Jack Russell Owners

[Cosmolo]

I beg to differ PF Provided correct training is started early- i see no reason why a JRT couldn't be very competitive in obedience. I see lots of focus issues with typically biddable breeds too when training has not been started early enough or the dog has been over socialised.

[poodlefan]

I beg to differ PF Provided correct training is started early- i see no reason why a JRT couldn't be very competitive in obedience. I see lots of focus issues with typically biddable breeds too when training has not been started early enough or the dog has been over socialised.

As I said Cosmolo.. others will beg to differ. I made my comments based on your average trainer, not necessarily a crash hot one. Most average folk will get further with a Golden Retriever or a Border Collie than a Jack.

I know folk who've put UD's on terriers.. and they are very very good, patient trainers.

But recommending a JRT as an obedience dog.. definitely not for the faint hearted, quick tempered or easily discouraged.

Edited January 12, 2010 by poodlefan

[weisnjac]

I see where Poodlefan is coming from. I can say that JRT's are very easy to train for obedience but for competitive trialing, they do need a lot of work and patience!!

I have done Tracking with Pippa which she was awesome at, I also done some obedience, she is fantastic in training as she knows there are treats and balls on offer for correct behaviour etc. but put her in the trial ring and she knows I cannot give her anything! She will still work but not with the same attitude.

She will also not do the stays very often. She gets bored and just gets up and wanders off Recall is fantastc, I taught her that early but she is too smart for her own good in every other instance.

I know few UD titled JRT's and more in the lower rankings, it can be done but it's not for the faint hearted

As for the other Q's, all my guys are different.

Pippa is very independent and will sit on my lap when she feels like it. She loves her walks and is insane with water but she isn't overly energetic.

Stella is a little ball of energy, she bounces of the walls and the back of my legs! She is also the most sooky, loves her cuddles and loves being carried around.

Paige is like a kangaroo when she gets walked, she doesn't walk, she bounces the whole time She will come to you for a cuddle but she doesn't like you picking her up.

Brian is my shadow, he loves me if I go outside, he comes with me, if I get on the couch, he gets on the couch and licks my face to death. He has energy to burn but most of the time just wants to be with me.

[joelle]

Brian is my shadow, he loves me if I go outside, he comes with me, if I get on the couch, he gets on the couch and licks my face to death. He has energy to burn but most of the time just wants to be with me.

This describes Jake my 2yr old JRT perfectly

[poodlefan]

Brian is my shadow, he loves me if I go outside, he comes with me, if I get on the couch, he gets on the couch and licks my face to death. He has energy to burn but most of the time just wants to be with me.

This describes Jake my 2yr old JRT perfectly

If you take your JRTs to an offlead exercise area, do they want to be with you or off checking stuff out? Are they happy to zoom back to your side from greeting other dogs? How did they cope with group obedience training sessions.. was it easy to keep them focussed on you, even when offlead?

Maintaining focus without distractions is not a challenge for most dogs. Add other things of interest and the challenges may begin.

Adding the requirement for complete focus over a fairly long period of time just ups the degree of difficulty. During formal obedience trialling, the handler cannot encourage or reward the dog during exercises and all forms of motivator are banned from the ring.

Are posters familiar with what's required of a dog for formal obedience trialling? Formal, directed retrieving is one such aspect. So are long group stays in a variety of positions with the handler out of sight in the higher levels. Scent discrimination is also required.

JRTs can do these things.. but they still aren't a breed that jumps out at me as a likely obedience trialling prospect.

As I said earlier, they'd be a better bet for agility.

Edited January 12, 2010 by poodlefan

[megan_]

I agree with PF. I think you need to determine:

i) How important is it that you compete in agility and obedience? Is it just for a bit of fun or are you focused on titles? If it is just for fun then the breed shouldn't matter - how it excels is not important

ii) How "easy" do you want training to be? Some people like the challenge of a harder-to-train dog and working on focus etc. Some people like those basics to be inherant and prefer an easier-to-train dog.

