Jack Russel

[Wolverine67]

Just got my self a Jack Russel. Got my self into a discussion on another forum about the breed and use by ph's in South Africa.
I discovered that there are a bit of controversy about this breed, also in South Africa.
My questions then are: What type of Jacks are most ph's use; the real Jack Russel as breeding standard from JRTCA in US or the FCI approved Russel terrier or shortie?
And how common are Jacks as working dogs for ph's?

 

[Jriley]

I don't know all of the answers to your questions, but I do know that they make a great squirrel dog. They are also good pets by the way.

 

[TOM]

I've always seen the very short legged version. Also seen a few "fox terriers". Both seem to be very smart dogs.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I make use of the long-legged Jack Russel and many, many PH's use the breed. The one problem that I have with the fox terriers , is that they almost get too aggressive and too brave.Instead of just baying the animal, they will actually attack, which is not what you want. We also know what happens with aggressive dogs on wounded Bushbuck.
With the amount of time that gets put into a dog to get him to be worth anything, there is nothing worse than losing him to a wounded ram.
Its a fine line on training on getting a dog to stick with the animal and successfully baying him, but still keep his distance in case of a charge.

Just love watching my dog, or any dog for that matter, work. Good luck with your pup!

 

[Wolverine67]

Thanks Marius. I have already discovered that the breed is somewhat "active"....:shocked::biggrin2:

 

[owenowen]

Hi There,

Our one has short legs and hair with no spikey beard

regards

 

[andriesdeklerk]

I make use of the long-legged Jack Russel and many, many PH's use the breed. The one problem that I have with the fox terriers , is that they almost get too aggressive and too brave.Instead of just baying the animal, they will actually attack, which is not what you want. We also know what happens with aggressive dogs on wounded Bushbuck.
With the amount of time that gets put into a dog to get him to be worth anything, there is nothing worse than losing him to a wounded ram.
Its a fine line on training on getting a dog to stick with the animal and successfully baying him, but still keep his distance in case of a charge.

Just love watching my dog, or any dog for that matter, work. Good luck with your pup!

Have a blacked headed short legged Jack Russell. Been mauled by caracal twice. The problem with this breed is that it thinks everything is smaller than them. Not only my dog but my best companioning in the veldt or on my lap in front of the telly.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks Marius. I have already discovered that the breed is somewhat "active"....:shocked::biggrin2:

Make sure you work him. If you don't you will have problems.

Good luck.

Breed standards change on the group writing them up.
If you like the dog and he does what you want, be happy. Stay out of the ring and go hunting or whatever.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

The problem with this breed is that it thinks everything is smaller than them. Not only my dog but my best companioning in the veldt or on my lap in front of the telly.

I think the perfect way to describe the Jack Russel,could not be described more perfectly as someone once told me, " Its dificult to believe that they could fit such a big heart into such a small body." Says it all, really.

Andries, I agree. If for some reason my dog can't be with me in the veld, it feels like I have forgotten my most important piece of equipment. Something is just missing. He just loves hunting so much, sometimes I have to remind myself, who is actually the PH?

 

[BRICKBURN]

.... He just loves hunting so much, sometimes I have to remind myself, who is actually the PH?

He is, you just hold the license for him!

 

[Ole Bally]

I think the perfect way to describe the Jack Russel,could not be described more perfectly as someone once told me, " Its dificult to believe that they could fit such a big heart into such a small body." Says it all, really.

Andries, I agree. If for some reason my dog can't be with me in the veld, it feels like I have forgotten my most important piece of equipment. Something is just missing. He just loves hunting so much, sometimes I have to remind myself, who is actually the PH?

Marius, very well put!! Jack's are an awesome breed!
An SA PH...whom I won't name...once had a GSHP cross Pitbull which was probably the very best hunting dog I've ever had the privilege of hunting with! Incredibly smart, incredibly powerful and very savage when he had to be! Looked like a GSHP on steroids!!

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Great Topic, have had both short and long legged in the past and worked just fine.... awesome dogs, they need to be worked and expect it as well,

I struck gold a couple of years ago, and stumbeled upon a Parsons jack russel breeder (rough coat), they are a little more even tempered than the others I have had and slightly toned down, learn quick just becaudse of their more relaxed attitude and make awesome companions as do all the others.

A big thing with these little fellows for me, is the fact that they are easy to handle and travel with..... unlike the bigger breeds which some of which can take much older track than the Jacks, but the bigger breeds are just a mission to have on the back (they take up more space).

I have to agree with Marius and Andries, not having them with you every day is like missing a limb, and it feels like such an injustice not to give the little buggers every opportunity to hunt and be out in the field, they are also excellent camp dogs, at night they seek the closest warmest lap around the fire to lie in!!

