found by some guys who were going house to house asking if anyone was missing a dog. My husband was driving up & down the road and they flagged him down.

The farm is just on the outskirts of town and the road is well-travelled - it was a miracle he wasn't hit by a car.

So, we will be investing in a shock collar tomorrow - but now I am super nervous about moving. Will walking the perimeter with him and calling/shocking him whenever he goes to go near the road work?

[dawglover]

Worked for my friends dog...just lavish him with praise every time he comes back...try not to use your voice as you are shocking him, so that he doesn't think you're the one causing his discomfort. You want him to think that the road or the pasture or whatever is the source of discomfort.
Tell him to come to you in whatever way you normally would...if he ignores you or turns away, jolt him. Then call him again, he'll probably want to run to you for help.
The shock collar kits come with handy tips for training. Again, good luck.
Some JRT's are harder to train than others...but they were bred to be tenacious, after all.

[millwrightmomma]

The JRT we have came to us after some asshat used her as a football.
She only weighed 7 lbs and had 4 broken ribs.
The ribs healed, and Amanda is now a swelt 20 lbs......miss piggy.
She is tenacious, one night I saw her attached to a coon's tail, 20 feet up a big maple tree.
Damn stupid dog.
With me screaming at her, she finally let go, and dropped down on me.
I cut down the tree to make sure that didn't happen again, and the 'coons moved. She will go after anything that moves, including a doberman out for a walk with its owner.
Moronic dog ran across the street, and attacked the poor dobe, who was muzzled (good thing?). The owner was screaming, I was killing myself laughing, the dobe was trying to jump into his owners arms, and Amanda is jumping over, around, and on top of the poor dobe.
They don't walk past my house any more. :D

[aurum]

Mine are running in between a herd of 40 mares and they do not attack the horses and the horses ignore them or curiously inspect them, sometimes they bark at one horse, nobody knows why and chase it a bit, but when I call them all are here in a second. They are very used to the horses. Only once one got run over from a horse and like a miracle nothing happened to the dog and I thought the worst, but the vet I drove to immediately with the dog, could not find even a scratch. They seem to be like caoutchouc.

[OakesBrae]

That is funny - My Tikka dog used to growl and hit the end of the leash to try to attack the big dobe female in the neighborhood. Little fluffy dogs didn't bother her, nor did friendly large dogs, noooooo, she wanted to attack the only dog that could swallow her without chewing.

[Rowdijax]

WOW ,, it is really amazing to hear these comments about Jacks. I too have one , he is 3yr. and just a love bug. He is from the Irish Jack line and he does NOT have that " Chase Prey" nor the " Selective Hearing" .. He is so well behaved. But ,,, I did crate train and had him in Obidence class. He goes to Horse Shows and everyone just loves him . He is so attached to my hip and does not go off exploring or anything. Boy I must be lucky. But I am now wanting to get a second and so many Breeders are warning me of my chances of getting another "Angel" such as mine. LOL..
OH well but who can just have 1 ?? It is not possible . they must be in pairs. LOL .. Good luck to you . !!

[Shellythehorsenut]

I have JRTCA Jacks and I have to say that they seem to have a much better disposition than the AKC Jacks I have been around. My little Molly gal is such a sweetheart and she has never met a stranger she didn't like. She is a great barn dog and listens pretty well.

[XHalt]

What a great thread. Here's mine showing how one would use the tail as a handle to pull them out of holes...

http://mapleridgedressage.com/photogallery/photo23618/DVC00098.JPG

(Whenever we dig fence post holes, he needs to check each and everyone!)

And to keep it horse related, he loves to ride horses too...

http://mapleridgedressage.com/photogallery/photo23618/joe%20riding%20001.jpg

:)

[Horsecrazy27]

My nieghbors breed Russel terriers...... she used them in England on hunts.

[rcloisonne]

A terrier that does that is called a "hard" terrier. A good example of a breed that is a hard terrier is dauchsunds who were bred to hunt badgers.
While you have the job description right, Dachshunds are hounds, not terriers. :)

[idtogo]

my JRT is actually quite obedient. He loves agility and hopefully will be ready to compete this summer.....

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/556568587ymRLPU

[myguyom]

My Jack is now the proud momma of six fine pups, two females and four males...A large brood for her first litter, and she took to them like a pro. Here's a few pics..

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies002.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies003.jpg

[Flypony]

Aww, congragulations they are lovely:)

[Roisin]

Cuteness overload!!

Czar - My Dillon is Cooper's double, I swear! Dillon turned 1 in Sep06. He and my JackRat (same age) are pretty great barn dogs and have "horse sense". But when Dillon draws a bead on something to chase outside (car, squirrel, whatever) he becomes 100% chase machine and also 100% deaf, apparently! We have to be really careful around the neighborhood. Otherwise he is a cute little love bug. Diva, the JackRat, will listen and come, thank goodness!

