I have a jack russell mix. She is practically a white and tan blur when she runs. I thought my childhood dachshund was fast, but she is so much faster.
Also incredibly intelligent, so much personality, and loyal. She's a rescue but I think I'll seek to adopt JRTs in the future, after my experience with her!
Our first dog was a Rat Terrier who was more Jack Russell than the rest of their mix.
Given to us, but let us watch it for a few a days before announcing it was ours, like a dog is a houseplant.
I never wanted my first dog to be a small yap-yap-purse dog.
Threw the tennis ball across the yard and that girl made a sonic boom and was on the other side of the yard a full 2 seconds before that ball reached her.
My first dog was a Jack Russell I got when I was 23. Fast as greased lightning! We shared the same birthday. He was with me til I turned 40. His name was Ivan.
We had our Bella and Bobby til they were 17 too (and before them a long line of JRs, after starting out with a Boxer in my early childhood). They are full of pep, and have a napoleon, I can conquer all, attitude. Fantastic dogs!
Similar experience but with an Italian Greyhound mixed with a Chihuahua (something I like to call a Mexican Greyhound). Just like you described, personality to spare and so much fun to play with. Loved nothing more than to spend time with humans or sleep. Also, if you could convince her not to be lazy she was speed incarnate.
I've had Jacks for years (My youngest of 4 dogs is one). The rat, when we got her, was a really super shy pound pup. She has slowly stepped out of that, and now loves ball in the house but doesn't play well outside, except with the other dogs. She loves to play with the JRT and the Great Dane.
Lily, the second day I had her, tried to escape. And kind of succeeded. The rescue warned me she was a flight risk. But fuck she was so fast. I left the door open for a few seconds to grab a package next to the door and she darted out.
Cue me running down the street screaming, "Lily!" like a crazy person and her just bolting away. I, even in an adrenaline rush, could absolutely not keep up with her. She was like 4x faster than me. Minimum.
I don't believe in a deity, but if I did, what happened next was divine intervention.
I was with my very kind neighbor who was helping me, sobbing (naturally) as we searched for her; one of her friends from church called her asking if she knew of a lost dog. It was Lily. They, in their minivan, drove next to her and scooped her up. I tried to give them monetary compensation but they refused. I gained a little bit of faith in humanity, that day.
Never had the door open for longer than .5 milliseconds after that, but after a few months, I didn't have to. She became a Velcro dog that never wanted to leave my side.
But that second day gave me a damned near heart attack. I have never panicked so hard in my life.
We got one from a breeder. Named him sparky and he ruined us. Could teach him things after 3–4 times. Learned how to ring the bell to go outside or if you say the word outside. Anyways he died around 15 yrs old which is pretty good for a Jack Russell. All the dogs we have had since then seen dumb as shit. Happy but so damn dumb.
I have a JR as well. Very, very smart and sensitive dog.
He was watching me tidy away his toys one day and started to help me tidy as well, with the reward of a treat. If I’m ever having a nightmare, he’ll wake me up just staring at me checking I’m ok.
4.0k
u/MichaelFusion44 1d ago
That was so awesome