Buckle up your Jack Russell Terrier when in the Car

Is your Jack Russell Terrier your constant companion when you are at home and when you go out in the car?   Does he sit in your lap while you drive?  Or does he move around constantly while the car is in motion?  It seems that more and more dogs are going along for the ride while their owners go about their daily business.  This can be a great activity for both you and your dog and helps in bonding by spending time together.  Unfortunately, some dogs go along for the ride and are not restrained while the car is in motion. 

This is a very bad idea for everyone.  IF you have ever had small children, you certainly would never have allowed them to travel unrestrained now would you? So why don’t you restrain your Jack Russell dog also. We all assume we are good drivers, but in these busy times of more traffic on our roads and being in a hurry, the probability of having a car crash is higher than ever before! 

I have seen so many dogs travel in Cars and in the back of Trucks and Utes, unrestrained.  Also many dogs, are sitting in people’s laps as they drive. They also lean on the door with their head stuck out the window.  This is very dangerous for the dog, the driver, and all the passengers. In case of sudden braking or a crash, an unrestrained dog becomes a missile in the car that can either injure or kill someone as their weight is thrown around the car and possibly out of the car (perhaps through the window). Also what life-threatening injuries might the dog sustain through being thrown around the car?  It is just plain not necessary to put your dog through this if you are prepared to spend some time training your dog and purchasing a proper restraining device.

Proper dog restraining devices come in all sorts of sizes and types, even for small dogs like the Jack Russell, and all fasten in to the normal restraining latch in all cars. Where you normally latch in the seatbelt you latch the dog’s seatbelt in instead.  They are available at all good pet store and supply shops. 

By training your Jack Russell to sit quietly while in the car, your dog will become more settled, less apt to become car sick and won’t be a distraction when you drive.  You can both enjoy the scenery, talk to one another (usually one-sided) and you will both have a pleasant journey.

Drive Safely!

Nick Buys Mariah a Jack Russell Terrier for their First Anniversary

Did you hear  the news about Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon preparing for parenthood by purchasing an 8 week old Jack Russell Puppy?

Well that is certainly one way to prepare…..Getting a Puppy always seems like such a good idea at the time.  Having a puppy is like having a quick crash course in how demanding a little  person can be.  This little person or puppy in their case,  depends on you to feed him, walk him, toilet him, play with him and entertain him.  If you don’t do this, you end up  paying the price.

Having a puppy is not for everyone.  However, having a puppy has an upside to children.  They grow up faster and can be trained at an early age.

Anyone thinking about acquiring a Jack Russell Terrier should invest in Jack Russell Training at an early stage.  The earlier the better.  By reinforcing what the puppy is meant to do he will learn much quicker and won’t end up with bad habits to try and break later on.

The most important thing to remember is no matter how cute your Jack Russell Puppy is DO NOT treat him as an equal human.  If  you do,  you will regret this decision for the life of your pet. Train your Jack Russell to do what is required of him and you wilk be a happy family.

Good luck to Nick and Mariah on their new addition to the  family! I wish them many happy years of  Jack Russell Terrier companionship!

Pet-ernity leave now a Reality!

I read with interest this morning that  not only can you apply for maternity leave, you can now also apply for Pet-ernity Leave.  Virgin Mobile  has offered its employees up to five unpaid days off to care for their new puppy or kitten. What a great idea!

More and more people are opting for pets than ever before! The biggest downfall in getting a new pup is that when they are really young they need constant care and attention.  Being able to stay home for the first week while the puppy becomes settled in his surroundings is a fantastic idea. The first couple weeks after your pup comes home to live with you,  is a critical time to bond,  start training , and show him where to do his toileting, etc.

One such worker at Virgin Mobile who has a three year old Jack Russell named “Russell”  said he was keen to  adopt another  Jack Russell Terrier. This new scheme would allow him time to settle in his new Jack Russell addition. The Pet-ernity leave does not apply to other pets and employees taking advantage of the scheme must provide a statutory declaration.

Well done Virgin Mobile!

Treat your Jack Russell Terrier with more TLC- New Years Resolution

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas with their families including their Jack Russell pets.  Most people take off a  few  days at Christmas/New Year’s  to spend time doing the things they love. This is an ideal time to bond with your pet.

Unfortunately, there are some pet owners (former) that decide after Christmas & New Year’s  that their new pet is not fitting into their family structure. The dog may have grown a bit and is not as cute as it was on Christmas morning.

Early in Jan09, a jogger found a  dog near a park close to death. He rushed it to the vet where a small paralysis tick (common in agricultural areas) was found. It had attached itself under the skin of his front leg. The toxins in the tick  had caused an ascending paralysis. Had the dog not been rescued, the dog would have died as the toxins would have paralyzed the muscles in his chest, causing him to stop breathing.

After the vet stabilized him, he was then transferred to the Lost Dog’s Home veterinary clinic for further treatment and observation. This poor dog’s life hung in the balance for three days.  The owner never came forward to claim the dog. He had no tags and was not micro-chipped. Luckily he has now found a new home.

The holiday period is the highest time in the year when families decide to take on ownership of a new puppy or kitten. Unfortunately the message, ” A pet is for life, not just for Christmas” that has been promoted over the last decade,   is clearly not getting through to some people.

