Jack Russell Terriers have a unique energy and can make an excellent pet for the right family that understands what Jack Russell needs and how to accommodate their personality in the best fashion.
With that being said, the rest of this post is designed to be nothing except a broadcast displaying all of the reasons that you should consider adopting a Jack Russell Terrier and why they make such excellent dogs.
- Jack Russell Terriers Can Make for Excellent Family Pets
- 11 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Jack Russell Terrier
- Are These Reasons Enough to Convince You That You Should Adopt A Jack Russell Terrier?
Jack Russell Terriers Can Make for Excellent Family Pets
Before we begin diving into the individual’s reasons that you should consider adopting a Jack Russell Terrier, I wanted to make my standpoint clear on the subject matter being discussed.
I am a 100% believer that Jack Russell’s makes for fantastic family pets.
Especially for a patient owner who is willing to put in the time to show love, affection, and consistency.
Jack Russell’s maybe a dog full of energy and demands certain things such as exercise and consistency when it comes to discipline and training.
However, for the owners willing to provide this, Jack Russell Terriers can prove to be one of the best dog breeds you can choose to adopt.
Instead of only making that statement and sending you on your way, I want to dive into my top 11 reasons that make a Jack Russell Terrier one of the best dogs you can choose to bring into your family.
Also read: Jack Russell Terriers: Ideal Dog For First Time Dog Owners?

11 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Jack Russell Terrier
Reason 1- Jack Russell Terriers Are Extremely Affectionate
If this is not a good enough reason for any new dog owner, I am not sure what is.
This is a loving dog that wants to please their owners any way they can.
Sure, they may result in some attention-grabbing behaviors every now and then, but overall, this is your new best friend until the end.
An extremely loving and affectionate dog and one of my favorite personality characteristics of the Jack Russell.
Reason 2-Jack Russell’s Are Much More Trainable Than You Have Heard.
Jack Russell’s are very smart dogs.
Yes, they can undoubtedly have a stubborn side to them, and this is when the patience will be tested.
However, when it comes to a dog that is receptive to training and wants to learn, it does not get much better than the Jack Russell.
My Jack Russell is willing to try something new about any time of the day and willing to listen.
You just must be willing to teach and find the most effective methods in order to train your Jack Russell.
Nonetheless, with a little bit of diligence and a consistent routine, Jack Russell’s can learn very quickly and are 100% more trainable than they receive credit for.
Reason 3-Jack Russell’s Will Stick Around A Long Time
When you adopt a Jack Russell Terrier, you are locked into a long commitment.
I suppose every now, and then we have situations where we have a Jack Russell who has a shorter life due to health complications, among other issues, but overall, this is a long-living dog.
We are talking 13-17 years.
If you are looking for a dog breed that remains relatively healthy, lives a long time and is your new companion for the next couple of decades, a Jack Russell is a fantastic choice.
Reason 4-Jack Russell’s Will Help Keep the Other Pests Out of The Yard
You would have to own a Jack Russell now to understand what I mean by this.
My Jack Russell does not let any other animals or pests in our yard without some form of a battle.
She will chase down rabbits, squirrels, possums, and raccoons.
She is fearless, and this dog was naturally bred to hunt many years ago.
Whether you use a Jack Russell to help control these pesky animals on a farm setting or just like rabbits and other pesky animals to stay out of your yard, a Jack Russell Terrier is a prime candidate for the job.
Reason 5-Jack Russell’s Are Extremely Smart
We touched on this when we touched on how trainable a Jack Russell Terrier can be.
However, this deserves its own top spot on my list.
This is an extremely intelligent dog breed.
My Jack Russell was willing to learn commands and tricks via clicker training at an incredibly young age.
However, I have trained my lab in the same fashion.
The amount of attention a Jack Russell is willing to give to you during these sessions is remarkable.
I am talking about a dog that is going to lock in with eye contact and honestly try and absorb what you are saying and what you are trying to teach them.
Not only that, but the speed that they learn new things and adapt to their new environment is crazy to me.
If you want a dog that you can show off to your friends for their unique ability and their skill to show off things they have learned through your teachings, a Jack Russell Terrier is certainly one of the best candidates for you.
Plain and simple.

Reason 6-Jack Russell’s Can Help Keep You Young and Active.
Not only will a Jack Russell Terrier help you keep you young and active, but they should be doing this.
Jack Russell need the ability to burn off some nervous energy and they need a patient owner who can provide some form of energy release and exercise for them.
Exercise is 100% necessary for a Jack Russell Terrier.
While this does not have to be something strenuous every day, it still needs to be a consideration.
A Jack Russell Terrier will have no objections to doing activities such as the following:
Really, anything that you can imagine a leash working with, a Jack Russell will be happy to participate.
Not only will they love it, but you will enjoy the benefits that you gain when you have a Jack Russell that has had the ability to release some of that energy.
