Which is a better family dog - Jack Russel or Rotty??

Answer 1

Rotties can be aggressive and stubborn, but they are MUCH better family dogs than Jack Russell Terriers!!!

JRs are extremely bright, inquisitive and very difficult to train if you're not very experienced and up to the challenge. They will dig up your yard and bark all day if left outside where they can see the world passing by. They will dash around an apartment, jumping on and off the furniture, until you and your downstairs neighbors are insane. They will play tug-of-war with your kid's clothes and steal anything just to get you to chase them. They will also torment your cat and kill your kid’s hamsters. Hell of a lot of fun or frustration - take your pick! I love and own terriers, but I've never recommened a JR to someone else. An awful lot of them end up in the shelters.

Those aren't your only choices, you know! I'd recommend one of the Sporting breeds for a child (but NOT a Weimaraner!) My all-time favorite mid-sized dog for kids is the English (or Welsh) Springer Spaniel. They require some grooming, but don't shed too much, are generally great with kids and easy to train. Females are a little bit easier than males, but either should make a terrific pet. They will need a good thirty minute walk every day.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pekingese are great too and need less exercise. They are small, sweet and quiet.

Vizslas, Setters, Labs and Goldens are usually great with kids but they're bigger and are very boisterous until they are about two. Labs shed a LOT.

I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.


Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.

Find a breed rescue organization by going to www.akc.org - you can get an older dog for less money. Be VERY careful about getting a shelter dog with children that young. You are often adopting someone else's problem dog. And people often lie about the dog's temperament, hoping he'll get a new home that can deal with him.

Answer 2

They are both great dogs. However Jack Russells are not the best dogs to have if you have very young children. Young children tend to grab at things, and this can make a Jack Russell very nervous and have a tendancy to bite. As most people know, when a dog bites someone, they're more likely to blame the dog instead of either training the dog not to bite or teaching the child how to properly treat the dog. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying a Rotty isn't capable of the same behavior, it's just they are a lot bigger than a small child, and less likely consider the child a threat to them. In any case a child should never be left alone with the dog until there is absolute certainty of how the dog will react.

Answer 3

Depends if you like the traits of one breed or the other better. The Jack is a manageable size and does not have dog odour. The Rottie is larger and definitely has that dog smell...due to the special weather proofing oils in it's coat. The Jack is lively, jumps up alot and tends to bark. The Rottie is more subdued and doesn't bark as much. Both are good gaurd dogs because they are both protective of their people. Both are moderate shedders...the Jack is more noticable due to more white hairs. The Jack Russell is one of the longest lived dog breeds out there, and the Rottie does not have quite as long of a lifespan. Both dogs are highly trainable...Rotties are more tolerant of children, Jacks need to be socialized with lots of dogs and kids so they don't get snappy (it's a terrier thing). Good luck deciding!!

Answer 4

Well, everyone is going to say jack russell. But I am going to tell you differently. I have a rottie right now and I have owned 6 in my life. They are the best dogs. I raised all of mine around kids so when I had a family they would be use to the kids. They are more loyal and protective of the family then JR. I am living my boyfriend who has a 7yr old daughter and one on the way, my dog sleeps with her at night and plays with her. They are very good family dogs.

Answer 5

Rotty. I am a Pit Bull fan all the way but between the two I would go Rottie. Rots are just great family dogs from what I hear and act like big over grown pups most of their life.

Answer 6

Well. both are great dogs.. It would be difficult to say.. A Jack Russel (though expensive) is great for an all-around dog.. the Rotty is great if you have children... A rotty is great as a protector for children.

Answer 7

we had a rotti,she was a beautiful dog and she was great with my young kids.She was trained and exercised everyday tho.They are large heavy dogs and need a good yard.Any pet is a responsibility,and left to their own devices they are not worthy of being a pet in a family,they need good discipline and the owners should be good descent folk to have any pets at all.I have 5 dogs now,and small breeds this time and i know which 2 don't like young kids,the other 3 are fine.I'm careful when i have visitors,i was the same with my shepherds,rottis and bull terriers over the years.I would not recommend a large dog,unless the adult is a strong handler and all dogs must wear appropriate collars+harnesses/leads etc.Here in sydney,there are laws for age appropriate people to walk certain breeds of large dogs,my 8+9yr olds cannot walk large dogs.Infact they must be accompanied by an adult out with any dog. cheers :)

Answer 8

The Jack Russell is a happy, bold, energetic dog; they are extremely loyal, intelligent, and assertive. Their greatest attribute is their working ability, closely followed by their excellent qualities as a companion.

The Rottie is calm, trainable, courageous, and devoted to their owner and family. They have a reliable temperament. Protective, he will defend his family fiercely. These are strong fighters that seem immune to pain. Serious, steady and confident. Firm and careful training is essential for this breed, otherwise you may end up with a very powerful and overly aggressive dog.

It's up to you to decide which temperament would suit your family.

Answer 9

This really depends on the dynamics of your family. Both dogs are very lovable and playful - and it has been my experience (beleive it or not) that Rotts are a little more patient with small children. The typical "behavior is a result of upbringing" definitely comes into play. I have a 9 year old female who wouldn't DREAM of nipping at a small child - however my ex's terrier took a nasty nip out of his 5 year old niece. How many small children (under the age of 5) do you have in the house? Do you have a fenced in yard for the terrier to run off some of it's nervous energy? How about a seperate little area for a rottie to nap in when it wants to be alone (mine likes to wander off and be left alone when she is tired)?

Answer 10

Dogs are what you make them, it's the size you have to worry about and the cost of feeding them, also who's going to walk them everyday!!.It's a lot easier to exercise a jack russel than a
rotti there's a lot less poo to clear up too!!