Here are something’s that you should really consider before even adopting or purchasing this breed of dog. They are not like some dogs that are just a good lap dog they are much more than this. You need to consider that these dogs were bred to hunt and therefore are classed as a working dog.

Time- This is something that is very important to these dogs. They can gain separation anxiety if you are away from the home for long periods of time and also they can find their own sense of entertainment when you are gone which is something that we quote as being destructive. If you spend most of your day outside of the home this is not the breed for you. They need to be trained regularly so that they learn the tools they need to get along with you in the home. This does not come natural you cannot expect to have a dog know what you want from them if you are never home to show them.

Children- You need to know that these dogs are generally hyper all their lives no matter what their age, so do not think that just because you get an older Jack Russell that you are not going to get a hyper one. You need to consider if you have younger children under the age of 5 that do not know how to respect the dog and its boundaries. Jack’s are known to be very protective of their things, and so the child cannot be grabbing at their toys or food. This is not to say they will bite, but you might not want to chance it. Also these dogs are very sensitive and do not like to rough house like some of the other breeds of dogs. They are not found of having their hair pulled on or their tail, but then again not very many dogs are. If you do not have a child that is old enough to know that this sort of thing cannot be done with this breed of dog, then that is something else to consider.

Space- Space is a big issue with these dogs, they need plenty of room to run and be able to get out and get some exercise daily. This does not mean that you have to have a house with a huge yard, but it is ideal for these dogs. They need to maintain exercise everyday to be able to stay healthy. If you do live in a house with a yard then it is best to get a fence, do not just let your Jack Russell run free, Jack’s are known to dart away from their owners because of something that they spot that they want to chase.

The best thing that you can do is be considerate of the dog and know that if you get a Jack Russell these are some of things that He/She will need and if you cannot provide them then you should look into another breed of dog.