Trust me, they are much more behaved dogs when they are provided this opportunity.
For myself and my female Jack Russell Terrier, it is a night and day difference in her behavior when I allow her to burn off some energy during the day.
Do the same, and you will be pleasantly surprised at your Jack Russell’s behavior.
Reason 7- Jack Russell Terriers Are Very Protective
While some of you may view, this is a negative.
I view this as a huge positive.
Being protective does not necessarily make them an aggressive dog.
It makes them an excellent guard dog.
I love having a dog that I know is attached to my 4-year-old son and protective of him.
I also love knowing I have my home-security system laying down by my feet willing to let me know anytime she senses, sees, or even hears anything out of the ordinary.
Put simply, a Jack Russell is going to grow to love their home and those who care for them and love them.
In return, they will go through any extreme to make sure you are taken care of as well.
Reason 8-Jack Russell’s Do Not Take Up the Entire Bed or Couch.
I own a 100lb yellow lab as well.
When he used to sleep in the bed on a nightly base, it could get crowded, to say the least.
Jack Russell’s do not require this kind of space (thankfully).
Jack Russell’s certainly falls into the category of a good lap dog.
If that is something you desire, I recommend the Jack Russell Terrier.
Hands down.
Now, even though a Jack Russell Terrier is a good lap dog, I highly recommend you invest in a good dog bed.
I am a believer that dogs do not to be in your bed or on your furniture.
If you agree with this, be sure to check out my post about the best dog beds for Jack Russell Terriers here.
Reason 9-Jack Russell’s Do Not Break the Bank on Dog Food
Again, take it from someone who truly knows.
I own a large dog as well, and man, he can surely go through some Blue Buffalo dog food in a hurry.
While my Jack Russell Terrier also eats Blue Buffalo, she is not going to consume dog food at this level.
Remember, we are talking about a 15lb dog when fully grown.
If buying recurring supplies for a new dog is a budget concern for you, A Jack Russell Terrier is going to be one of the cheapest options you can choose to adopt.
Reason 10-Jack Russell’s Are not Picky About Dog Toys
Right when I had you geared up thinking you had a cheap and low maintenance dog; I must bring the news that Jack Russell’s are a dog that needs plenty of toys around the house.
This includes items that they should be chewing on.
This is going to be your lifeline in order to protect belonging that you prefer that they do not chew.
Trust me, spend the money and make sure you have plenty of these toys in the home.
I have a full detailed guide about the best Jack Russell Toys here.
Reason 11-Jack Russell’s Can Be Any Dogs New Best Friend
Heard that Jack Russell’s are sometimes difficult to bond with other family dogs?
Not true at all.
My Jack Russell Terrier and yellow lab are connected at the hip, and this has never been an issue.
The key is socializing your Jack Russell to get around other dogs from an early age.
Doing so will make the process much easier and allow you to take advantage of the massive benefit having another dog to become your previous dogs best friend can be.
Yes, Jack Russell Terriers Also Come with Some Potential Drawbacks
Alright, now comes for a few negatives.
I am not going to sit and pretend that Jack Russell Terriers do not require some work on your end.
They do.
Without some discipline and some consistency from you as the owner, you will experience a few negative behaviors such as the following:
But guess what?
It is the same struggles you are going to have with any dog breed, so it is better to just get used to it.
If you do not want to spend any time disciplining and training a Jack Russell Terrier, you likely should not adopt one.
However, if you are aware of what you have ahead of you, then a Jack Russell Terrier can certainly make an excellent family pet for you and your family.
If that is the case, start finding the best Jack Russell Breeders near you and start planning the journey.
It is 100% worth it.
Trust me.
It is that simple friend.
Are These Reasons Enough to Convince You That You Should Adopt A Jack Russell Terrier?
Out of curiosity, have the reasons provided for you above been enough to convince you that adopting a Jack Russell Terrier is the right choice for you?
Trust me, I have been raising a Jack Russell Terrier for the past 18 months, and it has been awesome.
In fact, you can start following my journey with my Jack Russell by visiting and subscribing to our YouTube channel here.
It will detail what it is like to be a new Jack Russell Terrier owner and give you all the inside tips and tricks to make the process that much easier.
Nonetheless, I want to be sure I say this one more time.
Jack Russell Terriers make great dogs for a patient and loving owner, and you absolutely should be considering them for your next family member.
Luna and I hope we have offered you enough reasons to consider adopting a Jack Russell Terrier and hope that if you do, you enjoy the journey as much as we have.
Any Other Reasons Current Jack Russell Terrier Owner Can Offer the Community?
Do you have any other reasons that should be added to this list as to why everyone reading should consider adopting a Jack Russell Terrier?
Be sure to share those thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.
Luna and I appreciate you stopping by and reading today, and we will see you again next time.
Also Read: 11 Weird Things Jack Russell Terriers Do