So, you think you want to buy a Jack Russell Terrier?
You have seen one in an advertisement, on a TV Show or a friend has one. These dogs are active and intelligent. They may stand only 25-30cms at the withers but they are certainly action packed!
You will definitely need a FULLY fenced yard, as with any dog, but remember, Jack Russell's are Terriers (dogs bred to go to ground) and are quite capable of digging their way out or even climbing a 4 foot fence. Being intelligent, they also can get bored very quickly, and are not the ideal dogs to be left to their own devices all day every day. They LOVE being part of your family, and so they should be!
Basic Obedience Training is recommended, particularly for the novice owner. This helps educate both owner and puppy. Jack Russell's can be very determined in deciding what THEY want to do, and one must learn to say NO and mean it. They tend to have little, if any road sense, and must never be permitted on the street without a lead. This practice is also against the law. Each Council must provide at least one area where dogs are allowed to run leash-free. New owners are advised that from July 1st all dogs must be permanently identified (eg micro chipped). Puppies will have to be permanently identified before they are sold, and must be registered with your local council from the age of 6 months.
As Jack Russell's were bred to hunt this instinct remains strong. They will pursue rats, mice, lizards, etc. - and, unfortunately, snakes. Sadly snake bite is a fairly common cause of early death and owners should ensure that there are no suitable hiding areas for snakes in their yard.
Jack Russell's come in 3 coat types, rough, smooth and broken. The rough coat will require more grooming than the smooth or broken. (Broken is somewhere between rough & smooth - a smoothish body with eyebrows & a beard). Coat type is very much a personal preference, and we would suggest you look at all 3 if you are unsure. Smooth coats are easier when checking for ticks, if you live in a tick infested area.
Due to the rapidly increasing popularity of the Jack Russell, many "breeders" are hopping on the bandwagon-thinking to make a quick buck. Looking for a puppy? May we suggest you attend a Dog Show (on most weekends somewhere in NSW - contact the Royal NSW Canine Council on 1800 451 375 for dates. You may contact one of our Puppy Enquiry Service Lines. The numbers are at the bottom of this page. You will be given phone numbers of registered breeders of pure bred Jack Russell Terriers. These breeders will be happy to talk your requirements through, and if they sell you a puppy, will provide you with after sales service! Registered breeders are bound by the Royal NSW Canine Council’s Code of Ethics and must provide new puppy owners with several important pieces of information ie. dates of worming, diet sheet, certificate of vaccination. They must have ensured that new owners have adequate fencing, and, of course, the puppy must be in a state of good health. Puppies should not be covered in fleas or have runny eyes or noses. Most importantly no puppy is to leave the breeder before it is 8 weeks of age. All registered pups must come with a registration certificate (either "full" or preferably for pet puppies "limited"). A limited registration for your pet is ideal where the pup is to be desexed, as it means that the pup may not be bred from or exhibited. Thus you know that you have a Jack Russell Terrier.
If you answer an advertisement in the paper for pups for sale, and you do think that the breeder has not complied with the Code of Ethics, please be very careful, and contact the Club if you have any concerns - preferably before you buy. As mentioned above, due to the popularity of the breed, there may be some unscrupulous people out there with pups for sale, looking only at the dollar return they may get. Some of the puppies for sale are NOT purebred Jack Russell Terriers!
Should you now decide to go ahead and purchase a puppy, the Puppy Enquiry person you speak to will give you any names and phone numbers of Club members who have listed litters with us. It is now up to you to contact breeders and make your decision. The Club cannot recommend specific breeders or litters and will not enter into prices charged. If you have any further questions, please write to the Secretary, PO Box 3279 Rouse Hill NSW 2155 or email secretary@jackrussellterrierclub.com.au. If you may wish to join the Club, click on the membership form link, print out, complete details and post to the the Memberships Coordinator , PO Box 3279 Rouse Hill NSW 2155 with a cheque for the appropriate amount.
Click here for details of puppies now available, or call the hotline on the numbers listed below.
Puppy Enquiry & Advice Service puppy@jackrussellterrierclub.com.au 02 6785-1164 Cheryl Burge 02 6768-9129 Marnie Thornton 02 6337-6588 Sylvia Hooper
