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NOT Considering a Puppy

September 19th, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Updated: We are not getting the puppy referenced in my post. I did more research and agree with those of you posting that a Jack Russell is not the dog for us with cats. Thanks for responding!

Our family is considering getting a puppy. A female Jack Russell. We are visiting it on Saturday! It is a little daunting since as a family we have not owned a dog, only two cats. My husband and I each had a dog growing up.

I now need to read up on how to introduce a puppy to cats and have them get along. I read about them needing to be crated or on leash in the house until we(the pack leader) can control the dog and teach it to not chase the cats.

What else should we know? Share anything or point me to a book that would be helpful.

(In other news, I got another $20 reward from Ooma for referring someone to their services. At this point, I'm making money on my home phone!)

Posted in Family, Snowflakes | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “NOT Considering a Puppy”

  1. Rachael777 Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 12:46 pm 1411130765
    1411130765

    Please reconsider your choice of breeds . JAck Russells are known NOT good w cats and WILL chase. You can not train them away from that readily. Please talk to the breeder, go online, talk to cat rescues to verify this if you need too. Unless you dog is SENIOR and incapable of chasing he will chase and make those 2 cats lives miserable and scary

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 12:53 pm 1411131217
    1411131217

    If it is a puppy and grows up with cats does that make it better, Rachael? I definitely don't want to cause issues for the cats, but reading says that training and crating when not home are key.

  3. Another Reader Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 02:23 pm 1411136581
    1411136581

    I second Rachael's comments. Jack Russell's are TERRIERS. They kill small things, that's the job of a terrier. Terriers have been bred to do that that for centuries. A lot of the Jack Russell terriers surrendered to shelters are there because they attacked or killed a cat or kitten in the owner's home or at a neighbor's house. If the puppy has strong prey drive, no amount of training will change that. Please do not do this either to your cats or to the puppy.

  4. Butterscotch Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 02:28 pm 1411136882
    1411136882

    This is an extremely high energy dog that is meant to be outside ALL THE TIME. The reason they are so popular with equestrians is because they are out in the barn, burning off that energy 24/7. This is not a dog to have indoors because he will destroy your house out of frustration from being kept inside. That is why the breeder will tell you he needs to be crated. And crating a dog like this will be really, really hard for him. Expect to see him chewing the bars of the crate. I think it is great that you want a dog, but this is not the dog for you unless you plan to walk him/her 4-5 times a day, and hour each time. I agree with Racheal777 about this dogs making your cats miserable. These dogs are kept in barns to control vermin, they chase anything that moves...and god forbid they catch what they are chasing. To try and train him/her out of it will truly just frustrate who he is as a dog. If you want a quieter dog to be a nice, friendly family pet, please pick another breed, or a nice mutt from your local shelter.

  5. Another Reader Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 02:35 pm 1411137317
    1411137317

    If you want a dog, please go back to your humane society and work with them. They can point you in the direction of a dog or puppy that is more suited to your household. Even better, check out your local rescue groups. Their animals will have been in foster homes, so the rescue will have knowledge of the dog's behavior. Look for breeds that do not in general have strong prey drive.

    Buying from a breeder will not necessarily get you a better dog. Lots of breeders are "back yard" breeders that breed for a side income. They rarely pay attention to genetics or the behavior and health of the puppy. A mixed breed dog or puppy is likely to be healthier with fewer problems overall.

  6. creditcardfree Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 02:52 pm 1411138365
    1411138365

    Thank you to all of you! I have done more looking and completely see and agree with what you have all said. I definitely do not want to subject our cats to a dog that sees them as prey!!

    We are in no rush to get a dog, and have been looking off and on. The cats come first. We'll keep looking and find the right one for us.

  7. SecretarySaving Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 03:45 pm 1411141525
    1411141525

    Do you have Netflix? There is a show I've been watching on there called Dr. Pol.

  8. Looking Forward Says:
    September 19th, 2014 at 07:40 pm 1411155604
    1411155604

    Just saw this and glad to see you have chosen NOT to go the JRT direction.
    Best of luck in the dog search. . There are many good ones out there. Smile

  9. scfr Says:
    September 20th, 2014 at 11:24 pm 1411255486
    1411255486

    Bruce Fogle's "New Complete Dog Training Manual" would be one book to take a look at (basic, uses positive methods). Puppies are so precious and a LOT of work, especially until they are potty trained. Sometimes rescue dogs are in foster homes so it is already known how they do with cats and if they are housebroken. For me the most important factor is a dog's energy level. How much exercising will you want to do with the dog on a daily basis?

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