Jack Russell Terrier

A Jack Russell Terrier
Photo: Plank, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Terrier Group
📏 Size
Small
⚖️ Weight
6 - 8 kg
🕐 Lifespan
12 - 14 years
🌍 Origin
England
Energy Level
very high
Exercise: 1.5–2+ hrs a day
A guide for a healthy adult. Puppies, older dogs and flat-faced breeds in the heat need less.

Good to know

  • Bred to go to ground: developed in England to bolt foxes from their dens, they are tireless diggers and determined hunters.
  • Energy to spare: they need plenty of daily exercise and play, and a bored one will find its own (often destructive) fun.
  • Escape artists: they can dig under or jump over fences, so a secure yard and supervision are important.
  • Strong prey drive: small pets and wildlife can trigger chasing, and some are scrappy with other dogs.
  • Easy coat: smooth, broken and rough coats all need only regular brushing, though they do shed.

Getting out with a Jack Russell Terrier

Bred to keep going: they need plenty of exercise every day, like long trail walks, hikes and off-leash play where it's allowed.

Explore more breeds in the Terrier group

Browse Terrier Breeds
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