Things You'll Need
- Patience, and a securely fenced yard.
Instructions
When you first get you Jack Russell terrier (JRT) home you need to make sure that your fence is secure and he will not be able to jump over it(you may underestimate how high these little guys can jump), or dig under it. Jack's are natural born hunters and most love to dig (mine doesn't have a tendancy towards digging but most do). Also, make sure that visitors know to not leave the gate open, or your dog might get curious and take off down the street. If this happens and he is used to riding in your car, just follow him with your car, open the door and coax him to get in, you may have to have a treat or promise of something he likes that will get his attention. I've used "wanna go to the dog park". This works like a charm. You just have to be familiar with what you dog responds to.
Talk to your vet about the type of food to feed him and the amount he should be consuming per day. If you have a puppy for example, you will have to feed him several small meals a day. For an older dog 2-3X a day should be fine. Just be careful not to overfeed. Jack Russells don't know when they are full and will keep eating. If your dog is really active, (mine is and he's 3), he will need to eat about 3X a day. Also, these dogs are sometimes picky eaters so you may have to mix wet and dry food together to get him to eat. Also, make sure your dog has clean, fresh water at all times.
Jack Russells don't need quite as much grooming as a lot of breeds. You just need to bath them regularly, about once a week is usually fine. You will need to trim your dogs nails at least once a month. Nail trimmers can be bought at any pet supply store like, Petco or Petsmart. Be sure to read the instructions. Also, brush your dogs teeth regularly. You can buy special toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs at any pet store also.
Jack Russells need lots of outside play time, their whole world revolves around playing. Your dog will also need lots of toys to keep him happy and entertained. You don't want your Jack Russell to be bored or he can get into mischief. Toys to buy include, soccer balls (they can play with these for hours), anything that looks like a rodent(they love these since they are natural born hunters). Also, this is not the kind of dog you can leave unattended for long periods of time.