Opinions on Jack Russells?

[Laura+Phantom]

Do you think a Jack Russell would be suitable for this type of arrangement?

Me and my fiancee bought our own house at christmas and would like to get a dog, we already have a cat so it is essential it gets on with her, we have plenty of fields around to exercise plus my parents 10 acres. 2 weeks of the month it would be alone whilst i'm at work, but I can come home midday to let out for exercise/toilet. I am home by 3pm. The other 2 weeks of the month my other half is on nights so will be home sleeping all day (and can let dog out etc.)

I live in a 2 bed bungalow so didn't want anything too big anyway, but I wasn't considering a JR until my mum told me about one she knows about. It is unwanted by the family, they have too much on their plate to be looking after her so it is shut in the kitchen all the time, and pushed away violently by their mentally ill son when she jumps up to lick him. Apparently she shakes in the corner when strangers come They said they are looking for a home for her, she is used to children and cats, and is microchipped.

My other half hates Jack Russells and didn't want a female but has given in, any info on them that can help me decide whether to take her on? Really I wanted a springer spaniel but worry about it being too boisterous with the cat (like my mum's puppy is!) My mum doesn't like Jack Russells but said this girl is gorgeous.

I had a wonderful long legged jack russell X fox terrier. I did obedience, fun shows, charity displays (he did tons of silly tricks like putting a dolly to bed then wrapping her up in a blanket) agility, he went everywhere with me. I had to have him pts on Feb 21st 2007 aged 19. My sister has just got a tiny JR puppy, Jilly, and has fallen in love with her. My next door nieghbour has just got a 5 yr old bitch and 8 week old puppy due to bereavement, they are in love with them too and my farrier has a tiny one which goes everywhere with him. Be firm and fair and you will have a friend for life and if you don't take to her, I will.

[i love dressage]

A springer spaniel would be too bositerous with cats. Bear in mind that this Jack Russell you have in mind may have a few behaviourial problems.

...... and, I just noticed you live in Cornwall. My sister and daughter live in St. Newlyn East so no problem if you don't like her.

[~Perdita.M~]

I didn't like them much either until I somehow acquired one last may!

She is lovely. Also the longer legged parson type. She is a real character, very clever!

[starrynight]

I am not a fan generally because we had a jack russell up the road from us and it was THE most annoying dog i have ever experienced in my life!!! It was such a yappy little thing and was actually quite vicious. It once chased my mum down the street (she is afriad of dogs, especially one she doesn't know) and was nipping her ankles, it kept escaping, running away trying to chase my cat and generally was just an annoying little thing. To be honest though i think this was partly due to the way it was handled - mainly by annoying kids who didn't have a clue and just let it run riot then two adults who didn't really care. My mum bumped into the guy and the dog once and the dog ran up to her yapping and trying to nip and my mum shouted to get the dog away to which the man replied "just kick it". My point is that if this dog has been ignored then perhaps his behaviour may not be the best for your situation. Is there any way that you could see the dog and perhaps take him to yours and see what he is like with the cat - just because he is used to cats doesn't mean that he will like your cat and your cat will like him - my cat hated dogs, all dogs!!!

To end on a nice note though - there are 2 jack russells at my RS and they are very friendly with everyone except strangers (unless they are in riding clothes haha) but they are not nippy at all, they just bark a few times at people they don't know then wonder off in search of food lol!

[Laura+Phantom]

Thanks everyone, I will see if I can trial her for a couple of hours at my house with my cat, my mum says she's really cuddly and even though people reject her she keeps going back to try again I will let you know what happens!

Pauline I will keep you in mind if she's not for me

[Asima]

I adore Jack Russel's my family's had them for years and I really think they are one of the breeds of dogs there are.They're easy to train, think they're 10 times bigger than they are , very energetic and have huge personalities and their not yappy like Yorkshire's. All my families were rescued dogs and none had any lasting issues.

They do need firm handling and lots of walks so you're situation would be ideal. But they are seriously so much fun and so cheeky but in a nice way, once you've had a good one it's difficult to get another breed.

springers are hypo arent they? ahh bless jack russells our lovely. our 2 dogs arent jr but small breeds (schnauzer x terrier) and cope fine being left. they get used to it, obv not for long long periods. and it would get used to cat

[Minski&Kai]

I have a rescue jack russell. We got him at 6 months old, her was very poorly and used to bite my friends kids (who are very good with dogs). He is a fab little dog, curls up on my knee with the guinea pigs!! Is now very well sociallised, doesn't bite any more and passed the assessment and now is Pets as Therapy visiting dog. My friend has a jack russell and a jack russell cross, one is also a rescue and they are both also PAT dogs.

All of the jack russells I have met that bite or are agressive are like that because the owners think because they are small they don't need the same boundaries put in place as a larger dog.

I have to say, you never get bored with a jack russell in the house.

[Doeylicious]

The only thing I would say is, if the dog has been ignored/pushed aside a lot, leaving her on her own might upset her a bit at first. However your working day sounds pretty short and I am sure if you left a radio on and let her get used to it slowly she would be ok. And make sure your cat gets lots of attention so he doesn't feel he is being replaced.

Can't say I am a fan of JR's in general as one chased me round a park and was horribly nippy, jumping snarling generally freaking me out, and the other one was owned by a bloke who used to hunt with him, yes illegally, and was a vicious brute as he had been trained to be so. However, he bred (accidently ) with my aunt's heinz 57 and of the litter they produced, only two were ever a bit nippy and we soon trained them out of it. One of the bitches (who was actually my favourite, she was called Velvet) went on to join the police as a sniffer dog so as with a lot of dogs it's all in the handling.

[colleen&val]

i have 2 , ones nippy and loud and the other is quiet and sleeps with a cat,
they are all differant, one of mine shakes all the time but shes not scared of anything, its just the way she is

try her , its the only way to find out and ild advise to try more than just once, it will take her a few times to get to know you

[chev]

We have a JRT - she is as perfect a family dog as you could ask for. She gets on great with the kids (aged 5 to 11) and is about the friendliset dog I've ever had. The only down side is that she does chase small furry things (so we don't have cats) but had she grown up with cats I think she'd have been ok with them.

I know lots of people say they're yappy nippy little dogs but ours has never nipped anything (even when my youngest decided to dress her up in beads ) - I think a lot of it is down to how they're brought up.

If I ever have another dog it would be a JRT, no question.

[Laura+Phantom]

All positive stuff, thanks everyone, I should be going to see her tomorrow for the first time

[fjordlady]

I love JR's - they tend to be characters and have a mind of their own. Some can be yappy and if not brought up with cats that maybe an issue - but give her a go she deserves a good home.

[happyhacker101]

how did you get on? did you go and see her?. We have a jr x cairn and she's lovely, can be a bit yappy but doesn't have a bad bone in her body - she's a very good guard dog too. On the plus side - she's great at catching and killing the rats that sometimes appear!!

[Laura+Phantom]

It's tomorrow i'm going to see her, will let you know how I get on!

[colleen&val]

good luck today

[Minski&Kai]

Good luck!!!

[happyhacker101]

Well, how did you get on???