Jack Russell Terriers are certainly an energetic and lively dog breed.
They are known for their inherent prey drive and love to show off for anyone willing to watch.
They also tend to get a 50% bad reputation for being a bit too protective or prey driven.
This leads individuals considering adopting a Jack Russel to ask the most important question of them all.
Do Jack Russell’s love their owners?
I’m the proud owner of a female Jack Russell myself, and here is what I can tell you on this topic.
So, do Jack Russell’s love their owners? Yes, Jack Russell’s love their owners. Jack Russell’s bond with their owners and family members and become extremely protective and possessive of them with time. Jack Russell’s are a loving and affectionate dog breed.
I get it.
I was worried about this too when I adopted my Jack Russell.
I had read that they can be somewhat unfriendly with other dogs and that they are full of energy.
While being full of energy is by no means a bad thing, an overprotective dog may be a cause for concern.
I was okay with having a dog that was full of energy but wanted to be 100% positive that my Jack Russell would bond and love myself, my wife, and my son.
Oh, and of course, my 5-year-old yellow lab.
If you have 2-minutes to spare, I intend on breaking down this topic a bit further for all of you interested.
Additionally, for those in a hurry or need to skim this post, I wanted to make your life easy.
I have created easy to navigate links directly below that will allow you to skip to any specific section of this post that you desire to read or learn more about.
Here’s what I plan on covering for you in today’s post.
- Do Jack Russell’s Love Their Owners?
- Jack Russell’s Showing the Most Love to One Owner
- My Story with My Jack Russell Terrier
- How Jack Russell’s Show Affection
- Jack Russell’s and Their Natural Desire to Protect
- Cuddling, Interacting and Other Tips to Keep in Mind
- Final Thoughts on Jack Russell’s and the Human Bond
For those of you who do have 2-minutes to spare, I recommend and encourage you to read the rest of this brief post.
By the end of this post, my goal is to ensure that you fully understand that Jack Russell’s do love their owners, how to recognize the love and other tips you can implement to build the bond further.
Here are the details you need to know.
Do Jack Russell’s Love Their Owners?
To recap what was stated previously in this post, yes, Jack Russell’s love their owners.
In fact, Jack Russell’s have a strong desire to please their owners.
This is how Jack Russell’s have been programmed to behave for more than 200 years.
The majority of Jack Russell’s will be friendly and show love towards humans.
Especially their owners.
Jack Russell’s May Show More Love Towards 1 Family Member
Jack Russell’s compared to other dog breeds may also show the most love towards 1 owner.
This is typically going to be the owner or household member who took the time to train and raise the puppy.
We all know it’s a family effort to adopt a new puppy, and adjustments are made.
However, in most households, 1 owner typically takes on the bulk of the responsibility for training and raising the new Jack Russell puppy.
My Story with My Jack Russell
With my female Jack Russell “Luna” this has been the exact story I’ve encountered.
Don’t get me wrong.
She’s been loving towards everyone in my family since day 1.
This even includes my 3-year-old son, who is high energy.
She licks, follows, and wants to be around all of us as much as possible.
However, she has taken an especially strong liking to me and shows her love a bit differently towards me.
It makes sense.
I work remotely, so I have the good fortune of having plenty of time to interact and train her.
I wake up with her each day as well as feed her twice daily.
When it’s apparent to a Jack Russell, that you are the alpha, you can change the script slightly.
Additionally, Jack Russell’s will 100% show love towards their owners when this bond and trust are built.
Now, let’s discuss how to recognize the love and what your Jack Russell is likely to do that is a sure-fire way to know your Jack Russell loves you as the owner.
How Jack Russell’s Show Affection
Jack Russell’s are unique but still possess many of the same personality traits as other dog breeds.
Especially when it comes to showing you how much they care.
A Jack Russell demonstrating their love for their owners can come in several forms.
Here’s a quick list of behaviors that should indicate to you that your Jack Russell loves you and wants nothing more than your love and attention.
- Following Their Owners Around Diligently
- Laying Near or Siting Near Their Owners
- Jealousy Around Owners Interacting with Other Dogs
- Licking, Light Nipping and Playful Interactions
This is how my Jack Russell acts around me at least.
I’m sure some of you have or will soon be adopting a Jack Russell that demonstrates their love differently.
If that’s the case, make sure not to skip the end of this post and share your thoughts.
Let everyone reading Terrier Owner understand other ways Jack Russell’s may show love towards their owners.
Jack Russell’s and Their Natural Desire to Protect
One disclaimer I always like to mention in a blog post discussing behavior and affection with Jack Russell’s is their protective side.
It’s nothing to be alarmed over, but it is something to understand as a Jack Russell owner.
Being protective, guarded or even audible with strangers or other unknown dogs is entirely normal from Jack Russell’s.
In fact, it’s one of the ways that Jack Russell’s show their love towards their owners.
Exercise some common sense to avoid any potential nips or a possible dog fight with unknown dogs.
Additionally, begin training these behaviors out of your Jack Russell’s beginning at the puppy stage.
Cuddling, Interacting and Other Tips to Keep in Mind
A few last items I wanted to discuss involves how cuddly a Jack Russell Terrier may be.
A lot of potential new JR owners may feel like that these dogs are too energetic or too “feisty “to cuddle.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Especially with some proper training and encouraging this behavior beginning at young ages.
My Jack Russell is always wanting to lay in my lap or lay next to me when I’m in relax mode.
Jack Russell’s do indeed, cuddle and show love to their owners in this fashion.
Especially if you reward this kind of behavior from the early years going forward.
Final Thoughts on Jack Russell’s and the Human Bond
The most significant takeaway that I was attempting to point out to the readers today was simple.
Jack Russell’s do love their owners.
Some could even argue that they love their owners more than other breeds of dogs and attempt to please and get the approval of their owners consistently.
Jack Russell’s may have plenty of energy and even present a slight attitude at times, but overall, they are much like any other dog.
Show them love, and they will love and respect you more than anyone else.
It’s that easy, and I wish you luck if you have an upcoming Jack Russell adoption.
If you are still on the fence about the decision, I 100% advise taking the leap and adopting one.
They are entertaining and great dogs to own.
Just make sure to be prepared ahead of time.
Share Your Thoughts on The Topic
I always like to encourage the readers to chime in on the topic of the day.
Do you feel that Jack Russell’s love their owners in the fashion I described above?
Do you think they show love in ways I didn’t list out for the readers?
Be sure to share your stories and thoughts by dropping a comment below.
Luna and I appreciate you stopping by.