FWIW, I think if you answer those questions it will be obvious whether a jack is for you!

Have you ever thought of a mini schnauzer? It is still a terrierist but I'd say easier to get focus etc than from a (typical) JRT? I don't compete in obedience and am a very mediocre trainer but every night I do training with my boy in a high distraction environment (off lead park, children playing soccer a few metres away etc etc) and his focus and stays are PERFECT. This, and we don't do formal training and only train for 5 mins a day! So...I think MS's are very easy to train! I believe that a poodle would be similar (just not as cute ).

ETA: And most nights, after training, I can walk through the off lead park to see someone in particular and he'll focus on me - with dogs flying around.

Edited January 12, 2010 by megan_

[poodlefan]

Have you ever thought of a mini schnauzer? It is still a terrierist but I'd say easier to get focus etc than from a (typical) JRT?

They are quite popular for both obedience and agility Megan. But not as cute as Poodles.

If I wanted a good spunky dog sports prospect these days, I'd rate the Paps as probably the best bet. They generally seem to pretty good drive.

Edited January 12, 2010 by poodlefan

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Have you ever thought of a mini schnauzer? It is still a terrierist but I'd say easier to get focus etc than from a (typical) JRT?

They are quite popular for both obedience and agility Megan. But not as cute as Poodles.

If I wanted a good spunky dog sports prospect these days, I'd rate the Paps as probably the best bet. They generally seem to pretty good drive.

Paps and Mini Schnauzers are both on my "when I buy a small dog" shortlist.

Both cuter than poodles too

[poodlefan]

Paps and Mini Schnauzers are both on my "when I buy a small dog" shortlist.

Both cuter than poodles too

Ah we like what we like..

I'd have put you down for an IG Anita.. keep the sighthound theme running.

[Cosmolo]

See, i would recommend a JRT over a Mini schnauzer based on my experiences

PF The questions you ask about the JRT in a park type situations are questions that a variety of breeds and individuals would struggle with- including labs and kelpies- i have lots of examples of both.

So IMO much depends on- where you get your dog from, how you train and socialise the dog early on AND having your end goal in mind. For example having a trialling goal and allowing a pup to play with every dog he sees or to be off lead ignoring recalls to chase birds- is not a good idea, regardless of breed.

And yes i am familiar with whats required for obedience trials- i don't see any reason why a JRT couldn't do the stays, directed retrieve is IMO more difficult (but i don't see why a Pap or poodle would find it easier? Especially if it was taught through shaping) and scent discrimination- again a difficult exercise but i see no reason why a Pap or poodle would find it easier?

[joelle]

I am not familiar with what is required for obedience trials. jake is not super obedient, but that is because I havent put the effort in. Whn out off leash, he will run and wander and sniff but as soon as I whistle or call him he is straight back to me. That is without me putting in too much effort either. He is an extremely loyal little dog, whether presented with challenges or not, so he - as an individual dog - would probably be good for agility or obedience. We did agility for a while with him but my son lost interest in the formal kind (he was th eonly child) so he does it in the back yard

[poodlefan]

And yes i am familiar with whats required for obedience trials- i don't see any reason why a JRT couldn't do the stays, directed retrieve is IMO more difficult (but i don't see why a Pap or poodle would find it easier? Especially if it was taught through shaping) and scent discrimination- again a difficult exercise but i see no reason why a Pap or poodle would find it easier?

Poodles are often natural retrievers. Two of my three are. Mind you, so is the Whippet.

The reason I say these breeds are "easier" is because you often don't have to work all that hard to get or hold their focus. They want to please you. Terriers (like Hounds) are often more interested in pleasing themselves.

[weisnjac]

Brian is my shadow, he loves me if I go outside, he comes with me, if I get on the couch, he gets on the couch and licks my face to death. He has energy to burn but most of the time just wants to be with me.