Dillon would be in heaven if he ever went out foxhunting with the horses and big dawgs!

[Daydream Believer]

Adorable puppies! Congrats!

[XHalt]

My Jack is now the proud momma of six fine pups, two females and four males...A large brood for her first litter, and she took to them like a pro. Here's a few pics..

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies002.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies003.jpg

They are adorable. Where are you located? Your bitch looks just like my JRT, could they be related?

[myguyom]

Hi XHalt,

I live Ontario, I don't think they could be related. The breeder I got her from owned her parents, and they were locally bred as well. Thanks for the compliments on the puppies! They are VERY cute, I am having a hard time explaining to my sons that we REALLY DONT NEED another dog, and thus we can't keep one! Besides, I don't think I could handle TWO JRTs AND a Siberian Husky!

[Tiki]

I have a short legged, broken coated Jackie. He is only 10 inches tall and weighs 15 pounds and he is SOLID muscle. His name is Winston. I never, ever in my life used to like small dogs, but when he was a wee babe, his owner brought a litter of Jacks in a laundry basket into the feed store and HE picked me out.

I had to make a big pen in my backyard because my other dogs chase the horses. I used 4x4 inch field mesh and Winston just ran right through it without even slowing down.

I put a half door across one of the rooms in my house, just held in place by the door jamb on one side and a hook and eye on the other. I cut a little 'mouse hole' in the bottom so the cats could get into the room - didn't even slow Winnie down.

He needs 2x4 inch mesh at least to keep him in the yard. Even at that, he CAN dig.

When he was a puppy, my neighbors had a black and tan Coonhound puppy who was 10 days younger than Winston. This puppy was MUCH bigger and he used to try to play by squashing Winnie with his huge paws. Winnie got mad, jumped up and clamped onto the Coonhound's ear with his teeth, then lifted all 4 paws off the ground and hung on with his full weight with his paws all tucked up into his body. The Coonhound yelped for mercy. When Winston finally let go the Coonhoud then, and forever more, played nicely with him.

If I expose a mouse anywhere he is around he snaps it up with lightening speed and quickly disposes of it. He would love to get out to the barn to look for rats. One time I found him barking and barking and barking at a corrugated plastic pipe that had been used for drainage but was then just lying in the yard. I looked in and didn't see anything. I tried to get him to come with me, but he wouldn't, and kept barking at it. I finally picked it up and shook it violently to 'show' him there was nothing in it. A rabbit popped out and off they went.

He will NOT come on recall if he gets loose, but if I shout 'WHOA', he just drops and waits for me. Then I can run over and scoop him up.

[ideayoda]

Shock collars and JRT....lol.....they run right through in my experience...yipping all the way...but still running through (the invisible fence).

[Daydream Believer]

We have a wire mesh fence and had to run electric wire along the bottom to contain our JRT's. They are smart little buggers too and they work out problems pretty fast.

[myguyom]

I just had to post the links to these pics....TOO CUTE for words!

enjoy!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies2010.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies2012.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/raz123/puppies2013.jpg

[Daydream Believer]

Those babies are beyond cute! I love the last one!

[eventrider]

I also breed registered Jacks and recently got into Bull Terriers. They are such wonderful dogs. In my experience breeding, Jacks don't have to have selective hearing, etc. It depends on the temperment of the dogs you breed and the time you spend with them. For example, all of the JR's by my stud dog are very friendly and very obedient. My 2 yr old will heal while I am riding. He listens wonderfully. His half sister was having aggression issues and I offered to take her. After only a week of being around me and my dogs, as well as not being locked in a kennel all day she was an angel. Now on the other hand, I have had dogs out of another line that were "typical" and no matter how much work I did they were that way......so just make sure you check out the lines you purhase. But that said....I could never live without a Jack!!!!

Christan
PS- Marta, you have a PM

[Tiempo]

Please forgive me,but I would like to take the opportunity of this thread to indulge myself in a rememberance of my darling JRT puppy,Milhouse.

I adopted him from the humane society at 12 weeks old and I adored him from day one.

He brought so much joy to myself,my SO and everyone who met him.

He was my constant companion and travelled everywhere with me in my truck.

At 7 months old (last May) he was killed when my neighbor accidentally ran him over in our shared driveway,breaking my heart.

This is the first time since we lost him that I have been able to write about him,and my heart is breaking over again.

He was a little drop of sunshine in my life and I would do any thing to be able to see his cheerful little face and snuggle up again at night with him.

I miss you everyday Milhouse,my little sprout,and I will miss you for always.

Thank you for listening,

Alison.

Here is Milhouse...

http://i14.tinypic.com/2lwujwx.jpg

[Roisin]

So sorry about poor Milhouse. What a cutie he was! I would be inconsolable if anything happened to my Dilly-bar. :(

[myguyom]

Tiempo, so very sad about your darling Milhouse! He was too cute for words!! HUGS to you!

