I want to know how to go about getting a dog, preferably from a local breeder.

We were looking at a few breeds: Rat Terrier and Jack Russell Terriers or anything in that "league" of dog. The wife wants a chiweenie. I say no. End of story. I'm a man. I can't be seen with that at the doggy park. Plus, it will become my responsibility to teach and train and clean up after, so that's that.

Has anyone trained Rat/Jack Russell Terrier? How did it go? Easy dogs to train? I had one as a kid (rat) and he was a GREAT dog. Died a little too soon... he jumped our fence and found his way to the neighbor's house... who had a rottweiler... he ate him

Suggestions?

6/15/2008 7:22:59 PM

Consistency is you're biggest thing. start from day one and don't quit til he dies. They're smart so they'll run you for a loop if you aren't vigilante.

Oh and lot's of energy so have fun!

6/15/2008 8:20:49 PM

^ vigilante.... ?

6/15/2008 8:22:43 PM

aha

6/15/2008 8:26:25 PM

lolol

vigilant

6/15/2008 8:35:57 PM

this word... i do not think it means what you think it means

6/15/2008 9:05:50 PM

Contact these people. They are great and will help you pick out the right dog. They know the dogs better than the average "breeder" you will find.

http://www.cjrtc.com/rescue.html

6/15/2008 9:08:58 PM

I did a lot of online research. Looked for breeds who's appearance I liked, then narrowed it down from there based on size, health issues, exercise requirements, attitudes, intelligence, etc.

6/15/2008 10:15:50 PM

yes jack russell's are very very bouncy. they bounce bounce bounce up and down up and down so they're fun but need a lot of play!!

6/15/2008 10:18:22 PM

jack russels are fucking annoying.

6/15/2008 10:19:37 PM

You just have to be firm and consistent with the training of a Jack Russell. My grandmother has two and also has an Irish Jack. One thing you have to look out for is if their legs look kind of bent funny. That's a sign of poor breeding and will cause problems later in life.

If your wife wants a chihuahua, she would probably like an Irish Jack. They look like Jack Russells but tend to only weigh around 10 pounds. I don't normally like terriers but even I like my grandmother's Irish Jack If you are interested, I could get my mom to ask my grandmother what breeder she bought the dog from. She lives in SC so I imagine it was from the Carolinas somewhere.

6/15/2008 10:41:23 PM

I asked my mom if she remembered where my grandmother got the dog from and my mom said it was one of these two places:

http://www.celticjacks.com/
http://www.irishjacks.com/

My money is on the first website since they're located in Wilmington.

6/15/2008 11:02:55 PM

jack russels are fucking annoying.

except for megmurph's that is the coolest dog ever.

6/15/2008 11:47:53 PM

squeeze it for ripeness and check for bruising

6/15/2008 11:48:20 PM

we have a chihuahua/fice mutt and he's the fucking shit. you can talk to him like a person and he pretty much understands.

6/16/2008 1:31:53 AM

Jack Russels and Rat Terriers are obnoxious, hyper, yippy little bastards that will resist you every step of the way on training and love to dig up the yard.

Of course, you're the kind of scum-sucking son of a whore who would want to actually buy a dog from a breeder, so to be honest, you deserve even worse.

6/16/2008 1:51:51 AM

get one from that guy who is trying to kill his gf/s

6/16/2008 2:54:14 AM

FYI Jack Russells in particular need A LOT of exercise and mental stimulation. Or they will destroy your house. And I've never heard the words "Jack Russells" and "easy to train" together in a sentence.

6/16/2008 7:59:56 AM

^^^ I am?

6/16/2008 8:40:01 AM

One of the benefits of the Irish Jacks is that they're bred for temperament rather than hunting. You still need to be firm with them, but they're more mellow and easy to get along with than their bigger counterparts.

6/16/2008 11:09:23 AM

My dad is fantastic with dogs. The rat terrier was a perfect indoor and outdoor dog. In the house, he still had his hyper-love-to-play moments but he would mellow out and sit on a lap too. Outside he was 100%. He could run like no ones business... jump too... which is what spelled his death.

I like the vibrant dogs. I don't want a strictly well mannered indoor dog. I want to be able to play, take swimming, etc and have the dog have a good time too.

6/16/2008 11:13:47 AM

Quote :

"Jack Russell Terrier? How did it go? Easy dogs to train?"

easy? absolutely not. You have to be consistent and firm. They're very smart dogs, and they'll pick up habits (sometimes good but often bad) quickly. The family Jack Russell we have has gotten into some annoying habits because my parents let her get away with a lot.

Despite all that, she's an awesome dog, lots of fun, very friendly, doesn't "terrorize" the house in any way...but you should go into the process knowing it's going to be a lot of work.