This describes Jake my 2yr old JRT perfectly

If you take your JRTs to an offlead exercise area, do they want to be with you or off checking stuff out? Are they happy to zoom back to your side from greeting other dogs? How did they cope with group obedience training sessions.. was it easy to keep them focussed on you, even when offlead?

Of course they are off checking things out, they are terriers after all Pippa's recall has never failed. She will spot a bunny and take off but as soon as I call her, she comes. I have done many group training sessions with her and using food in training, it was VERY easy to keep her focussed, on and off lead. She is a beautiful worker but she learned quickly that trial ring = no food

Maintaining focus without distractions is not a challenge for most dogs. Add other things of interest and the challenges may begin.

Adding the requirement for complete focus over a fairly long period of time just ups the degree of difficulty. During formal obedience trialling, the handler cannot encourage or reward the dog during exercises and all forms of motivator are banned from the ring.

Which is the problem. I always tell people that JRT's will do just about anything for thier owners, but not for nothing, they are not a 'just want to please you' type of breed. Training sessions are always short, if they get bored, you have lost them, and it's hard to get them back.

Are posters familiar with what's required of a dog for formal obedience trialling? Formal, directed retrieving is one such aspect. So are long group stays in a variety of positions with the handler out of sight in the higher levels. Scent discrimination is also required.

Yes, I am quite familliar. I have been involve in my local Obedience club for about 20 years and I have helped my mum trial her dogs (one who is one pass short of Triple CH) I have no doubt in my mind that if I stuck with it, Pippa could have been a fantastic obedience dog, it just doesn't interest me as much as other things. She does the drop on recal, broad jump and several other exercises, but I only done them for fun. She is not a retriever, never has been, so my hopes of gaining anything past CD were always just a dream

JRTs can do these things.. but they still aren't a breed that jumps out at me as a likely obedience trialling prospect.

But they can be, in the right hands. If someone is experienced in Obedience and have the time and patience to put into them, they can be some of the best little workers around

As I said earlier, they'd be a better bet for agility.

And your right, they love to run and jump and do make fantastic Agility dogs, we have several training at our local club.

[Muttaburra]

And yes i am familiar with whats required for obedience trials- i don't see any reason why a JRT couldn't do the stays, directed retrieve is IMO more difficult (but i don't see why a Pap or poodle would find it easier? Especially if it was taught through shaping) and scent discrimination- again a difficult exercise but i see no reason why a Pap or poodle would find it easier?

Poodles are often natural retrievers. Two of my three are. Mind you, so is the Whippet.

The reason I say these breeds are "easier" is because you often don't have to work all that hard to get or hold their focus. They want to please you. Terriers (like Hounds) are often more interested in pleasing themselves.

Yeh, all well and good poodlefan, however the OP has experience with working dogs, Kelpies and Border Collies, so really, a Jack Russell Terrier would be a cakewalk for them.

You wouldn't believe what my Jack Russell boy can do with only minimum training (all with a ball for motivation), his tricks were so amazing that people would regularly (unbeknownst to me until I met and spoke with them) come down to the park to watch him perform.

Their potential is enormous and they are very intelligent and learn very quickly. I think one of the mistakes people make is not keeping up a good pace with the training, you need to keep them moving and keep them moving fast. Find out what motivates them, something always will, same as any other dog.

[yarracully]

They get on great with other dogs as long as the other dogs know the JRT's are boss . JRT's do suffer from the Napoleon Complex and will attempt to boss around even great danes. They don't care about the size of other dogs.

Pretty much as with all small terriers

[Guest Clover]

They get on great with other dogs as long as the other dogs know the JRT's are boss . JRT's do suffer from the Napoleon Complex and will attempt to boss around even great danes. They don't care about the size of other dogs.

Pretty much as with all small terriers

I think mine is broken . He gets along with almost everyone.

Some great posts in this thread . I think a lot of people under estimate our little Jack friends, they are a great dog with so much potential. But i also realise they are Terriers and they can be stubborn and are not for everyone. I would love to see more out and about at Obedience and Agility (they are taking over Flyball in Vic at the moment ).