[Jack] Russell Terriers are confident and athletic spitfires, originally bred for fox hunting in England. [JRTs] are small with a mostly white coat, and named for the Reverend John "Jack" Russell, who created the breed in the 1800s. Undeniably charming, JRTs are also an undeniable handful. They have bottomless reserves of energy and will go in search of adventure if you don't provide it for them. They need to live with active owners who enjoy—and have time for—frequent exercise and play sessions with their dog. They are alert and eager participants in dog sports of all kinds, including agility and Earthdog trials. On the fox hunt, JRTs keep up with the horses and flush foxes. This means they are fleet of foot as well as champion diggers. Make sure you always walk your Jack Russell Terrier on leash and that your yard is secure enough to keep these escape artists safe.
Jack Russell Terriers are brimming with life and smarts. They are playful companions who enjoy a good romp with their family members. JRTs want to explore in the yard, the neighborhood, and further afield. They are strong willed and will push you to keep up with them on their adventures. When not kept busy, JRTs are likely to get into mischief. They are generally friendly when well socialized, but these courageous dogs never back down from a fight.
L to R Simon holding Morgan; Caroline holding Jackpot; Rett holding Dinky; and me holding Sweetie
Our first encounter with a Jack Russell Terrier came in the late 1990’s when we dog sat “Bo” (a smooth coat JRT) for a week while the owners were on vacation. Bo was well behaved, and didn’t demonstrate to us the overly mischievous nature of the breed. My fondest memory of him was the way he wanted to bury himself under the covers at our feet at night where he remained, without disturbing us, until morning. Rett and the children were determined to have a JRT of our own.
Enter “Dinky”
Dinky
We followed a newspaper ad to what turned out to be a “puppy mill” just south of Lancaster, Ohio where Rett and Simon fell for the runt of a litter, named Dinky. She was a smooth coat, and far from a “show quality” JRT, no doubt due to “in breeding”. But Dinky thrived on the love heaped on her by Rett and the children, and she became an integral part of our family for fifteen years. Unlike most JRTs, Dinky befriended our cat named “Blue Kitty” and on many mornings the two of them had a friendly sparring session. RIP Dinky (April 1997-August 2012)
Enter “Sweetie”
Sweetie (Sybil)
In 2001, Caroline wanted a puppy she could call her own so we traveled to Sandusky, Ohio where she chose “Sweetie”. Contrary to JRT behavior (two bitches in one household), Dinky accepted Sweetie and for eleven years the two of them lived in peace. As Sweetie became a mature dog, she began to demonstrate semi-aggressive behavior toward humans that resulted in a new nickname for her- “Sybil”. It seemed, at times, like she just didn’t want to be bothered. RIP Sweetie (April 2001-June 2014)
Enter “Bess”
Bess
Rett and I loved Bess, and we considered her a part of our extended family. The following was submitted by Robert Bode and Lee Thompson (Bess's owners).
It was 2002. It had been four years since the death of our beloved bearded Collie, "Daisy," and Lee and I were just starting to consider getting another dog. We thought we wanted either a Scottie or the blond equivalent, a Wheaton terrier. We were browsing the shelves of a bookstore in Walla Walla, looking for books about Wheatons, when an older woman approached us. “Hello, I’m Elsa,” she said with a noticeable German accent. “Are you getting a dog?” she asked. “Well, no. We’re just starting to think about getting a dog,” Lee said. “I live in Moses Lake. I raise Jack Russells,” she continued. “And I need to find a home for Bess. She has had two litters but is too small to be a breeding bitch. Her two litters came by C-section. I just can’t afford to keep her.” Lee and I took a step back. “Oh, no,” I said. “Jack Russells are way too hyper for us. We want a calm dog.” We turned to leave. “That’s the other reason why I can’t breed Bess,” Elsa said. “She’s too calm. That’s not what people want in a Jack Russell. Look, here’s my card. If you change your mind, I will give her to you. Why don’t you come to Moses Lake and take her home for a few weeks? At the end of that time, you’ll know if she’s a good fit for you. Elsa turned and left. Lee and I looked at her card. “A Jack Russell? Yeah, right,” Lee said. I started wondering how long the drive was to Moses Lake. A week later, Lee flew to Georgia to play a recital. On the day he was scheduled to return, my friend Nancy and I took a road trip to Moses Lake. We picked up Bess, along with her leash and well-worn food bowl, and drove back to the airport in time to meet Lee at baggage claim. I handed her to Lee. For the next twelve years, Bess was either in Lee’s arms, or on my lap, or pulling us toward a tree where she had spotted a squirrel. She was a feisty, loyal, and opinionated member of our family. Bess was the best.
Enter “Jackpot”
Jackpot, "the best dog!"
