BEWARE OF DOG (the breed you choose, that is)

Clifford and the Chlomanian Devil

Cigarettes, plastic bags, energy drinks...these days everything comes with a warning label.  Well, everything except kids and pets. If humans were required to do their research or think their decisions through responsibly before becoming pet parents, there would be far fewer dogs in shelters facing the likelihood of euthanasia.  I, for one, advocate warning labels for dogs.  Since they can't be born with labels attached, all breeders and anyone who "offers" dogs for either sale or adoption should provide a breed advisory (as I know Almost Home Rescue and most rescue organizations dealing with Jack Russell Terriers do). But JRTs are not the only high-energy breed out there.

To be considered for inclusion in this warning is the fact that you may end up hiring a sitter for your JRT(s).  Yes, our dogs now have a nanny, and no, not every JRT will require one.  But anyone who will possibly have the task of caring for a JRT, and especially someone considering ownership of this breed, should be shown a video of some kind, perhaps similar to this one I used in making sure our nanny was up for the challenge. 

Watch the video: M.I. 2.5 (Babysitting 2 1/2 Jack Russells)

Learn more about Jack Russells by reading the JRTCA's "Bad Dog Talk."

Non-Verbal Negotiation, Jack Russell Style

Pretty much every day is a negotiation of some sort when it comes to our dogs.  Once again, I guess Cesar Millan is right, as much as I hate to admit it.  Surely he is not the first person to note that dogs sense what people are feeling, but he stresses how important it is to emanate a certain confidence; no amount of commands or volume can overcome your command presence (or lack there of).  And here is an example of how this works as dogs communicate with each other, although I must say the ending in this scenario is not typical of what occurs on a regular basis in our house.  But I guess the pack leader is willing to give in once in a while.


Watch Jack and Chloe in "Canine Negotiation"