Jack Russell Terrorists

[JeepHammer]

I don't know who the Parson Jack Russell was, but he had some interesting ideas about dogs!

Small dogs, BIG energy!
Thinks they can whip a grizzly bear,
Has two speeds, sound asleep or full throttle,
Every hole and crack MUST be inspected,
If it moves, it MUST be chased,
Every (human) female MUST be flirted with...

REALLY smart! Will have YOU trained before you know what happened...

Better than TV, never a re-run!

 

[Nazgul]

Yep, had one of their cousins a Miniature Pincher. He was hilarious. Would throw himself at the neighbors 120lb Rottweiler, who was scared to death of him.

Don

 

[Thor]

Had a friend who had 6. One of them was so psychotic about chasing tennis balls that he would do it all day and had his teeth worn to rounded nubs. They had to hide all the balls and he would spend all day looking for them.

If you threw the ball once you'd better be prepared to throw it all damn day.

 

[femurphy77]

Had a friend who had 6. One of them was so psychotic about chasing tennis balls that he would do it all day and had his teeth worn to rounded nubs. They had to hide all the balls and he would spend all day looking for them.

If you threw the ball once you'd better be prepared to throw it all damn day.

A tennis racket and a big backyard are useful for dogs that like to retrieve. We have 3 labs, it was necessary to prevent blowing out elbows, shoulders and wrists but works great!

 

[JeepHammer]

These aren't inbred to make them small, so they aren't crazy, shaking 'Pocket' dogs.
They were bred to do 'Ground Work', often used to hunt/kill rats/rodents & pests.
The instinct is STRONG, they will check every hole, crack, anyplace a rodent *Might* hide, so keep rag chew/shake toys around, the shoes won't suffer that way...
These AREN'T the 'Yappy' types, if they bark, something is going on.

Wonderful companion dogs for adults, but might be a little too cranky for small kids.
Every one we've had was the wife's little protector.
YOU are the center of their world, so if you don't have time for a dog, probably not a good idea,
But they really don't care what you are doing, just happy to be with the Alphas no matter what you are up to.

They will look directly into your face/eyes, doesn't look away.
YOU are the Alpha, they take their ques from YOU, but are strong willed.

Mine have all been 'Free' dogs that someone else bought then couldn't handle.
There is a secret to Jack Rats, treat them like a 4 year old, and let them be dogs... Chase squirrels & balls, dig holes/moles, patrol EVERY inch of the property/territory lines (so walk the property lines when house breaking), make SURE they have something to chew/shake...
If you have a 'Golf Green' lawn, not a good idea because they will dig moles/mice.
The good news, you won't have moles/mice for long.
Not much to it when you think about it.

My wife isn't allowed to do ANYTHING in the house by herself, he MUST escort her.
I'm the Alpha, so I can take care of myself, but the wife MUST be escorted.
(This doesn't bother me one bit since she wonders off to collect herbs, goes mushroom hunting, etc.)
When I'm on the road for work, he sleeps between her and the bedroom door, facing the door...

The squirrels will mess with him for HOURS!
They bark, chatter, drop things on him from trees & garage roof... All the while he's at the base of the tree at full alert.
The focus is INTENSE, and the squirrels make it a real game... They can jump from tree to tree at any given time, but they won't when they can annoy the dog...
We call it 'Squirrel Races' when 4 or 5 run circles around the tree trunk or garage roof just out of his reach...

They are FEARLESS!
They will take on ANYTHING, 20 times their size isn't an issue.
They normally wait for a command and don't start fights, but they darn sure try to finish them!
This is a comfort to me when I'm not home since the 4 Jacks we've had will take on a 200+ pound man without a second thought.
(Gives my wife time to clear leather ...)

My current partner in crime loves canned/bottled coffee...
He will get the cans that miss the trash and suck the last drops out, not uncommon to see him licking a can or bottle.
He chases parts I drop off the bench, I always know which direction they went because it has a Jack Rat pointed at it.
When the phone rings and I can't hear it in the shop, he comes and pushes on my leg.
When a customer shows up and I don't hear the door chime, he pushes on my leg.
I didn't 'Teach' him any of this, he 'Thinks' he's an employee...

They are different, that's for sure!
You never know what's next, or what they will take on as their 'Job'.
The second one we had would pick up towels & stray cloths (and towels/clothes only, left the rugs alone) and cart them off, dropped them in front of the washer.
She also picked up her dog toys and put them in the basket when we asked her to, usually so she could 'Go' when we were leaving.
We didn't 'Teach' her this, she just decided it was her job...