Miniature Jack Russells
About Miniature Jack Russells
Jack Russell Terriers make intelligent, and lively to the point of being hyperactive, companions, and Miniature Jack Russells, though they come in a slightly smaller package, are no different. The breed originated in England, and is a hunting dog, an activity to which it is well suited. Although it has in recent years, become more and more popular as a household pet, if is not a good choice if one lives in an apartment or cannot give it plenty of room to exercise in.
Temperament - Although very sociable towards humans, and seemingly especially so towards young children, Miniature Jack Russells will not put up with what they consider to be poor treatment for very long. They are in general not too sociable towards other dogs, even towards other Jack Russells in some instances. They will fight a much larger dog, and are one of those smaller breeds who sometimes seem to forget their own size, and on occasion take on a dog that is larger and more ferocious than they have any business dealing with.
Miniature Jack Russells, as affectionate as they are, can be a hand full for pet owners at times. They act as if they expect their owners to have the same amount of unlimited energy as they have themselves, and often require almost constant attention. Like the famous bunny, Miniature Jack Russells just keep going and going. They are for all intents and purposes working dogs, and are not at all shy about demonstrating a work ethic that can put all of us to shame.
Just like hyperactive children, Miniature Jack Russells if ignored, or not given enough to do, may become bored, and figure out their own source of entertainment. This can be good or not so good, depending upon what they have turned their attention to. The Jack Russell is very athletic, and excellent at burrowing or crawling into small spaces, part and parcel of its hunting instinct. It will often bark while digging, whether there is prey at the other end or not. In fact, the Jack Russell is generally considered to be a very vocal dog.
Characteristics - Miniature Jack Russells must meet the same American Kennel Club standards for show as their larger brethren, except of course for size. Jack Russells have two types of coat, smooth, or rough. Though some feature a combination of both, called a broken coat, which is also considered standard and not a defect. Jack Russells have a head that narrows between the ears and the eyes, powerful jaws, and small V-shaped ears that are carried forward. The tail is usually set high and is traditionally docked to be about a foot in length. The required length of the tail came about partly as a requirement to be able to have a hand hold when pulling the dog out of a burrow or hole when it is busy digging.
Know The Breed - Not matter what breed of dog one may consider getting as a working companion or a pet, it is always advisable to gain some knowledge of the breed, the requirements for its care, as well as its temperament, before actually acquiring an animal. This would seem to be especially important in the case of Jack Russell Terriers or Miniature Jack Russells. An inexperienced dog handler or pet owner might quickly find they have their hands full with one of these bundles of energy. If you are patient, willing to spend some time either training your pet yourself, or sending it to obedience school, and have plenty of time to give it the attention it feels it deserves, a Jack Russell may be a good choice for you.