Is a Jack Russell Terrier an ok first dog?

Question

I'm 15 and although my mom had dogs when she was younger, I never had a dog before. I heard Jack Russells are hyper but everything else about it seems to fit what I want perfectly. Is this an ok first dog?

Answer 1

they are also very vocal dogs and bark often. Prospective buyers like you should be aware, however, that while these dogs may enjoy sitting in a lap, they are not “lap dogs” – they are dogs that require training and regular and consistent exercise to maintain their temperament and to occupy their minds.Jack Russells that are not trained on a consistent basis, or are not exercised regularly, may exhibit unmanageable behaviour, including excessive barking, escaping from the yard, or digging in unwanted places inside
and outside the house.

Most Jack Russell Terriers easily mingle with children, though they do not tolerate even unintentional abuse. Most are outgoing, and very friendly towards other dogs, but a good number show same-sex aggression issues.Their fearlessness can scare off a larger animal, but their apparent unawareness of their small size can lead to a lopsided fight with larger dogs if not kept in check.

It is not uncommon for a Jack Russell terrier to be cat-aggressive, and homes with other small fur-bearing animals in them (pet hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.)but you still should think through the consiquences of bringing a terrier into the house with other animals inside.

i hope that will help your desition

Answer 2

We were going to get a Jack Russell and decided not to because of their very high energy needs. I would recommend a different breed that has a little less energy since you are in school all day long. A Rat Terrier is what we went with and we are very happy with this breed. They still have energy, they are less on the go all the time. They are great with kids and adults and other dogs but are protective over their family. Also being a first time pet owner, Jack Russell's may be a bit too head strong for you and may be hard to train. Rat Terrier's are pretty easy to train with positive leadership. Good luck!

Answer 3

I would personally prefer a dachshund. You can get a miniature if you want a smaller dog like that. Jack Russells just seem to hyper to be a first dog and they would be a lot of hard work that I know I wouldnt be able to handle at 15. Dachshunds arnt as hyper at all, yet you can get them going pretty well if you want them to be. Plus they're adorable.

I will advise you this: If you are getting a dog, no matter what kind it is DO NOT i repeat DO NOT get it from a pet store. Almost every single pet store gets dogs from puppy mills and if you dont know what a puppy mill is exactly, please e-mail me before you get a dog from a pet store so I can inform you. [e-mail] If you are a dog lover you will be shocked.

Get a dog from a breeder and meet the breeder in person, as in go to their house to get the dog so you're sure. Dont order off the internet or newspapers.

But again, i would recommend a dachshund. You can simply google or yahoo them. They are adorable and easy to train and keep up with. Seriously, check them out. If you want any other information on them, you can email me, sinci i have one i know a lot.

Hope this helps =] And email me if you arnt sure about puppy mills please, I am glad to inform =]

Answer 4

Jack Russell's are cute as heck!! But... HIPER!!!

We have a Rat Terrier right now, that's probably a little less hiper than a JRT, and he's a lot of fun, but needs good obedience training and a lot of exercise to keep him sane. (and keep us sane too!!) Do your research before getting one of these dogs, because a lot of JRT's end up in a pound by 6 months because their owners can't handle them.

JRT are extremely intelligent... have high energy... are escape artists... Make sure you can give the dog a lot of attention and exercise and spend time teaching him.

Don't be unfair to one of these beautiful little dogs... Don't go by the cuteness. If you can't make the commitment to take care of him appropriately get a different breed of dog that requires less attention.

Answer 5

Jack Russells are constant motion and require patient and determined training. If this is the breed you are interested in, go to a dog show and talk to some of the breeders there. They will be very happy to help you with advice.

Answer 6

definitely not. they are extremely hyper, and are more work to take care of than a different dog. i would suggest you get a pug. The pug is very loving and gets along great with kids. The pug is a little bit smaller than a Jack Russel Terrier, but it makes a great house pet for anyone.

Answer 7

NO! They are very hyper and smart (bred to think for themselves....when they were down in the tunnels being "earth dogs") Go for a corgi since they are sheep/cattle dogs so they have energy but are more likely to listen to you. Also they are not much bigger and do not have a lot of fur.

Answer 8

They are fun dogs for people that have the time for them.

Keep in mind that these little guys can live to be 15 years old. That means that you will be 30 when he passes away. When you move away to college or into your first apartment you won't be able to take hime with you. :(
Let mom or dad make these decisions.

Answer 9

They are EXTREMELY hyper dogs. I would only suggest getting one if you have a large fenced in yard for him/her to run around in daily. Also, the smaller dogs tend to be harder to house train but I think that also depends on the dog and not just the breed.

Answer 10

you should have a big fenced in yard and possibly talk to your vet or a vet before you get one, overall a jack russel terrior is probably a good dog to go with for your first dog.