Don’t be fooled by their small size. The Jack Russell has a huge personality, is energetic and smart, and is loving, loyal and affectionate.
Being aware of the traits of a Jack Russell will help you to decide whether one of these little dogs is right for your family. It is important to know that they are energetic, intelligent, have a strong prey drive, and can be noisy.
The key to having a jack Russell as a family dog is being able to keep them calm, particularly with children. Jack Russells are high adrenaline so this is not always easy. For more on how to calm a Jack Russell see here.
Are Jack Russells good family dogs
Jack Russells can make an excellent family pet for the right family. A Jack Russell is best suited for an active family that is able to give them the exercise and mental stimulation they need. For a guide to exercise for a Jack Russell see here.
Jack Russells are adventurous and can get easily bored. It is important that the family has time to devote to them. They can develop behavior issues if they don’t release pent up energy and challenge their minds. This can include escaping to find adventure, destructive behavior, nuisance barking, and digging.
Training and socialization are crucial for a Jack Russell. They are generally good with children and are best suited to older children over 10 years old. However, if raised with children from a puppy they are also suitable for younger children.
Are Jack Russells good with children
Jack Russells are best suited for older children over 10 years of age. They can do well with younger children as long as they were raised alongside them – preferably from a puppy.
Since they love to stay active and play, kids will find them very interesting and fun. In return, they will flourish doing what they love to do – play. You should be involved when your kids bring in their friends for the first time. Jack Russells are always on the watch out for any potential danger.
The key to having a Jack Russell with children is to ensure they are socialized well. It is important also to teach your children how to interact with your Jack Russell. Rough treatment may make your Jack Russell feel threatened and react.
Jack Russells can also become overexcited. At times it may be necessary to separate the children and dog to settle them and give the Jack Russell some peace.
Introducing a Jack Russell to a baby or toddler
Jack Russell owners are often concerned about how their dog will accept the arrival of a new baby in the home. There are many stories of Jack Russells being rehomed for this exact reason. This does not have to be the case if you take the right steps in preparing for and introducing the baby and Jack Russell.
Every dog is an individual even of the same breed. You will know the personality of your Jack Russell. If they have a dominant personality caution needs to be taken. It is important for the dog to know their place in the family.
With the first introduction, it is a good idea to have your Jack Russell on a leash so you can pull them away if necessary. Stay relaxed so you are not projecting tension onto the dog. Allow your Jack Russell to make the first move and don’t force them to show interest in the baby. The dog should view the interaction with the baby as a positive experience.
It is also crucial that you don’t exclude or ignore your Jack Russell every time the baby is around. This can foster an environment of jealousy. You will still need to devote time with your Jack Russell and ensure their exercise and enrichment needs are still being met.
One final and important point is that your Jack Russell must have a safe space they can go to. This will allow them to remove themselves if they want to getaway. This is especially important once the baby becomes mobile and is crawling.
Teaching kids how to treat your Jack Russell
Most kids naturally love dogs and gravitate towards them. They love to cuddle them and play with them and get in their faces. It depends upon the individual temperament of your Jack Russell whether they are ok with them or not.
Involve your children in the training of your Jack Russell. This will teach them how to read the dog’s body language and will strengthen the bond between children and dog.
Your Jack Russell is likely going to be happy to see your children and will quickly get used to them coming up and touching them. It is important to teach your children that not all dogs will be the same as your dog.
No matter how your dog interacts with your kids, you want to make sure your kids understand that not all dogs are the same. You should teach your children to ask permission before touching a dog they don’t know, not to annoy them while they are eating and to be aware of body language such as growling.
These important lessons will teach your children to respect dogs and keep themselves safe. Teaching children to respect dogs and your dog to respect children is key to safe interactions between them.
Training your Jack Russell for kids
Jack Russells are smart, learn quickly, and are very trainable. However, it is important to focus their attention on the task at hand. They can also be quite willful so patience is required.
Jack Russells require consistent training, not only in obedience but in how to interact with people and children. Training is the key to having a Jack Russell that is good around children.
Jack Russells need a structured environment to feel comfortable and safe shine and coexist with their people. They will learn through consistency what you allow when it comes to interacting with your kids. By rewarding and praising them for being gentle and correcting them for unwanted behavior such as growling or nipping they will quickly learn the rules and boundaries.
Jack Russells want to be apart of the family and they can easily learn how to do that safely. Training is a key part of having Jack Russell as a family pet and a companion to your children.
Caring for a Jack Russell
When selecting any breed of dog for your family it is important to be sure that you are able to care for and provide to their needs. Things you need to take into consideration are;
- Financial costs – take into consideration the cost of food, vet visits or pet insurance, boarding costs if going away, etc.
- Time needs – do you have the time to spend with your Jack Russell. They like to spend as much time with the family as possible. If they are going to spend a lot of time home alone, behavior problems may develop.
- Exercise needs – Jack Russells need at least an hour of exercise a day but more is preferred. They are also very smart and need enrichment and mental challenges to prevent boredom. For a guide to Jack Russell exercise needs see here.
- Grooming needs – although Jack Russells don’t need a lot of grooming they will require regular brushing and bathing. They tend to shed coat quite heavy and may leave hair all over the house.
Summary – Are Jack Russells good family dogs
Jack Russells can make an excellent family pet for the right family. A Jack Russell is best suited for an active family that is able to give them the exercise and mental stimulation required.
Jack Russells are adventurous and can get easily bored. It is important that the family has time to devote to them. They can develop behavior issues if they don’t release pent up energy and challenge their minds. This can include escaping to find adventure, destructive behavior, nuisance barking, and digging.
With good training and socialization, a Jack Russell can be an excellent family dog and good with your children. The key is training them on how to behave around children and your children how to treat your dog.
Jack Russells may not be ideal around very young children especially under two years old. It is crucial to supervise them at all times. They are best with children over 10 years old. However, with training and socialization, they can be good with younger children.
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