Long live the Jacks!

 

[DOC-404]

They make wonderful friends and hunting companions. My two usually know, two days before the time, that I'm leaving on a hunt.



..and there's my newest hunting mate in training, Buddy, the Staffie pup..

 

[fhm3006]

Very nice pics Docman - especially the Staffie - i have a soft spot for Staffies and Jacks since childhood and have owned 4 or 5 of each so far - when i buy my new property one of the first things will be to get me one of each again.

About Jacks - yeah - just make sure you take your vitamins every day - they are like little rubber balls - bouncing all over the place and it just do not stop - even if they get mature - a ball of energy with a lion heart. And prepare your spouse - they love re-arranging the garden and everything planted in it.

3 years ago i wounded a kudu (left front leg shot off just above the knee - misjudged distance) and as we all know how kudu takes after the disappearing act - especially when wounded. The farmer let loose his 3 Jacks - i was a bit sceptic - but within 90 minutes one of the farm workers came running to us and told us the Jacks had the bull cornered aout 2 km from our position.

An unbelievable sight when we eventually arrived there - the 3 x Jacks like little furry-tornadoes around and around the Kudu - poor Kudu did not know where to turn and which one to target with his horns - he did not even notice us when we arrived there - all attention on the Jacks around him. I had a 50 y shot to his head. Because of those Jacks i slept well that evening and did not write a cheque for a wounded / not found animal because off them.
I respect the fiesty little buggers.

 

[Nyati]

A great dog Jack Russell/Bull terrier

 

[vgruan]

Hey guys,

I have 2 Jack Russel's I hunt with and Bullet the male is like my son! Saved me countles hours of tracking wounded animals.... I have a great video of him baying a blesbuck, I will se if I can post it soon. He hunts with me like a human would, look,smell and listen for animals all the time! Simply amazing!

Here he is with some animals he has found! Once he bayed an animal no one exept me and the client can come close to the animal otherwise you will have a few bite marks on the ankle! He has been a few articles in overseas magazines. Will post some copies of the article aswell.

Great dogs for families and hunting!

 

[JohannS]

I have a long legged jack and he is a machine. If training is good the JR will do everything you ask of him. They are even better snake dogs than anything els. Has saved my life many times. They do have a tendency of taking on everything, even warthogs and baboons.

 

[Wolverine67]

Thanks for all the replies. One thing seems to be true, a good dog are worth its weight in gold for a hunter.

 

[PSE XFORCE]

Training a JR

Hi Guys,when and how do u start to train a JR to Track wounded animals?
I just bought a new pup and would like to start to train it in Tracking animals.
Eny Advise would be helpfull,it is a short leg JR.
Thanks

 

[cmc]

Ive always had a Jack and when I met my wife she thought they were just cute little dogs that she could cuddle, fifteen years later she has a different point of view. We still have one now and he is calmer than most but still a hand full. He has a dog door and this can make for interesting finds in the house when he decides his kill needs to be brought in to chew on.
Being in Texas finding something to chase is not hard and a very strong little female I had loved to chase pigs and we caught plenty together. On one particular evening she took off after a pig that wouldn't bay and the more she bit at him the faster he ran, I tried to keep up and expected the hog to stop any second. The last I seen her she was stuck to the ass end of that hog like a tick and all four feet off the ground. I knew I couldn't go home without that dog so I give it all I had to find her. I called home and told my wife that Kate, that was the dogs name, was "misplaced" and that I would be late, my wife told me take all the time you need cause if you don't come back with that dog don't come back.
I trailed that hog for hours and as the track got longer I feared the dog had probably been killed or hung on so long she would never find her way back. Late into the night I had lost hope of finding the hog or dog in any shape but I couldn't leave her and as I slowed to catch a breath a caught a faint whine. I whistled and heard it again, now on my place in Texas its thick and nasty and in places you can't even see the ground for thorns but I knew Kate was close. I finally found her on her side completely exhausted and I'll never forget the look on her face when I picked her up, her eyes just said, "where the hell have you been? I did my part and you let me down". I've never felt worse for a dog than I did that night.
Kate was ok for the most part other than some scratches and cut on her head which I suspect came from thorns more than the hog. I don't believe that hog ever stopped running and I can't imagine what he was thinking as he's running off with this little ball of hell fire stuck to his hind quarter.
I gave her plenty water and tried to explain how bad I felt and that I was sorry but I don't think she cared. Poor dog couldn't walk for two days and would just whine when she tried to move but in a few days she came around and we did plenty more hunting together. The dog laying at my feet right now is the grandson of that dog, he has no idea how good a dog his grandma was.