Jack Russell Terrier

• ExerciseVery high

  Thrives with a job, sport or serious daily exercise.

• GroomingWeekly brushing

  A weekly brush keeps the coat healthy.

• Living spaceApartment-friendly

  Happy in smaller homes with regular outings.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment13–16 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Patellar luxation · Legg-Calvé-Perthes · Deafness

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog with an enormous engine, bred to hunt foxes underground, and its relentless energy and drive are the single most important thing to understand: this is emphatically not a low-maintenance small pet. It needs a great deal of daily exercise plus real mental work — training, digging boxes, scent games, puzzles — or it will 'self-employ' as a demolition expert. Brave, clever and stubborn, it has a strong prey drive (a danger to small pets) and a talent for escaping, so a secure yard and consistent, patient, positive training are essential. Given the right active home it is a brilliant, funny, devoted companion. The coat (smooth, rough or broken) is easy, needing weekly brushing and occasional stripping. Health-wise the Jack Russell is generally hardy and long-lived, but buy from a breeder who screens eyes and knees, and be aware of patellar luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes hip disease, inherited eye conditions (lens luxation, cataracts), and congenital deafness, especially in mostly-white dogs. Give it serious exercise, a job for its mind, secure containment and dental care, and a Jack Russell will be a spirited companion for thirteen to sixteen years.

• How much exercise does a Jack Russell Terrier need?

  Very high. Thrives with a job, sport or serious daily exercise.

• How much grooming does a Jack Russell Terrier need?

  Weekly brushing. A weekly brush keeps the coat healthy.

• Is a Jack Russell Terrier suited to apartment living?

  Apartment-friendly. Happy in smaller homes with regular outings.

• Is a Jack Russell Terrier a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Jack Russell Terrier live?

  13–16 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Jack Russell Terrier?

  Keep an eye out for Patellar luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes, Deafness. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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