Jack Russell Terrier puppies

About the Jack Russell Terrier

The Russell Terrier descends from the working fox terriers bred in Victorian England for going to ground, a job that wanted a small chest, strong legs and complete nerve. They stand 25 to 30 cm and weigh 4.1 to 6.8 kg, rectangular in outline, with a coat that comes smooth, broken or rough. The personality is well out of proportion to the body: bold, curious, noisy and endlessly busy, and they arrive in the home without an off switch already installed.

This is a very high energy dog for an outdoorsy household that walks, hikes and cycles, and they need games that work their brain as well as their legs. Grooming is minimal, a weekly brush or comb depending on coat type. They bark. They are rated three out of five with children, so supervision and socialisation matter, and the strong prey drive means cats and small pets need careful managing. New owners most often underestimate the exercise, then blame the dog for the digging, barking and chewing that follows.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Jack Russell Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Congenital deafness, detectable by BAER testing
• Primary lens luxation, detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation

Your Jack Russell Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Jack Russell Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4.1 to 6.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6.8 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Jack Russell Terrier

Previous: Italian Greyhound · Next: Jackapoo

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Jack Russell Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/russell-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Plank, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.