Before Buying A Jack Russell Terrier

Rebecca Quick • May 2, 2025

Things You Should Know Before Buying A Jack Russell Terrier

There is not another pet in the world like a Jack Russell Terrier. A Jack Russell Terrier can give you the loyalty and friendship that you can’t get with another animal. That’s why they deserve special attention. Here are some suggestions to assist you in making sure your Jack Russell Terrier can live the good life.


Think About How You Will Train Your Jack Russell

Consider teaching your Jack Russell Terrier hand signals along with verbal commands. Consistency and practice are key to teaching a Jack Russell Terrier these non-verbal commands.

Many owners get frustrated and resort back to verbal commands, but a well-trained Jack Russell Terrier should understand both. Try using only verbal commands when the Jack Russell Terrier is out of sight range, but when close up, only use the hand signals.


Traveling With Your Jack Russell

Take care to keep your Jack Russell Terrier cool while traveling during the summer by car. Even with your air-conditioning on, the Jack Russell Terrier may become over-heated in his pet carrier. A simple and low-cost countermeasure is freezing a few gallon jugs of water and placing them near him where he can curl up and cool off.


Getting Your Jack Russell Proper ID

If your Jack Russell Terrier gets lost, it is very unlikely that you will see him again unless he has proper identification. Tags can come off, so the best option is a microchip. It is quick to put in your Jack Russell Terrier, and it causes minimal discomfort. Simply register the chip ID after it is put in, and your pet will always have his identification with him.


Jack Russell Adventures

If your Jack Russell Terrier spends a lot of time outdoors, he or she may eventually come in contact with a skunk. If he gets sprayed, mix together: one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent

  1. a fourth a cup of baking soda
  2. a quart of hydrogen peroxide solution (but make sure it is no more than three percent).

Apply the mixture to your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat and allow it to sit for five minutes. Wash your Jack Russell Terrier off well afterward.


Only Buy Your Jack Russell From A Verifiable Breeder, Shelter, or Rescue

Be careful if you’re searching for a new Jack Russell Terrier on Craigslist or other classified ads. Many people exaggerate the truth in order to unload problems or challenging training issues and you could end up with an impossible situation on your hands. Only talk to people who are verifiable through vet records and demonstrate positive handling experience.

If you are interested in providing your Jack Russell Terrier with the healthiest of diets and making positive contributions to the earth’s environment, make his food from scratch. You can buy locally grown organic ingredients and provide him all the proteins, carbs and fats he needs with no preservatives while reducing the waste from packaging as well.


Jack Russell’s Need Fenced Yards

If your Jack Russell Terrier is a digger, make sure to protect him and your garden. Some plants are poisonous to Jack Russell Terriers, not to mention the damage those paws can do to your prized flowers and produce. Put up an appropriately sized fence to keep him out or consider using an electric one.



Keep Your Jack Russell’s Ear’s Clean

It is very important for you to keep your Jack Russell Terrier’s ears clean. Keeping the inside of the ears clean will help prevent infections of the ear. This is also a good time for you to inspect the ear for fleas, ticks and any other pests that could have made your Jack Russell Terrier’s ear home.

Jack Russell Terriers are the most wonderful pets around, and most people know that. These social creatures deserve our affection. And if you own one, he deserves your best. Use the information here to make sure that you are doing all you can in order to give your Jack Russell Terrier a truly happy life.


A brown and white dog is sitting in a pile of leaves.
May 2, 2025
Get answers to the most common questions about Jack Russell Terriers, from behavior and training to health, grooming, and their unique personality traits.
A small dog is playing with an orange ball in its mouth.
By Rebecca Quick May 2, 2025
Owning a Jack Russell Terrier is fun and rewarding! Discover the joys, challenges, and tips for raising this energetic, smart, and loyal little companion.
A small brown and white dog is laying under a striped blanket on a bed.
By Rebecca Quick May 2, 2025
Discover essential tips for Jack Russell care. Keep your energetic pup healthy, happy, and well-behaved with the right training, diet, and attention.
A small brown and white dog is laying in the grass.
May 2, 2025
Discover effective training strategies for Jack Russell Terriers. Learn how to manage their energy, boost obedience, and build a strong bond with your dog.
Two puppies are playing with a toy in the grass.
May 2, 2025
Maggie did turn out to be pregnant with 1 puppy. However, we took her in for a c section, since almost all the time, a singleton is too large to pass. Since xrays don’t really tell much of a story, as they are so large as to distort proportion, we did the c section and thought all would be well. But, the next day, the puppy died. Now, there are more questions regarding if the treatment worked 100% or if there is some residual Mycoplasm just waiting in the wings to strike again. I do encourage anyone with information or experience with this disease to contact me or Erin Swartzkopf thru the JRTCA. Every breeder has a vested interest in making sure this problem is properly identified and eradicated from their breeding programs.
A small dog is jumping in the air in front of a woman.
May 2, 2025
My experience with Mycoplasma overgrowth in puppies. Learn how Castlereigh raises healthy, short-legged Jack Russells with care and integrity.
A small dog is playing with an orange ball in the grass.
May 2, 2025
Items needed: a 15 to 20 foot leash, and a large ring choke style training collar. Each ring should be at least 1/2 inch in diameter. Since these can be hard to find, the next choice would be a soft material slip style collar. Get your dog, and slip the collar over his head. Make sure you don’t let him flip the collar off. You can use some sort of clip or leather stop to make sure that doesn’t happen. Next, take your dog out to a large area where there is open space and no other animals to distract him. Note: Do not go to an enclosed area that is distraction free, as what your purpose is is to make him pay attention when he loses focus on you. Let the entire length of the long-leash out and let your dog go exploring. Meanwhile, start walking in a different direction. When your dog gets to the end of the leash and is starting to pull that way, give a command of their name, loud enough so they can hear it, and immediately turn your body in another direction. Keep going until the dog again is distracted and goes off in his own direction. Again when he gets to the end of the lead, call his name loud enough so he can hear. Continue with this training until he starts really paying attention to you. Very soon, he will just be focused on you, and follow you everywhere without correction. After this training, any time he doesn’t come to you right away when called, repeat this training. Eventually you will have a very well trained dog who won’t leave your side. After doing this, never take your dog outside or on a hike without a leash, as Jack Russells are above all, hunting dogs, where quarry is their PRIME MOTIVATION. They will almost inevitably take off after a squirrel or rabbit as that force if bred into their DNA. Rebecca Quick