6/16/2008 11:14:48 AM

I'm anticipating it being a lot of work. Growing up, my dad had this presence about our dogs that was really uncanny (I suppose he being the dominant male had much to do about that). Nonetheless, he never took classes about training dogs or had our dogs trained. He would just work with them.

It's hilarious. He has a dog now that HATES baths. My dad could just say in a stern voice "Simon... get in the bath." The dog tucks his ears, walks to the bathroom, gets in and sits down and waits.

6/16/2008 11:20:53 AM

my neighbors have 3 jack russels. they are one of the most obnoxious breeds ever. they bark/scream bloody murder if i go in my backyard (b/c they're happy to see me), they bark at cars that drive by, they bark if i start my car, etc.

they're still mentally puppies until 7 years old.

why in the hell anybody ever wants one is beyond me.

do your family, neighbors, and friends a favor and get something that is no so high strung, doesn't bark so damn much, and is easier to control/contain/manage. (i'm sure somebody's going to reply with "oh my jack russel is the polar opposite blahblahblah" but 95% of dogs of this breed are this way)

[Edited on June 16, 2008 at 11:25 AM. Reason : they're called "jack russel terrors" for a reason]

6/16/2008 11:25:16 AM

ok maybe the rat terrier is a better option

6/16/2008 11:26:25 AM

Quote :

"95% of dogs of this breed are this way"

maybe so, if 95% are poorly trained, but they certainly don't have to be that way...ours barks at strangers that come to the door (and occasionally at deer that come into the yard), but not at passing cars or as a "happy to see you" kind of thing.

6/16/2008 11:28:04 AM

^

Quote :

"i'm sure somebody's going to reply with "oh my jack russel is the polar opposite blahblahblah" but 95% of dogs of this breed are this way"

i dont care what you say. my opinion of JRTs isn't changing.

^^the couple of rat terriers i've met/known were much calmer that JRTs. i mean, they still love to run and go crazy but they can tone it down and are supposedly easier to train.

6/16/2008 11:30:29 AM

^ right on... from wikipedia

Quote :

"Although often mistaken for a Jack Russell Terrier, the Rat Terrier has a different profile and a very different temperament. Rat Terriers are finer of bone and have a more refined head. They always have a short single coat—never wire coated. Rat Terriers tend to be less aggressive than Jack Russells; while they have a definite terrier personality they also have an "off switch" and love lounging on the sofa in a lap as much as tearing about the yard. Rat Terriers are normally cheerful dogs but they tend to be more sensitive and at times calmer than Jack Russells to changes in their environment, owner's moods, or to unexpected noises, people, and activities. The "social sensitivity" of Rat Terriers makes them very trainable and easier to live with for the average pet owner but it also means that extensive socialization from an early age is critical. Proper socialization of a rat terrier puppy includes exposing the animal to a wide variety of people and places, particularly during the first 3 months of life. Like most active and intelligent breeds, Rat Terriers tend to be happier when they receive a great deal of mental stimulation and exercise. [2]"

looks like a rat terrier may be the best dog for us.

6/16/2008 11:33:35 AM

"Yeah, man, I know there's countless thousands of dogs all over the state that I could get for next to nothing, and in so doing save them from near-certain death in a gas chamber. And yeah, I know that by buying a dog from a breeder I am basically encouraging this overpopulation and ensuring that in the future even more dogs walk the green mile.

But I really want a purebred!"

You people make me sick to my fucking stomach.

6/16/2008 12:56:17 PM

I have a Jack Russell and am very happy with our choice. He is well trained, they are smart dogs, but can be super hyper. Definitely good if you plan on consistently going to the dog parks. Ours can jump over our couch. A steady schedule is key and so is being very firm with them.

He used to chew when he was a puppy - worst damage was part of the carpet, he just turned 2 and is pretty mature acting. We still cannot give him a soft/stuffed toy or a tug of war rope because he just tears it apart within 2 minutes of getting a hold of it. Bones are the way to go. Loves playing with any kind of dog, neighbors have a female pit bull he wrestles with and the other has a maltese+yorky puppy that is 7 weeks old he lets jump on him. He loves people and he does jump up on anyone he can to say "hi" or get attention, but I did sort of condone this when he was a pup and I don't try to stop him. Plus my family + friends are dog people who don't mind it. When we go to the dog park he first has to greet every person in there and then he will play with the other dogs. He loves chasing birds, rabbits, and squirrels. If you ever want to see him at the dog park by Lake Wheeler, let me know. He still has a puppy face but he has a very skinny and tall body. Super agile. He spends most of his day when we are out of the house sitting at a window, which is next to the bed in our guest bedroom, looking out to the driveway. He loves watching everything outside.

btw, Potty training was ridiculously easy with him. We got him at 7 weeks and he learned everything real quick. He even goes to the edge of the woods behind our property to go, so nothing to clean up.


as a puppy:




[Edited on June 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM. Reason : reason for edit is retarded]

6/16/2008 1:12:51 PM

Why not go to a shelter and look for some small terrier breeds and mixes there?
You'd be helping a cute lil dog out
A friend of mine has a JRT mix and she's adorable, puts her head on your shoulder and wants to hang out but is ready to go and play when you want her to.

