O/T Help / advise needed

My sister in law is going to be breeding her Jack Russell soon and she can either have a pup or the money from a puppy. Now she knows that we want a dog and has offered us a puppy.
now my dilema is, has anyone got a Jack Russell or terrier type of dog that is good with children. i have a 3 year old boy and i dont want him to get hurt. my sister in laws Jack doesnt really get on with my son (dog whisperer thing).

Do some research into the breed first huni, that would be my advice, especially with children in the equation.
Personal experience of Jack Russells are that they are highly strung. However, all dogs have a temprement of some kind.
We adopted a border collie that loved older children. My Daughter came on the scene, he loved her at first, but the minute that she started to walk, he would growl nastily at her. I didnt want to run the risk of him biting her, so he now lives with my Parents and their dog and he couldnt be happier, he still sees us, but he's still tetchy around my Little one.

Hi,

My husbands family have had JR's all their life and they have recommended them to us as a pet for our little girl (2 last week and she already wants doggie doggie doggie doggie mummy).

My husband says that he loved his 2 pooches when he was a kid, I believe they used to sleep on his bed, he was only 2 when they had their first one and grew up with them until he moved out.

His sisters children also get on very well with them, they have been trained well and to my knowledge there hasn't been any incidents.
As an aside, which I'm sure you know - they don't let the dogs (well dog now as they currently only have 1) play with dolls, or teddies that could look like humans as apparently this can be confusing for a dog, they are OK to play with 'still' doll but not the one that 'moves'.

I've not been a dog lover and they really don't bother me, they are really nice.

Hope this helps.

We have jack russles, yes are they little tykes but its all to do with training from the very start.

i was advised that when you get a dog like a Jack, when they are eating you should put your hand in the food and move it around, and once you know the dog is okay then everyone in your family should do it so that the dog learns who is boss. what is your opinion. any tips would be appreciated.

IMO a Jack Russell is not suitable for a family with young children,they are working dogs and need to be kepy active,mind and body,if you want a dog get one with a known suitability to young children,dont just take it coz its free, will cost you more in the long run.Good luck with choosing, a dog can be a fantastic addition to a family and be with you for many years.

no, its not free, still have to pay for the dog, sort of. (Vinnie wont be fathering any more pups). I was brought up with working dogs (border collies) so it is not as if i'm not used to the work that goes with them. i am just concerned that i wont be able to train her to accept my son as her pack leader (another quote from DW)

My nan used to have a Jack Russle and it was very highly strung. It didn't like small childen and used to snap at them. A friend also had a Jack Russle and had to get rid of it when she had a child. I have never had the breed myself, but I have been told that they are not a good choice for a family with small children as they tend to be quite boistrious by nature. That certainly seems to be the experience of people I know.

I'd suggest doing some research oline and in dog books before you make a decsion about any breed. They normally give good advice about the usual tempremant of a breed. Although there are of course bad apples in every barrel some dogs have stronger gaurding insticts or than others. I believe that collies, labradours, retrivers and spaniels have good reputations as reliable family dogs.

My parents have a flat coated retriver and he is the most gentle, beautiful dog in the whole world. Although to be honest I would be a bit wary even leaving him alone with small children. I'm quite paranoid after hearng about situatons where small children have done things to hurt a dog (without meaning to) - for example sticking crayons up it's nose - and the dog has, understandably, instictivly attacked.

Good luck finding the right puppy for you! Let us know how you get on. x

me and DH have been talking about it all weekend. we have decided to go the Dogs Trust to get a puppy as they will look at our family and home and decide what the ideal dog would be for us.
to be honest i would like one like i had years ago. she was my step-families dog and she was perfect. she was black and a mixture, i would say of Border Collie, Labrador and maybe German Shepherd and she was lovely natured.
thanks for all your advise, did take it all on board.

tara40 said:

i am just concerned that i wont be able to train her to accept my son as her pack leader (another quote from DW)

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Hi Tara,
I'm sure you son won't be pack leader, there should only be one pack leader and I think that will most likely be you or your husband.

JR's are, in my opinion, wonderful dogs. We had them when i was little and they were super, not at all snappy. All terriers need exercise, you get problems with them when they are not exercised/stimulated enough. They get bored.

Hope you get what you wish for but with any dog, I firmly believe it's down to training, exercise and discipline. Oh and countless watching of Cesear Milan!!!

jaylou said:

Hi Tara,
I'm sure you son won't be pack leader, there should only be one pack leader and I think that will most likely be you or your husband.

JR's are, in my opinion, wonderful dogs. We had them when i was little and they were super, not at all snappy. All terriers need exercise, you get problems with them when they are not exercised/stimulated enough. They get bored.

Hope you get what you wish for but with any dog, I firmly believe it's down to training, exercise and discipline. Oh and countless watching of Cesear Milan!!!

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thanks for your opinion. will still be going to the Dogs Trust, will laugh if they suggest a JR for us. and definitely love Cesear Milan (and Daddy)