Smooth Jack Russell Terrier: appearance, character and rules of care

Jack Russell Terriers belong to hunting breeds of dogs. Their historical homeland is Great Britain. In this country, they were first bred for hunting burrowing animals. Today, these dogs are considered not only unsurpassed badger and fox hunters, but are also widely distributed as companion dogs for active people.

These dogs owe their name to the priest from Great Britain, Jack Russell, who lived in the English county of Devon. He was known as an excellent rider and avid fox hunter using terriers. In the second half of the XIX century, Russell took an active part in the work on the standard of fox terriers. Due to the fact that for many years he successfully crossed wire-haired terriers of various breeds and colors, the hunting qualities of these dogs were noticeably improved.

Jack Russell Terriers are now used as hunting and farm dogs in their historic homeland in England. In addition to hunting foxes, they can also successfully hunt hares and water rats, and exterminate rodents. The French use this breed to ensure that dogs bring shot animals and help track down rabbits and roe deer. In the Republic of South Africa, these animals most often play the role of guard dogs, which are sensitive to extraneous noise and will not let strangers pass. Jack Russell Terriers were introduced into Russia in 1998, and are currently one of the most popular breeds among companion dogs.

In this breed, based on the characteristics of the wool, it is customary to distinguish three varieties: smooth-haired animals, long-haired and an intermediate version, which is called broken. Jack Russell Terriers with short hair (smooth-haired) have long been very popular. They can be seen in films and commercials, often they live in the families of "stars" of film and television. It is this variety of jack Russell terriers that is very unpretentious in maintenance, does not need to be trimmed, their coat always looks well-groomed and neat.

There are the following standard characteristics of the appearance of smooth-haired Russels:

• the head should be wedge-shaped, muzzle shorter than the cranial part;
• eyelids, lips and nose always have a black color;
• ears are allowed both raised and hanging;
• jaws strong and strong, scissor bite;
• neck of medium length with a well-defined withers;
• the chest is deep but not wide;
• the back is straight, not very long muscular lower back;
• the front legs are straight and elastic, the hind legs have highly developed muscles, the paws are small with moderate pinching;
• the tail can be either cropped or ordinary, but it should never fold into a ring;
• the coat is smooth and short, close-fitting to the body, with a well-developed undercoat;
• the color should be at least 51% white, red or black spots of any shape are allowed on a white background, while a three-color color (white with red and black spots) is also the norm;
• standard height - 25-30 cm, weight norm - 5-6 kg.

Smooth Jack Russell Terriers are loyal, intelligent and energetic dogs. According to the descriptions of the breeders, they have a cheerful and affectionate disposition, they are easy to educate. These pets are very fond of long walks and all kinds of outdoor games, as well as trips and hiking. Russell is very hardy and brave, but at the same time cunning and love to play pranks. They love children, but due to a highly developed hunting instinct, they can attack other dogs, cats or birds.

Jack Russell Terriers with smooth coat and compact dimensions are easy to maintain both in urban apartments and in private homes. It is only necessary to observe some recommendations of experienced dog breeders to care for them.

• Coat. The coat of these dogs requires minimal care. But smooth-haired Jack Russell Terriers can shed much, so it is advisable to clean their coat every day with a special brush. During molting, you need to comb out the hair with a special comb or mitten. Short hair of these animals has an amazing property of self-cleaning from dirt and dust, so you need to bathe them only in case of very strong pollution.
• Hygiene. Auricles, eyes and teeth should be regularly inspected and cleaned, but do not do this too often. If the dog walks a lot on asphalt or other hard surfaces, then the claws do not need a haircut.
• Feeding. Dogs of this breed can be fed with either fresh natural products or premium prepared feeds. Do not overfeed your pet, make sure that its weight is within normal limits. Giving food to an adult dog should be 2 times a day.
• Conditions of detention. Remember that this hunting breed needs great physical exertion, animals need to run and jump a lot. Long walks (at least 2 hours a day), ball games or with a flying disc (frisbee) are required.You should also know that these dogs do not tolerate loneliness and can spoil and gnaw accessible objects, so it’s best to teach the animal to be placed in the enclosure for some time from childhood. Keep in mind the fact that Jack Russell Terriers are very jumping, and can easily overcome a one and a half meter fence.
• Prevention of possible diseases. This breed is characterized by good health and strong immunity. But you should know that the weaknesses of the russell can be the eyes, joints and heart. They have a disease such as ataxia, which is expressed in impaired coordination of movements and loss of balance.

When choosing a short-haired puppy of the Jack Russell Terrier, it should be borne in mind that in one litter there can be babies with different types of coat. Before bringing the puppy home, remove all available wires, chemicals, clothes and shoes, as these dogs like to bite everything. Give the little terrier a warm corner without drafts and heating appliances near the stove bench. Get modern latex toys that are safe and easy to care for. Know that you cannot play tug-of-war games with your puppy, this interferes with the formation of the correct bite, the baby is also forbidden to independently descend the stairs, and he cannot be lifted by his paws to avoid damage to the joints.

From 2 months of age with a small pet you need to regularly engage, accustoming him to society and the implementation of commands. The diet should be raw lean meat, boiled boneless fish, eggs, cereals, vegetables, cottage cheese. Sweet, salty, fried, fatty and smoked foods are strictly prohibited. It is preferable to use a feeding rack with fixed bowls. Do not forget about the veterinary examination appropriate to the age of vaccination, the prevention of helminth infections and the treatment of wool from fleas and ticks.

Jack Russell Terriers are dogs for active people who love sports and travel. They are friendly, smart and fearless. With proper training and care, dogs of this breed can live very long and be active and devoted friends and companions.

For more information about the Jack Russell Terrier breed, see the next video.