Jack Russell Terriers (JRTs) are a very popular pet these days.
The history of the JRT has had many twists, with their original use being as hunting dogs for chasing foxes.
They were later also used for hunting other prey, like rats, rabbits and badgers.
This article will teach you all about Jack Russell Terriers, their traits and history.
JRTs are mostly white, with black and tan patches.
The "ideal" JRT should have a small patch of color just at the base of its tail.
The Parson John Russell, the man who first bred these terriers in the 1800s in England, was said to be very fond of the dogs that were mostly white with this small marking at the tail.
JRTs are very energetic dogs and require a lot of exercise.
Both the rough coat and smooth coat JRTs shed hair and should be groomed regularly.
Because of their small size, many owners make the mistake of thinking they will be low-maintenance, "apartment" dogs.
They get a rude awakening when they find their dog doing laps around their apartment, tearing up their couches out of boredom when they go out! Jack Russells need to be given plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to keep their minds busy.
JRTs are known to have a cheeky character and many of their owners describe them as being "little devils.
" Some of the common problem behaviors that crop up with JRTs are aggression and guarding resources, barking, jumping up on people, hyperactivity and digging.
However, most of these problems emerge because owners don't know how to train this breed and how they should be treating their JRT.
Some owners try to pamper their dog too much and treat it like a baby, but with a JRT, this can often lead to the dog losing respect for the owner.
JRTs need firm but friendly leadership from their owners.
They are intensely loyal dogs and often get very attached to one person in the family.
On the flipside of this, they can sometimes be territorial and wary of strangers.
They are very quick learners and can be trained to do all sorts of tricks.
JRTs have achieved fame for all sorts of talents.
Some have starred in TV shows and movies.
There's even a JRT that paints abstract art, and one that can ride a surf board! Of course, this isn't absolutely all about Jack Russell Terriers that there is to know.
This breed is very intelligent and complex - there's too much information to pack into one short article, but this gives you the basics of what the JRT is all about.
If you want to know more about them, you will need to find some good resources and study them further.