[Wanderluster]

Now I understand when people look at me with eyes wide in amazement when they say- Those can't be Jack Russells- they listen to you. :lol:
Mine are both out to roam freely one is bred in the US and is a chunky type (dumplin I think) and the other was brought here from Ireland.
My Zoloft beauty Paisley had a litter of 3 that will be 8 wks old next Fri, She had two roughs (mucho whiskers ) and one smooth. They were spoken for within weeks of arrival
Josie who hails from Ireland will be due mid February. She was bred to the same rough coated male so hopefully she'll have some fuzzy ones too.
I have TONS of photos but do not know how to attach them :no:
I can't believe how much I love my girls... I could never stand the bouncing yappers so I guess both of them got the memo and more closely resemble a lovable lab personality. All I need to get their attention is a soft "ahem you" and they spring to my side as if attached to a leash.
The only thing that has ever been difficult was the housebreaking. It lasted for years.;)

[Roisin]

The only thing that has ever been difficult was the housebreaking. It lasted for years.;)

Ahhh, yes...Dillon is a "Stealth Pee-er". I invested in a carpet scrubber. And the carpet will soon be replaced with wood floors (sealed, of course).

[myrna]

We have the most laid back Jack Russel in the world..Toby........he chased a mole last year and the mole won!

[phoebetrainer]

I used to breed JRT, until my good brood bitch got killed on the road. Well, my old dog died last year and I have shifted to a better place for JRTs, so I have just ordered my puppy!! I knew a couple of JRT I liked, so arranged for them to be mated and have been promised the pick of the litter. I'd like a rough coated bitch, but will actually take anything cute!!!

And with a side note to the lack of ears and the taking of traits of JRs, I once knew a congenitaly deaf jack russel. She had been taught hand signals, but if she didn't want to do as she was told, she just didn't look at you. She used to have me in stitches - it was so funny watching her making sure she couldn't see her handler.

[Tiempo]

I'm sorry you lost your girl.
I would dearly love to get another Jack,but not until I can have a fenced in yard.

[RunForIt]

:cry: Last year, I had to put down my two JRT brothers - one on 10/31/05 (Thomas), and his brother William a few months later on 2/22/06 - they would have been 16 years old in April. I am just now getting where I can smile when I think of them - they were my heart.

HOWEVER, with all these months between their going, now, I am ready to have another. Here's what I want...a "taller" JRT, not one of the adorable shorties - still want all the same traits (but less agression than my Thomas and William - at 15 they were still attacking other dogs!! :eek: ). Please PM me if you have any info on breeders with sane pups. Too many of the backyard breeders have sooooo many puppies, and I am beginning to see lots more hyperness than even 5 years ago in the pups coming from this area (am in the south, in Georgia, near Atlanta). Thanks! :cool:

[Foxhunt4me]

These are indeed great little working dogs.

Only problem I have with them is that their owners seem to feel that they must drag them every place they go - foxhunts, horse shows, clinics etc. And of course restraining them all the time is just too much to ask because poopsie is so cute and everyone needs the pleasure of meeting him.

Leave poopsie at home.

[Equus34]

Daydream, what wonderful information. I have a 5 yr. old JRT that I recieved from my husband for Christmas, when he was only 8 weeks old. He was the runt of his litter and I just fell in love with him. His name is "Zeus" I know what a big name for such a little guy (11.5 pounds) but he thinks he's a big dog and holds his own well with others.
He is definately full of energy, I take him to just about every stabel I go to teach lessons and he has become some what our mini Pony Club mastcot as he attends every mounted meeting we have.:yes:
Zeus kills more mice than any cat I have ever met, and he loves to chase the squirrels in the back yard, don't know what he'll do if he ever catches one:eek: . H:winkgrin: e is also great with all 6 of my grandchildren. My hats off to Parson John Russel for creating such a wonderful breed.

[Equus34]

I know the jumpy, yappy, pain in the ass JRT's you speak about. Mine doesn't wander off and reak havoc in fact , he rairly leaves my side. But I spent a lot of time working with him from the time he was 8 weeks old, agility, and obedience training.
If I am in the barn he is in the barn usually in the feed room hunting:)
When I head to the areana to teach a lesson he comes in and lay's down on top of the mounting block after all of the riders are mounted. Sometimes one of my students' parents will call him and he goes and curls up in their laps and doesn't move.
They are active dogs and need to have a way to use up that energy or you end up with a bouncy, barky, pain in the ass. But training is key with Jacks they are too smart for their own good.:yes:

[Shellythehorsenut]

To all of you former and current JRT breders, is 8 too old to breed my bitch? Sha has had a few litters and I REALLY wanted to keep a female out of her, last litter was two boys only! Grr. I am toying with trying one more time but how old is too old?