Choosing a dog is a big decision. It is important to take into account their personality and characteristics and temperament of the breed you are considering adopting or buying before you make this important decision. The Jack Russell Terrier is a breed of dogs among many to choose from.

Developed in England in the 19th century by a priest with the name of Rev. Jack Russell, this dog was bred to hunt small animals, including Fox, for the excavation of the quarry (the prey) from his den. The Jack Russell has good hunting and tracking capability and is considered a "working terrier.

Jack Russell are generally cheerful, happy, energetic, cheerful, happy, friendly, intelligent, loving, loyal, bold and strong. They make great companions, but can become a volunteer and need rules and limitations. They need a strong will that the owner will be his "pack leader". They have strong hunting instincts and like to chase, bark and dig. If allowed to run loose in the country, terriers may chase small animals and digging into their underground burrows and stay with their prey "for days without food or water.

This breed of dog enjoys games and playing with toys and is generally good with children but will not tolerate abuse from them. They need plenty of exercise, because of their high energy and tend to be restless and destructive if not occupied and well exercised. They are usually not lapdogs, but some are.

Terriers are highly trainable, if the authority is shown, and able to perform impressive tricks, but need an experienced coach. They can be aggressive towards other dogs if they are authorized to take over. Because of their strong hunting instincts, which can not be trusted with smaller animals. They can climb and jump. A Jack Russell which is 12 inches tall can easily jump 5 feet. They are adaptable to most climates.

One of the characteristics of a Jack Russell which include more than 51% of whites (or all black). They can points have black, brown or tan, found mainly on the face and base of tail. The inner layer has a pattern of small spots of brown and black that can not be seen in the outer layer. There are three different types of layers – smooth, rough and broken, and all layers shed. Ears times lower, and teeth are strong. The tail is held upright, tall and straight and is usually docked shortly after birth to about 4 to 5 inches. Adult height is usually 10 to 15 inches, and weight of is 14 to 18 pounds.

Health problems that can occur in Jack Russell terriers include dislocation of the patella, hereditary eye diseases, deafness, Legg-Perthes disease (hip joints), epilepsy and skin diseases, but life expectancy is 15 years or more.

The preparation is quite simple to Jack Russell, and includes regular combing or brushing with a firm bristle brush and bathing only when necessary.

Terriers do well in apartments but are very active and need exercise enough, or become a nuisance. They do best with at least one average size yard with plenty of room to run, hunt and play. Better to have a fenced area for them, although sometimes they dig under the fence and can even jump over as you can jump easily 5 feet tall.

This breed of dog makes a great companion and very affectionate, loyal and protective, but needs lots of attention and discipline, what is best to determine if you have the time and energy to this race before choosing which

About the Author:

Anita Funkhouser is the owner of http://www.gogreendogbeds.com, offering high-quality, eco-friendly dog beds, toys and sweaters made from recycled materials, and http://pickofthelitterblog.wordpress.com/, a blog about various breeds of dogs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Is a Jack Russell Terrier the Right Breed of Dog for You?

Dog Breeds : How to Select a Jack Russell Terrier