Jack russell: care, feeding, illness

It was after the famous film "The Mask", with the participation of the jumping and restless Milo, that the Jack Russell Terrier breed became popular. Everyone wanted the same for themselves smart, active dog... The breed was originally developed in the UK for hunting foxes and badgers in burrows. Moreover, you can even go hunting with them for wild boars, deer, roe deer, birds. In recent years, jacks are more often just pets, not hunters, although they can easily catch and bring "prey" in the form of a pigeon, mouse or rat.

Features of Jack Russell

The Jack Russell Terrier is a restless, restless, active, cheerful breed that pokes its nose everywhere, which is very attached and loyal to its owner. They are born adventurers and hunters, while very brave, ready to defend themselves and their masters. The breed is very intelligent and therefore easy to train and train. Even a child can train her.

Jackie is quite sociable, so they easily get along with other breeds of dogs or cats... Such dogs love to spend time with the owner, it does not matter what you do - just lie on the couch with a book or walk in the park, or go for a jog, they will easily and gladly support any of your pastimes. To keep the dog from getting bored, he needs constant walks and active games with a ball or a flying saucer.

Russells are distinguished by a very loud voice, which can appear during the game or just like that. The standard of this breed is only 5-6 kg weight, height up to 30 cm at the withers. The main color in the color is white, diluted with red and black spots. If you decide to buy a Jack Russell, then get ready for active games, and if you decide on several terriers, then you can safely forget about a quiet life, because a flock of Russells is a hurricane. Terriers most often knit on their own, give birth too, but at first, the puppies need supervision so that mommy does not accidentally crush the kids.

Caring for Jack Russell

Russell care is very simple and does not require any special frills. You can bathe your pet every ten days. Their wool, like wool shepherd, can clean itself. In order not to collect hair on the floor, it is enough to comb the dog with a brush with stiff bristles once a week.

To care for your teeth, you can buy special bones for cleaning your teeth, or brush them a couple of times a week with a special brush and meat-flavored paste, such as can be found in pet stores. Ears should be cleaned every ten days. The nails are trimmed as they grow back.

When walking, try to play more with your pet, let him run and jump. Returning home, it is necessary to wipe the paws of the animal with a damp cloth from dust and dirt.

Russells also need vaccinations every year, treatment against ticks and fleas, and deworming once a quarter.

Feeding Jack Russell

Since the Russell breed is very active, they need a special diet, which will be a source of energy and protein. You need to feed an adult dog no more than two times - in the morning and in the evening.

Almost half of the dog's diet should be meat: beef, horse or veal, in boiled form, you can give chicken, heart, liver, fish. For calcium intake, you can add a little curd. Terriers various fresh vegetables can be given, such as zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, cabbage and fresh herbs. The main meal is rice porridge or buckwheat... Some recommend giving terriers raw or cooked eggs, but not often, about 1-2 times a week.

If you are feeding your dog natural food, then do not forget about various mineral and vitamin supplements, which can not always be found in simple food. If the dog sits on dry food, then it already contains the necessary trace elements and vitamins.

For puppies the food should be the same as that of the breeder who raised the dog. And only after a while you can carefully transfer your pet to another food. Little terriers should eat at least 5-6 times a day, while they should always have clean and fresh water, just like an adult dog.

At any age, terriers should not be given: pork, sweets, salty, fried and spicy foods, bread and pastries. You can spoil your pet occasionally with small pieces of cheese, crackers or rye croutons, or use these treats during training.

Jack Russell's diseases

Russells have very few diseases, most often only a few congenital:

• cataracts of the eyes;
• dysplasia of the hip joint;
• deafness;
• Perthes disease;
• congenital anomaly of the eyes, or as it is also called "collie eyes";
• displacement of the patella;
• Legg-Patens disease.

It can be noted that with an inactive lifestyle and overeating, dogs can be prone to obesity, which does not have a very good effect on the heart and other organs.