The Jack Russell Terrier is a small, energetic dog with a big personality. They love their families, are affectionate with them, and love to play. Here are a few more facts about Jack Russell Terriers:

1. The “Jack Russell” Name is Based in the United States

A Jack Russell Terrier looks a lot like a Parson Russell Terrier. Although they are considered separate breeds, there may still be some overlap in bloodlines. This is because the dog known as a Jack Russell Terrier in the United States originated from Parson Russell Terriers.

When Parson Russell Terriers were brought from England to the United States, breeders began calling them Jack Russell Terriers. At the time, a variety of small white terriers were mistakenly referred to as “Jack Russell”.

Because of this and because of breeding in the United States, kennel clubs and parent societies of the Parson Russell Terrier have distanced themselves from the Jack Russell Terrier name to avoid confusion. Now, the lines have diverged enough that they are considered two separate dog breeds.

2. Jack Russells Are High-Energy Powerhouses

Many small dogs breeds have bursts of energy, but tend to tire out quickly. This is not usually true for a Jack Russell Terrier. These small dogs are full of energy and are athletic. Make no mistake, they will try to run themselves ragged, but it will take a lot to tire them out.

Jack Russell Terriers often require daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities to stay happy and healthy. And, after a quick break, they will probably be up for more activity if you are! Once Jack Russell puppies finish growing and developing, they are a great fit for dog sports, especially agility.

3. They Have an Urge to Chase and Wander

These little terriers were originally bred to be hunting dogs and those instincts remain. Like most terriers, they have an instinct and an urge to chase and to wander. Because of this, it’s generally a good idea to only let them off-leash in securely fenced areas.

Although they are more than intelligent to learn basic commands, they may ignore your recall commands in favor of wandering off or chasing after something interesting. They may even try to chase cars!

4. Jack Russell Terriers Are Vocal Dogs

They may not “talk” the way Siberian Huskies are known to do, but Jack Russell Terriers are vocal dogs and are prone to barking. This makes them an alert watchdog as they will let you know when someone or something is nearby.

But, this also means that barking can become a nuisance behavior with this dog breed. This makes it a good idea to start to train your dog to stop barking early on. You likely won’t be able to get them to stop barking completely, but you can get them to learn how to respond to cues to stop barking to help manage the instinct.

These are just a few facts about Jack Russell Terriers. If you think this could be the right dog breed for you, learn more about them, and then check out the available Jack Russell Terrier puppies. You could end up finding your new best friend!