You\u2019ve brought your Jack Russell puppy home, congratulations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glad to hear they\u2019re doing well \u2013 puppy eyes shining bright, and nubby tail that doesn\u2019t seem to stop wagging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They may have gained a special liking for your living room carpet \u2013 as the perfect place to go for a wee. Oh, and your favorite shoes\u2026sorry to hear they\u2019ve probably been chewed on and savaged already. Apologies to your neighbor too; we heard their favorite pair of trousers were left muddy after your Jack Russell puppy showed such enthusiasm to say hello. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We\u2019d love nothing more than to see you both becoming a wonderful team; one that has overcome the hiccups of starting afresh, and only see bright days of licks, treats, and cuddles ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this training guide, you\u2019ll learn everything to tackle those first 8 weeks with your Jack Russell puppy and be as well prepared as possible for the journey ahead, whichever Zigzags it may take you on. (pun intended) Every question you\u2019ve asked yourself is pretty much covered in this guide. What you do need to know is that everything will be just fine \u2013 only happy days lie ahead of you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still looking for the perfect puppy breed? Find out everything you need to know here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as you get them home. Puppies\u2019 brains are a lot bigger than we think; they soak up so much good information despite their young age \u2013 they\u2019ll be thrilled to get going! <\/p>\n\n\n\n We won\u2019t get ahead of ourselves too much though, don\u2019t want to hover parents. But just keep your imagination alive by thinking of all of those little dog tricks you\u2019ll want to teach your Jack eventually. Like doing a backflip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It might look like a long list. It\u2019s not really \u2013 just the basics to get you set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend investing in the following equipment to train your puppy<\/p>\n\n\n\n A treat pouch <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A soft collar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A harness: <\/strong>One that doesn\u2019t pull or tighten when it\u2019s on your puppy and they walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2-mete<\/strong>r training leash<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Treats: <\/strong>The more smelly, the better. We\u2019ve written more about treats here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Two identical toys: <\/strong>Great for swaps<\/p>\n\n\n\n A soft grooming brush<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n A crate and playpen: <\/strong>Optional, but pretty handy if you ask us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also need to practice a couple of other things on your behalf such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Patience: <\/strong>Put into perspective, puppies are only toddlers in human years. It might take them a while to get the gist of everything you\u2019re teaching them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Persistence:<\/strong> The puppy training journey becomes a lot less of a labyrinth (and more of a yellow brick road) when you are consistent with your training practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Time to practice: <\/strong>In line with being persistent \u2013 allowing time to practice their training everyday is key for a bright, trained puppy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now we know a dog is a dog is a dog. But breed differences actually do matter for how we train them\u2026did you know that? Now you do. Let\u2019s look at where Jacks first originated, for a better look into how those terrier brains work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jack Russell\u2019s belong to the terrier group of dogs. We think of them as ratters, and their job was to be an effective controllers for vermin on farms, and they are excellent hunters. Their original job was actually to hunt foxes., they were needed for their speed and courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun fact:<\/strong> The Australians have helped develop and improve Jack Russell\u2019s temperament, so their behavior around other dogs tend to be friendlier. G\u2019job mate. In 2016, they finally got recognition from the UK Kennel Club, and the show type retains that true working terrier spirit we all love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can read more about the fascinating history of the Jack Russell Terrier here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jack Russell\u2019s are known to be highly intelligent dogs and are therefore quick learners. However, Jack Russell\u2019s are better suited to confident dog owners as their high-energy levels make them suitable for extra-curricular activities. This means they will need time and patience given to them during the training process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the Jack Russell terrier is notorious for being hyper, as they grow older, they do calm down, slightly. Once a Jack Russell is around 9 years of age, they will slowly start to become less active and energetic, however, don\u2019t let this fool you! They will still be hyperactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, Jack Russells are not difficult to potty train<\/a>. It does take some dedication and consistency as with any puppy. However, Jack Russells tends to excel in this area of puppy training, much faster than other breeds. Many Jack Russell puppies can be potty trained within one week of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Jack Russell puppy can be left alone<\/a> for 1-2 hours during the puppy stage. Once your Jack Russell is of adult age, they can be left for up to 6 hours, as a maximum. This is the same for elderly dogs, be mindful of their bladder control at each stage<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know, it\u2019s a mouthful, but it\u2019s important to think about! Jack Russells have some classic behaviors associated with the job they were bred to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If we look at the predatory motor pattern of a rat-catching Jack Russell Terrier, it looks like this<\/p>\n\n\n\n ORIENT\u2192GRAB BITE\u2192 SHAKE BITE\u2192 KILL-BITE (and often DISSECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, we know it sounds kind of deadly and morbid. But it\u2019s good for you to know this so you don\u2019t get too surprised at their classic