A Question On Jack Russells?

I have the chance of getting a wee rack russell pup hes 16 weeksold (not 14 weeks as I put in me last post) & been returned to the breeder.


As I have smalll pets (pet rats) Iv always believed that if a pup is brought up with them itt would be ok she/he would see them as family (so to speak). But have beenn told this is not the case with this breed as they were bred as ratties..... as my lot get free time out of the cage it would be problem even as a pup?

As he still only 16 weeks old i have only lost 2 months ....if i had him at 8 weeks by 16 weeks hed be used to them if you know what i mean? Im willing to put the work in with him as any ppup id have, as any pup hed be wanting to know whats in the cage & have a nosey at them when out but he would be supervised, and think the novelty would wear off.


Im i wrong in my way of thinking that this breed is a no for me because of this?

Hmmm, well I'm quite prepared to be corrected, but I have my doubts that any terriers are likely to be able to control their prey-drive when confronted by small-furries.

At 16 weeks, you'll probably find that this pup is already very much geared-up to chase and kill small animals, and as a hard-wired, instinctive behaviour, this is going to be difficult to suppress. You do often find that terriers will learn to rub along with (and even befriend) their family's cats, but not without a period of pup-chases-cat, cat-whacks-pup, pup-runs-away (repeat ad inifinitum!) However, with a rat, your terrier pup is quite likely to make a kill before the lesson is half-learnt, reinforcing his natural ratting behaviour.

Perhaps the other terrier owners on here will give a different viewpoint, and offer tips on socialising pups and rats. Otherwise, maybe you'd be better considering a different breed.

ps. It's worth knowing that those 2 months you've lost are among the most critical for socialisation of a pup. The socialisation period lasts until a pup is about 13 weeks of age, after which time getting them used to things becomes much more difficult. That's not to say it can't be done, just that it will take a lot more work.

MBLL, just supposing one year on, your JRT massacred all your pet rats, what would you do with the dog?

This dog has already been in one home to be returned, don't be the second to do that!

IMO you will not be able to train a JRT out of it, it's pointless to even try. I have 2 terriers that I would NEVER trust around rats, even if they had been around them all their life!

Either find a risk-free way to have both dog and rats, perhaps put the rats in a room the dog is not allowed in? (and LOCK the door... the first time our 20 week old JRT went into a crate he opened it within 10min ) or find a pup of a breed which will not put your other pets at risk

Personally I'd be inclined to go for the latter.

JMO

I agree with previous posters. I grew up with JRT's who were used specifically for ratting on our farm. You just cannot take the instinct out of a dog. I had a friend whoose JRT's grew up with her pet rats he even played with them when he was young; then one day when he was about six months old he ripped them appart; just doing his job (as he saw it).

Prevention is always better than cure if you were to take this JRT on you would have to keep them seperate; not an easy task at all

My terriers live alongside the rabbits and g-pigs...but they have been used for working so that natural instict is a bit stronger in them. My two behave in an acceptable way around the furries..but i would NEVER trust them completley, NEVER leave unsupervised, and NEVER totally trust them even when i was there.
Prevention is the best thing...we are talking about dogs that for hundreds of years have been bred to go after small things that move fast and do away with them, they have the blood of the truest working terrier flowing through their veins-so a few months/years of socilisation won't undo hundreds of years of breeding i am afraid (hope that makes sense!)

Update the pup in question has now been rehomed near to the breeder & will be kept in touch with.

As for me I guess i wont be getting a jack russel while i have me rats ...to be on the safe side. So difficult geting a dog with rats?