But as everyone else has already said, those little dogs are a HUGE amount of energy in a small package. You will need to take it for walks. walks! Not just let it out in the backyard to run around, that doesn't count - hope you have a fenced in yard too. The more tired out they are, the easier they are to train.

Just a question, but why is it going to become your responsibility to care and clean up after? If the wife is going to be so picky about what dog you guys get, she needs to participate in caring for it too.

just to start. . .
petfinder:
JRT/rat terrier mix

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11044722

6/16/2008 2:00:35 PM

Quote :

""Yeah, man, I know there's countless thousands of dogs all over the state that I could get for next to nothing, and in so doing save them from near-certain death in a gas chamber. And yeah, I know that by buying a dog from a breeder I am basically encouraging this overpopulation and ensuring that in the future even more dogs walk the green mile. But I really want a purebred!" You people make me sick to my fucking stomach."

I'll bite. You know what, maybe some people don't want to fucking guess about what kind of dog they're getting, since its often a 10-15 yr commitment. Maybe some people want to know what kind of temperament and personality the dog will have before they get it. Maybe they want to know how big he will get or what kind of health problems he might have. B/c these are things you can almost 100% be assured of when you get a dog from a breeder. Getting a dog from the pound in many instances (esp. a puppy) can be a crap shoot.

So STFU with your high and mighty attitude, you're full of shit.

6/16/2008 2:03:33 PM

Quote :

"B/c these are things you can almost 100% be assured of when you get a dog from a breeder. Getting a dog from the pound in many instances (esp. a puppy) can be a crap shoot."

that is absolute and total bullshit and you know it.

you can't be guaranteed a specific temperament just b/c it's pure bred

take my mom's dog for example: golden retriever. mom specifically asked the breeder to give her the calm, lazy one (b/c mom's getting older and her previous golden was lazy too). lazy is pretty typical of the breed, but she wanted an extra lazy not energetic one (like the previous one). the breeder instead gave her the craziest most energetic rambunctious one of the litter b/c mom mentioned that she's got 12 acres for the pup to play on. when we went to pick the pup up, the breeder said "she'll do real well on those 12 acres you have". we didn't put 2 and 2 together until a few hours after we got her home.

we all love chelsea, but she is insane and more than a handful. she just finished the petsmart puppy class but still needs a LOT of work. bailey never needed any

[Edited on June 16, 2008 at 2:24 PM. Reason : ]

6/16/2008 2:23:25 PM

Sounds like you went with a shitty breeder who didn't give you what you asked then.

It's still safer than going to the pound to get a dog.

Though if you have plenty of money and land, and don't care about the breed then go to the pound - it's the best thing to do overall.

6/16/2008 2:33:43 PM

Quote :

"Maybe they want to know how big he will get or what kind of health problems he might have. "

but dont mixed breeds have less health problems that inbreds.. er.. purebreds..

6/16/2008 2:40:25 PM

Quote :

"Sounds like you went with a shitty breeder who didn't give you what you asked then. It's still safer than going to the pound to get a dog."

There is no fucking way getting the OPPOSITE of what you asked for is better than the animal shelter.

I've worked at a vet and can say that unless you pay a grand or so for a dog from a GOOD breeder you are far better off with a 6 month old+ dog from rescue. Rescue and cheap purebred dogs are all the same level of risk.

I'm probably going to go half way and adopt a police dog drop out as my next dog for agility or frisbee. Way easier than getting a puppy.

6/16/2008 2:50:47 PM

ahhhhh don't buy puppies from breeders. look up "puppy mills" on google. save a dog's life and adopt.

6/16/2008 3:15:17 PM

Get a real dog.

6/16/2008 3:23:23 PM

^^BTW reputable breeders AREN'T puppy mills How much ignorance is there in this thread?!

Quote :

"that is absolute and total bullshit and you know it. you can't be guaranteed a specific temperament just b/c it's pure bred "

Nice try, but thats not what I was saying at all. If you've gone through this process correctly then you'd know that USUALLY you can meet the puppy in question's parents (or at least one of them) and from that infer their behavior.

