All Jack Russell's Are Feisty And Special - Even Mine!
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I believe there should be a law banning first time dog owners from owning an untrained Jack Russell as a pet because they give the breed a bad name! Before someone calls for a lynching rope let me explain the reasoning behind that controversial opening line. All children go through the stage of wanting a pet and it seems to me it's a progressive thing. First of all they start off with a hamster or a gerbil, then it's maybe a kitten or rabbit, then finally they want a dog - and that's when all the problems start. I must have been about eight or so when i finally persuaded my father (pestered him unmercifully, more like) to let me have a dog - because all my friends had one. He took me along to the pet shop one Saturday morning and told me to pick a mutt, I could have any one I wanted! It turned out that all the Alsatians, Golden Retrievers, Irish Wolf Hounds and Great Danes (all the REAL dogs) were already spoken for. I was devastated hearing this but the shopkeeper said "don't worry I've got a new delivery of pups coming in soon." Trouble was that this "soon" was about six weeks time and I wanted a dog NOW. That's how I ended up with Tramp, my first dog - my first Jack Russell Terrier. You see, the shopkeeper could see an easy sale slipping away and happened to mention that he did just have one last dog but he was keeping it for his son who was away in the army. Needless to say, ten minutes later we left the pet shop with the only creature nobody else wanted to buy! Tramp only had one saving grace, he came house trained but in every other way he was a nasty evil little brute, with absolutely no respect for carpets, furniture, curtains or clothes. Within three months he'd managed to trash half the house and within six both my parents developed a nervous twitch. Scars began to appear on ankles and fingers and my sister went to bed earlier every night. He attacked all my friends so they eventually stopped dropping by and even shunned me in the school yard. He never stopped whining and yapping while he was awake and soon the neighbors stopped speaking to us. Every dog and cat in in the neighborhood fell foul of Tramp's evil temper. It didn't matter to him how big or small they were, even Alsatians kept clear of him. That little anti-social pest and I were blessed with four glorious summers together, roaming the local fields and woods trying to outrun each other and playing hide and seek. He never bit me once in all those years, licked me a lot, but no bites or scratches. He was feisty, fearless and proud and I loved him dearly. We all live and die but when my little Tramp was found by the side of the road it was my first experience of losing someone I loved - I was bereft, inconsolable. Now that was all of fifty years and quite a few Jack Russell's ago but I've never forgotten Trampy. When he died I blamed myself for not looking after him better but back in those days we didn't have all these marvelous dog training manuals that are available now. We've all said "I wish I knew then what I know now". What I know now for an absolute truth is that poor Tramp would have enjoyed more of his short life and people would have loved him the way I did if he had been better trained. Jack Russell's make adorable companions but folk must remember that these little creatures were bred first and foremost as hunting dogs. They see cats and other animals as prey - even small children! Learning about these wonderful animals' behavior habits and history can really be a life enhancing experience and well worth the effort but never forget proper training is the key to their happiness and friendship.
About the Author
One of the very best training manuals I've found is called Jack Russell Terrier Dog Training and Care, it's superb and packed full with training tips and advice. To find this manual just click this link... http://paydotcom.com/r/5866/doublemm/2222397/
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