behaviors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the question now is, what can you do to give them an outlet for these things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enrichment activities can help enormously to help them get rid of the itch to do many of these things. Fun games are generally the best and easiest way to get to it: like these ones here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Should I really<\/em> encourage dissection, you might ask? Well, we\u2019re not going to sugarcoat it but Jack Russell Terriers simply love to shake their toys to death and then pull their insides out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep them wanting to do this with toys and not actual rats (now that would be terrible to clean up), this game can provide them with a safe outlet to this very normal doggy behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How to play:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make the game even more fun: <\/strong>Stick some extra treats inside. Dehydrated meat strips are absolutely delicious for them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Problems you might run into: <\/strong>If you have a dog who is likely to rip the fleece to shreds or consume it rather than go for the treats, simply use strips of food or large treats instead. Some just like the taste of fabric better, I guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jacks love to dig. They love getting their paws in the mud and scratching the earth away. By giving them a special place to do so, you can save your flower beds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to play:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make the game even more fun <\/strong>Hide the treats and toys when your dog isn\u2019t there and then run over to the digging pit and let them dig them up<\/p>\n\n\n\n Problems you might run into <\/strong>Your dog might get quite dirty \u2013 but that\u2019s nothing doggy shampoo can\u2019t fix. If you\u2019re worried about the mess or don\u2019t have access to a yard, try our foraging pit or swap out the soil for balls to make a ball pit out of it! Have fun trying to pull your kids from them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog likes this, you might also like: <\/strong>To take them to a beach! It\u2019s the ultimate digging pit to play this game, really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t build a digging pit outside, or you want to have even more fun then build an indoor one too. Building a foraging box will bring them back to the old days; back to the historical way of eating by foraging for food. It makes meal times last longer, will make them less bloated, and is a great way of getting them to problem solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to play:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make the game even more fun: <\/strong>Size matters \u2013 make the box bigger! And add high value treats; they won\u2019t be able to look away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Problems you might run into: <\/strong>Don\u2019t let your dog eat the packaging, so keep an eye on that<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like these breed specific games for your Jack Russell puppy download our app, you\u2019ll find tonnes more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a fair question actually. As we mentioned before a dog is a dog is a dog right? But knowing the context and breed characteristics might help you train your Jack Russell Terrier puppy better and understand why they do certain things the way they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a couple things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jack Russells are workaholics and are extremely trainable \u2013 lucky you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n They are loyal companions who thrive on human company, so make sure you do lots of alone time exercises when they\u2019re young to help prevent Separation Related Problems (it\u2019s all in the Zigzag app).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll find out they have strong (but cheeky) personalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They have high (\u2026perhaps even more than high) energy levels and require an active home life \u2013 they\u2019re definitely not the kinds of dogs who\u2019d enjoy becoming a couch potato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lack of stimulation WILL encourage self-employment \u2013 give them things to rip up and dissect to prevent them getting into trouble. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Give that digging behavior an outlet \u2013 either a digging pit in your yard or one you make indoors to save your flower beds! <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a good one for you to prepare for: They probably won\u2019t lose that hunting instinct completely. <\/strong>Actually, it simply just won\u2019t happen. Because of this, it\u2019s much better to give them an appropriate outlet such as games like tug or fetch so they won\u2019t feel like chasing anything that moves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be surprised if they \u2018sing along\u2019 with their squeaky toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They generally prefer to live in the countryside where there\u2019s room to run. They will also adapt perfectly well to city life, as long as you remember every day is a school day for them to learn new things, and provide plenty of mental stimulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They will love impulse and self-control games that you can teach them. They have a strong sense of smell, so they\u2019ll always be thrilled to play a game of searching for that beloved tennis ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Given their love for sports and adrenaline filled bodies, they will be quite happy going out in all weathers and getting filthy in the mud. So yes, this also means you\u2019ll be getting wet, caught in thunderstorms or gale force winds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a couple other things to think about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rewards:<\/strong> Most dogs work perfectly well with food rewards. But you can certainly make it work better when you know what makes your dog tick. Do you need high value treats, or can you get away with something lower for those eager beaver food-motivated Jack Russell puppies? Perhaps your puppy prefers toy rewards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asking yourself these questions will help positive reinforcement training work much better. Almost like a magic spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Socialization: <\/strong>Having a