When pets grow up and become more of a commitment, some people decide ownership is not for them and they simply dump their pets.

Pups and Kittens need to be properly socialized from the start. Dog’s need to be walked regularly and the owner should invest in  basic training. New animals need to be micro chipped and de-sexed.

I hope that all owners (of  Jack Russell Terriers & all other pets) have made a New Years Resolutions to treat your Pet with more tender, loving care by ensuring that they are properly trained, fed adequately, micro chipped,  de-sexed and have proper Identification on them at all times.

Pet ownership is a two way street; if you take care of your pet; he will  always be your companion and  will enjoy 2009 as much as you do!

Dangerous toys and Your Jack Russell

Christmas Eve is almost upon us and everyone is rushing around trying to get that last minute gift for that special someone. (Possibly a gift for your 4-legged Jack Russell variety).  This is a timely reminder to pay special attention to the toys you purchase for your dog  to enjoy and also to be aware of the Christmas ornaments that your dog may find interesting.  Many of the plastic toys that are made for dogs now simply do not stand up to the rough and ready chewing that your dog loves to do.  A simple soft ball meant to entertain your dog for hours can be simply demolished in a matter of minutes if not properly made or tested.  Not to mention that the dog may even eat it and that it might come back up again (not pleasant for you or the dog). Its often worth spending a bit more for a durable toy that will last the distance and serve a real purpose instead of  just being cute to look at and cheap in price.

Beware of ornaments occasionally falling off the tree that might be of interest to your Jack Russell. These can prove harmful to your dog and contain toxins that can make your dog very sick if ingested.  A properly trained Jack Russell will know not to go near the Christmas tree.  Some treats made for dogs at Christmas (rawhide and other types) contain colours (green and red) and these can be hard for your Jack Russell to digest.  A toy that looks cute in the shape of a stocking might not look so cute when it is regurgitated.  Just be aware of what your Jack Russell is doing when he joins in the fun on Christmas day.

To everyone, have a safe and Merry Christmas and enjoy the company of your Jack Russell.  Just remember, all your pet ever wants to do is spend more time with you and your family.

Jack Russell Tail causes Appliance to Seize

The mischief our four -legged friends get up to.  News just out suggests that a Jack Russell cross was laying in front of the fan to cool off (after chasing the cat) and got his tail caught in the blades. To read the rest of the story click here… This is a timely reminder  for pet owners to watch their animals near domestic appliances, particularly if they have long or fluffy tails.

If your Jack Russell lives through out your house,  consider putting fans on pedestals so they are up and out of the way of passing paws, tails, fingers, toes, etc. 

In this case the dog was really lucky,and there was  a happy ending for all.  Click here for more information on training your Jack Russell and conditioning your Jack Russell not to chase after animals.

Leo the Jack Russell Terrier resuscitated after saving 4 Kittens

What a remarkable dog ”Leo” the Jack Russell is! “The Jack Russell cross risked his own life to save 4 kittens he was protecting. Check out this link to the entire story!! Just goes to show you, Dogs are very loyal companions and will do what they need to do, to protect all of their family.

The theory that dogs and cats can’t get along has been proven untrue in this case. If a dog and a cat are raised together from when they are young, they can learn how to get along quite comfortably with the other….Also through proper bonding and training of your Jack Russell you can teach him/her how to get a long with other animals.

Well Done Leo! You do Terrier’s proud!

Jack Russell’s & Walking – Do the Two Go Together?

Yesterday, I was walking my Jack Russell in my local neighbourhood.  I noticed someone walking towards me with another Jack Russell, only the man kept stopping and starting sporadically.  When I got close enough, I noticed that the dog kept stopping and pulling backwards on the leash for no apparent reason. He  refused to walk on.  The man was pulling on his leash to get him to move forward, but he wouldn’t budge. He would eventually walk a couple steps then stop again and pull.  The Jack Russell was not interesting in continuing and wanted to go back home.  The truth is some Jack Russell’s are not great walkers.  My suggestion to him was if the dog doesn’t like walking on his own,  have someone walk in front.  If he keeps stopping (other than to sniff and water the trees, etc)  encourage him on Come On, Let’s Go See ….. (someone at home or up ahead) . You can also encourage him with small treats to coax him to keep walking.  These are just some of the ways you  can train your Jack Russell to walk properly along with you.  Walking is great exercise for you and your Jack Russell and its important that whether he wants to or not that you ensure your dog gets enough exercise.

Leo the Jack Russell Travels by Helicopter

Check this story out…..  It just goes to show you there are still lots of caring people in the world.

Intelligence of a Jack Russell Terrier!

One only needs to own a Jack Russell Terrier to know how intelligent they are!  These little dogs have the ability to do big things!  I was going to show you the Jack Russell Terrier popping balloons featured on the Jay Leno show, but unfortunately it has now been yanked from You Tube – due to copyright issues.  If anyone saw the show, I’d love to hear your comments on it.  In the meantime,   Check this video out.  This is a very smart dog that demonstrates with patience and persistence in training your Jack Russell what your dog and you can achieve! It becomes obvious in this video, that the dog doesn’t like doing certain things-such as touching Batman, his little Chihuahua companion. He is still a very clever Jack Russell Terrier.  Enjoy!