Quote :

"but dont mixed breeds have less health problems that inbreds.. er.. purebreds.."

That is definitely the case with many pure breds (ie any bulldog, large dogs, etc.) but it is definitely not a blanket statement

[Edited on June 16, 2008 at 5:22 PM. Reason : k]

6/16/2008 5:21:44 PM

^ I kind of have to agree with you when it comes to dogs. We've always gotten cats from the pound but a cat is a cat is a cat.

Dogs on the other hand, you don't really know what you're getting yourself into, especially if you're not well versed in breeds. Now one could argue that if you go to a good shelter, like the SPCA, they should have a good idea of the personalities of the dogs there, but maybe he just wants a bigger guarantee than that.

My grandmother has bought almost all of her current dogs from breeders with the exception of two. You can call her a terrible person but she needed working dogs for her farm. Each dog she bought is bred for a specific purpose. There's no guarantee that if she went and bought 5 dogs from a crappy rural SC pound she would get the same results.

6/16/2008 9:00:24 PM

Quote :

""Yeah, man, I know there's countless thousands of dogs all over the state that I could get for next to nothing, and in so doing save them from near-certain death in a gas chamber. And yeah, I know that by buying a dog from a breeder I am basically encouraging this overpopulation and ensuring that in the future even more dogs walk the green mile. But I really want a purebred!" You people make me sick to my fucking stomach."

I'm not even going to entertain you because you're obviously just looking to start shit. I will buy what I want to buy when I want to buy it. It's a 15 year committment and I want to know what I'm getting. I use a car for 6 - 7 years at a time and I do research on it before buying so why wouldn't I do the same thing with a dog?

6/16/2008 9:50:31 PM

My Jack/Rat is definitely full of energy. But she's sweet and loves playing with people. Hopefully once she's taken her classes she'll be better trained. They're definitely smart dogs though.

6/17/2008 12:44:20 AM

My sister-in-law rescued a black lab. Beautiful dog. But he's scared as shit of everything. He won't even get near humans. They took him to training school and the dog completely folded. WOuld lay down and refuse to do anything.

Good for my sister-in-law that she wants to resuce and take care of dogs like that, but I don't have the time nor the patience for that level of social anxiety. I want a pet. I want to give a shot at training a dog and I would rather start with a clean slate as opposed to a dog with baggage. This is my first dog as an adult (and owner) so I would rather start with a dog that has semi-known traits as opposed to the wildcard that you find at the shelters. I'm all for adopting and maybe I will once I get the hang of actually owning my first dog. I just couldn't handle my sister-in-law's dog, even as beautiful as he is.

6/17/2008 8:43:38 AM

Quote :

"Nice try, but thats not what I was saying at all. "

please see:

Quote :

"Maybe some people want to know what kind of temperament and personality the dog will have before they get it. Maybe they want to know how big he will get or what kind of health problems he might have. B/c these are things you can almost 100% be assured of when you get a dog from a breeder."

how the hell are we supposed to interpret then?

Quote :

"If you've gone through this process correctly then you'd know that USUALLY you can meet the puppy in question's parents (or at least one of them) and from that infer their behavior."

who the fuck said we didn't? we met the parents as well as the other breeding dogs on two separate occasions.

YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE BEHAVIOR. you're a moron if you believe this. there is ALWAYS a wild card.

this is the most fucking ridiculous thing i've heard.

6/17/2008 9:15:58 AM

Grumpy just likes being self-righteous. Makes him feel better about himself.

6/17/2008 9:18:00 AM

a lot of animal shelters do a temperament test on their dogs. they check how the dog reacts to toys, food, people, other dogs, etc. So a shelter dog isn't necessarily entering the dog lottery.

The Durham county APS does a temperament test and awards a "Gold Star" to the best dogs.

http://www.apsofdurham.org/adopt/adpt-dogs.html

6/17/2008 9:37:37 AM

sounds like there are a lot of people that have never been to a shelter or rescued dogs.

Quote :

"a lot of animal shelters do a temperament test on their dogs."

yes they do and having volunteered for several years at the wake county spca, i laff at breeder buyers.

6/17/2008 10:46:03 AM

i went to the wake county shelter yesterday!!!!!

i didn't see any rat terriers or jack russel's though. there were a few that MAY have had a little jack russel or rat in them but ya know it is kinda hard to tell. but yes, all the little ones i saw had GREAT temperament. even the ones that looked mean (the bully dogs). there was even a pommeranian (purebread) that people were fighting over. i'm just saying a lot of dogs go in and out of shelters so the turn over is fast and the will temperament test with people, other dogs and cats. so you could probably find something in a shelter similar to what you want/need.

6/17/2008 10:53:17 AM