working \u2018terrier-ist\u2019 in your home means you\u2019ll want to do more work around staying calm and focussed on you around wildlife and give them an appropriate outlet for all that chasing. This time, we\u2019re sure you don\u2019t want a glaring mailman. Don\u2019t want all your parcels to \u201cmysteriously\u201d stop arriving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All puppies have a socialization window \u2013 the period where they\u2019re the most eager to learn about the world and make connections which affect how they view things, often for the rest of their lives. It\u2019s also the time you\u2019ll find easiest to train them \u2013 they haven\u2019t learned how to get into bad habits yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out what your breeder is doing to socialize your puppy before they leave them \u2013 good examples puppy socialization programs to send them are Puppy Culture<\/a> and Avidog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full article on socialization here<\/a>. Don\u2019t want to brag, but it really is a golden guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be afraid to take your puppy out before they are vaccinated, but do it safely! Use a bag or a puppy stroller for your Jack Rusell puppy \u2013 they look super cute too. Definitely insta-worthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Zigzag, we\u2019re of the opinion that the benefits of early socialization outweigh the risks of disease when exposing unvaccinated puppies to the outdoors. We\u2019re not alone in this though, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior<\/a> agrees!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jack Russells come in three coat types they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They all tend to shed a lot (sorry) but are reasonably low maintenance, so don\u2019t require much bathing. They all love a pamper though, so get them used to being brushed and bathed when they\u2019re puppies. That way they\u2019re well prepared for when the dreaded day comes and they roll in something unmentionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRO TIP<\/strong>: If your puppy switches off or starts acting silly (often a sign of stress) it means it\u2019s time for a break of whatever you\u2019re doing. Shift to some play, let them have a nap and go back to what you were doing later \u2013 we want training and other activities to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just to make sure we\u2019re on the same page, you were looking for the ultimate guide on training a Jack Russell Terrier puppy, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good, then you won\u2019t be surprised by the long list of topics we\u2019ll be touching on: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, you\u2019ll most likely be using it all. But nothing to worry about \u2013 we\u2019ve made it nice and simple to follow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a good resource for you to have \u2013 the Push Drop Stick game. I like to use this game to see whether puppies are ready to move on in their training, or if they need to spend more practice runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just a reminder \u2013 remember how Jack Russells are workaholics and super clever? Make sure to keep them stimulated by progressively making their exercises more challenging. They really do need to be given a job to do rather than allowing them to wonder on their own\u2026who knows how that might end up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Push, Drop, Stick, is a way of systematically raising the difficulty of an exercise or behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If exercises are always kept too easy, then dogs will keep doing them correctly because they are being rewarded (cheeky). However, progress will be slower as they\u2019ll get \u2018stuck\u2019 at this level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If lessons are too hard, then it\u2019s likely that they\u2019ll give up since treats won\u2019t be coming as easy. Looks like they\u2019d be quite good businessmen as humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Push Drop Stick\u2019 can help avoid both scenarios by maintaining enough momentum: It will keep your puppy winning enough times to keep them interested and not quit, but not so much that they aren\u2019t thinking about how to be rewarded by trying harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By doing 5 repetitions of an exercise, we are going to keep track of how many the dog gets right. Based on how they perform, we\u2019re going to choose whether to do which of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Push<\/strong> \u2013 Go to the next level of difficulty (raise criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drop<\/strong> \u2013 Back to the previous level of difficulty (drop criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick <\/strong>\u2013 Stay at the current level of difficulty (stay with current criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat age can I start to train my Jack Russell puppy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What do I need to train my Jack Russell Puppy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Good to know about training Jack Russell puppies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are Jack Russell\u2019s bred for? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are Jack Russells hard to train?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When do Jack Russell\u2019s calm down?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are Jack Russell\u2019s hard to potty train?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can Jack Russells be left alone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Jack Russell Terrier Breed-Specific Behaviors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hol-ee Ball Dissection <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Build a digging pit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Indoor digging pit and foraging box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What does this have to do with how I train my Jack Russell?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are easy ways to socialize your Jack Rusell puppy:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Find out what the breeder did with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Grooming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Overview of the training program and topics we\u2019ll cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What is Push, Drop, Stick?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does it work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n