Chapter 1
What's a JRT's Temperament Really Like?
IN THIS CHAPTER
Coping with JRT's high energy levels
Taking a look at inherited personality quirks
Recognizing some odd but common behaviors
Sympathizing with the "little dog" complex
Acknowledging their amazing feats
If you've ever spent any time in the company of a Jack Russell Terrier, you know that this little dog is a bit different than any other breed you've encountered. People are drawn to them because they're typically very funny to watch and amusing to be around. Other pets are often puzzled by them because of their boundless energy and their ability to be in a hundred places at the same time.
This chapter identifies the quirky behavior of the JRT and gives you some tips for how to deal with those behaviors.
Talking about Turbo JRTs
One of the most amusing and common behaviors of JRTs is their proclivity for rapid and continuous movement. This can take the form of running at full speed around the house or the yard; through doorways; up and over furniture, human beings, and other pets; and back the other way like on a makeshift raceway. After a minute or two, they usually stop, grin at you, and then take off again in the other direction. I affectionately call this the Jack Russell Turbo.
This behavior shows that the JRT is a high-energy - and high-maintenance - dog. The Jack Russell's energy and exuberance for life can manifest itself in many ways, and turboing is just one of them. Rest assured, yours is not the only household that has been turned into the Indy 500: Jack Russell owners across the nation are befuddled and amused by this sudden burst of terrier energy. If you can get beyond the irritation of being used as part of a pinball machine, you may find this habit rather endearing. If nothing else, it's certain to bring a smile to your face.
As an added benefit, unwanted houseguests may be quick to change their minds when they get stuck in the middle of the Jack Russell Turbo, leaving you and your family to the relative peace of your home. Granted, you have to take care that wanted houseguests are protected from this particular terrier habit.
JRTs TAKE ON HOLLYWOOD
With their spunky personalities, endless energy, and remarkable intelligence, it's no wonder Jack Russell Terriers have become a favorite among producers. From television ads to blockbuster hits, JRTs are making their mark on viewers across the nation. Hollywood and Madison Avenue can't seem to get enough of the Jack Russell Terrier.
More and more JRTs are popping up in the most interesting places - Nissan commercials, ads for the Travel Channel, sitcoms such as Frasier, and even a show on PBS called Wishbone, in which the big star is - what else? - a Jack Russell Terrier. You may have seen JRTs starring with such film greats as Jim Carrey in The Mask and Gene Hackman in Crimson Tide, and may have noticed Sparky alongside John Travolta in the angel flick, Michael. These little white dynamos are holding their own in the acting department, and I bet they aren't even impressed by the six-figure salaries!
Performing comes naturally to Jack Russell Terriers whether on TV, in the movies, or in your own home. They love to show off their strange and quirky personalities, and they have more than their share of fun while entertaining you and themselves.
In real life, though, Jack Russells are not as they're portrayed in the movies or on television. Don't buy a JRT because you think he's cute or because your children want their own Eddie or Wishbone. In real life, JRTs are nothing like the well-mannered, well-trained stars you see for a few minutes strutting their stuff on television.
Even regular exercise doesn't remove this amusing behavior from your terrier's repertoire, although it may temper it a bit, causing your dog to be a little less rambunctious. If the thought of a little white bullet rocketing through your house at a high rate of speed bothers you, you'll be sorely disappointed in your choice of breeds. Like digging, barking, and hunting, turboing is very much a part of the breed, seen in virtually all JRTs and in all different bloodlines.
Don't leave your puppy alone for extended periods of time unless you want to return home to a demolition derby. Being alone is stressful to your dog.
Observing Forms of Aggression
Although you may normally think of aggression as attacking other pets, dogs, or people (and some terriers can go overboard in this area), the JRT also can exhibit aggression in other, more amusing ways. I know of one dog who attacks the electric garage door every time it's activated. Although this is hilarious to observe the first few times, it can be scary when the little demon forgets to let go and almost gets carried up into the mechanisms of the door. To make matters worse, the dog attacks not only the owner's garage door but any electric door in the vicinity. How do you explain to a neighbor that your dog is defending you from the garage door?
Another story I've heard is about a male JRT who lives on a farm. His favorite pastime is attacking the family's tractor whenever there is work to be done, much to the frustration of the tractor's operator. He growls and attacks the bucket at the front of the tractor, biting the edge and refusing to let go. When that doesn't work, he works his way around to the wheels of the tractor and hangs onto the lug nuts, going 'round and 'round like a slow motion Ferris wheel as the giant tires turn. He does this for hours, obviously convinced in his own mind that he is saving his owners from a ferocious metal beast.
Other aggressive behaviors can take the form of attacking a vacuum, mop, or broom, which can make housecleaning a bit more of a chore than it already is. Some dogs go as far as to actually pounce on the machine and hang on as you try to vacuum, or they grab the bristles of the broom and shake their heads vigorously in an attempt to kill it. Socks and clothes also can fall prey to the ferocious Jack Russell, especially when you're trying to get dressed in the morning and already are 15 minutes late for work. How on earth they know that you're late and need this distraction like you need a hole in the head is anyone's guess, but somehow they manage to choose these times to play! If you can manage it, look at your dog's behavior as a way to lighten up and enjoy the day in spite of your tardiness.
Children often assume that, because Jack Russells are relatively small, they should be friendly and easy to hold. And because these types of JRT behavior often are quite funny, your children may be drawn to the dog and want to interact with her. But children should not approach or try to pick up a JRT who displays aggressive behaviors. The terrier becomes somewhat fixated with the object of her attention and, if startled, could snap out reflexively at the child. The dog doesn't intend to hurt the child, but she doesn't make a distinction between the child and the object she's attacking, and she shouldn't be punished if she reacts this way. To the dog, the big bad object would simply be biting back!
Hunting High and Low
Like aggression, the hunting instinct is strongly bred into the Jack Russell, and no amount of training will rid this little dog of her desire to seek out the nearest quarry. Although some terriers are honest-to-goodness rodent hunters and will rid your home, barn, or yard of anything that remotely resembles a rat (like a rock), others use their hunting instincts in a more amusing way.
One of my pet Jack Russells hunts insects on a regular basis. Flies, spiders, mosquitoes - it doesn't matter. He jumps on tables, on couches, in bathtubs - anywhere to gain an advantage over his insect prey. After he catches the bug, he ferociously kills it (which really doesn't take much), proudly leaves it there for all to see, and goes on to his next victim. He stares at the ceiling, the lamps, and the corners of the room to be sure no killer bug has invaded his sanctum. Heaven help the insect that strays into the home of a bug hunter!
Not only will your JRT hunt odd things, she can spend hours doing so. Sometimes she will hunt absolutely nothing at all. One of my best breeding bitches will stare at a hole, corner, or even someone's foot for hours on end, getting up only to feebly scratch at the hole, corner, or foot in question and then sit down and stare again. I call this gremlin hunting because only she can see what she's after. At least I know our home is totally free of gremlins!
Examining Random, Nutty Behavior
If turboing and hunting bugs, gremlins, and garage doors aren't bad enough, other even stranger behaviors are considered common within the Jack Russell Terrier breed. Some of these behaviors stem from boredom; others come from an overabundance of energy. All, however, seem to portray the intensity and often obsessiveness of the JRT.
- Catching rays: One of my friend's JRTs goes crazy when her children bring out a flashlight. His favorite game is to play "chase the beam of light." The family turns off all the lights in the room, and the dog goes crazy trying to catch...
