jdata
Posted : 2/15/2010 12:41:17 AM
I have 2 JRTs and now a BC. Both breeds are called 'advanced' level dogs for training and ownership. I love the JRT most of the time. Independence trait can be a nuisance at times during training. People think they are stubborn and dumb but they aren't. The breed is highly underestimated in intelligence, I mean come on, they're in the hole by themselves with prey. They are fast learners when they want to be but you really have to make it worth their while. I train both my jacks in agility and they know what is going on. For example, they know patterns, if I run a sequence with a pinwheel, my male will stop and look at me .. "hey, i just jumped that one. let's do something else". My female will do the same thing say for a contact obstacle and she'll stop and refuse and basically give you this look.. "Did you not just see me do this earlier? Let's do something else." They aren't stupid. They are a lot smarter than people give them credit for.
Yes, my JRTs have a prey drive. One is harder to control than the other with the female being the most difficult one and she is the soft one of the two. So for one to bolt is a possibility. Do I let my terriers hunt? Of course. Last year, they got 8 rabbits and one ground hog. Neighbors know to bring their cats when I work my dogs outside. No cat can outrun them period! My little was trained for JRT racing and at 1 year old she did the 40 yard dash in 4.09s. She is SMALL 11" and 13 lbs. That equates to 20 MPH or 10 YPS. Make the distance longer, the speed goes up. My friend in CA that train his 13" JRT for racing does 300' with a speed of 25 MPH. No domestic cat can run that fast! Per height vs speed, JRT is unmatched in speed, this includes the Whippet and GH IMHO which those dogs top out at 40 MPH. BCs are 30-35 MPH. My bigger JRT should be faster than my smaller one, he gets so close and all she does it kick it in another gear and its over.
Energy level.. Yes, they have a lot of it. Do I exercise them regularly? NO! In the early years, yes. But I realized that one you established a routine and schedule, you can get away with exercise. My JRTs are COUCH POTATOES and have an OFF switch like a BC. No BS! When its times to get worked or play, they flip it on. I can get away with 4-5 days of doing nothing. If they start doing zoomies or start to get too busy, its time to work them mentally or physically.
They're just like any other dog, they need a routine and structure. When people see my JRTs, they think they are broken. Trust me, they aren't, they just know the boundaries.
However, since they are terriers, they don't know their limits. My male will go up bigger dogs, he likes bigger dogs and size up. We have been attacked by a GR and he fought back which I ended up throwing the GR back in its yard. Clueless GR owner. So I have watch my Ps and Qs with that one. High confidence and he is a hard dog which I love. The other JRT like I said is soft which isn't a good match for me. Male is a lot of dog with awesome lines. He was suppose to be the stud dog to continue the lines.
Would I get another JRT again? Perhaps but BCs make training so effortless, I love their biddability and focus (focus.. JRTs you have to work at it with them). I would probably do it again if I got the same type of dog I have in that male.