In early summer 2005, Rett stopped in at a local pet store (not an uncommon occurrence) where she fell for a JRT puppy we later named Jackpot. Although we had two JRTs at home, Rett became obsessed with this puppy and she would visit the pet store every few days to “see if he had been sold”. Even though Rett knew full well that the Woliver household didn’t need another JRT, she said that she had bonded with this puppy, and Rett being as tenacious with us as is the custom with the JRT breed, she persisted and Jackpot found a home at 1452 Candlewood Drive. Dinky and Sweetie accepted Jackpot, in fact, Jackpot developed a special bond with Sweetie, perhaps a maternal/son relationship.
Jackpot in the foreground, Sweetie behind
After Sweetie died in June 2014, Jackpot went into deep mourning. He would bring Sweetie’s dog bed to us and whine as if to say, “Where is my Sweetie?” His behavior became routine and after several months, we began looking for another JRT so that Jackpot could have a companion. Jackpot was a very sweet dog, and many times during our ten years with him, we would comment, “Jackpot is the best dog!” RIP Jackpot (April 2005-February 2015)
Enter “Morgan”
Morgan
Rett and I have very fond memories of our first “Granddog” that include running, digging, cuddling, snarling, jumping, and licking, but we defer to Simon for his memories of Morgan.
I owe the Cincinnati Bengals a thanks for losing in typical Bengals fashion (a heart breaker) on September 23rd, 2007. In my dejected state I considered what might make me feel slightly better. Seeing a puppy sprang to mind and I called a local ad for Jack Russell puppies. I was in the car quickly and soon met a very cute, very small, and very energetic little white puppy with a brown spot on her back and brown over her face. I was hooked but still called my dad to make sure I wasn't making a huge mistake. He told me he didn't think it was the right time for me to get a dog, as I was 21 years old, in college, and working multiple jobs. I told him I would think it over and not make a decision in that moment. I went to a local Meijer and thought it over while purchasing a cage, food/water bowls, a leash, collar, dog bed, and food. I took Captain Morgan home that night and had the privilege of spending the next almost 14 years with her as my companion.
Morgan loved to snuggle and had a very distinct way of flopping back with her legs wide open. Being that she grew up around a bunch of early 20's men, she quickly developed the nickname Pootie. She frequently slept with whomever would allow her to snuggle up with them for the night (frequently Quentin). She loved to run, play, and explore. She had a limitless amount of energy and enthusiasm for life. As Kris trained for a half-marathon she ran, Morgan trained too. She would put in long miles of running and was ready to go again after a short nap on a sun spot. No matter what was happening, Morgan wanted to be in a lap, with her chest and head being rubbed. She didn't make many dog friends as I think she believed that she was the toughest pup out there. She once went after Jocco who is a very large German Shepherd, only to find that she was not in fact the biggest dog at the party and ended up with a scar on the top of her head and not a single lesson learned.
Kris and I would frequently say that Morgan will outlive us all and would be able to survive a nuclear holocaust due to her resilience and lack of willingness to let a thing go once she had her mind on it. While she didn't live forever, she will always live in a special place in my heart as my first dog. RIP Morgan (2007-2021)
Morgan
Enter “Minnie”
As stated above, Sweetie died on June 18, 2014 leaving Jackpot in deep mourning. By October, Rett and I decided he needed a companion, so we consulted a JRT Rescue advertised online. There we found “Minnie,” a three-year-old smooth coat in a facility just across the Indiana/Ohio border west of Cincinnati. Supposedly, Minnie had belonged to an elderly woman who could no longer take care of her. Jackpot accepted Minnie into the household, and although, as we discovered later, Minnie had no tolerance for other dogs, but Jackpot was the exception.
Minnie (left) and Jackpot (front and center)
The two of them enjoyed their lives together at Merry Mount until February 2015 when due to a mishap, Jackpot died unexpectedly. Minnie thrived as the solo dog at Merry Mount until, upon our retirement, we added Nellie (a black Labrador retriever puppy) to our household. Unfortunately, Minnie has fear aggression and is intolerant of other dogs (except Nellie) and most people. When the grandchildren arrive, Minnie is sequestered to the sunporch where she remains until they take leave. One rather endearing characteristic of Minnie's is her shoe fetish. She loves to find one of our shoes and bring it to us. She is gentle with the shoe and has no intention to destroy it. We, therefore, often engage in a shoe hunt at the point of changing shoes.
All in all, Minnie is a typical JRT and is very loving to Rett and me.
Minnie on her perch
We have had a JRT continuously in the family for twenty-six years and on most mornings I hear Rett ask, “How is my little white dog with brown spots this morning?”
Cheers to the JRT!
CPW
P.S.
Kommentit