Lira Tabarrino at 3 months and then at 4 years
Once upon a time By Mascia Randall © 2005
English translation by Brooksby from the original Italian text
In Great Britain in a small town named Swimbridge in the county of Devonshire on the 21 st day of December 1795 John Russell was born. Later in life he became Minister of the Anglican church. Since an early age he was keen on fox hunting and he dreamt of a companion dog that would have understood his very thoughts. When John Russell turned 18 years old he went to study at the University of Oxford . It was there that he bought from the milkman a small white female with brown ears that eh named Trump. He bred her with various types of English terriers beginning the selection of a Hunt Terrier. John wanted a dog that was extremely intelligent capable of telepathy with the master and at the same time short and small enough to enter into the den of the fox and scare it out. That was how the other dogs were born; Old Jock, Old Tartar, Old Trap - many of the others names are unknown.
John Russell cared not for beauty but selected his dogs for intelligence and physical ability. He dedicated practically all of his life to this breed. After his death Arthur Heinemann- a passionate huter and grande admirerer of John Russell - continued breeding these little dogs. Even though Arthur Heinemann was from Jewish origin he was baptised and entered the seminary to become a preist like the late john Russell, but Heinemann was expelled for bad conduct. It was Heinemann who was the first to call these little terriers with the name “Jack Russell Terrier” in honor of their creator John Russell- Jack for his freinds.
In 1930 a fire destroyed the archives with all of the pedigrees for all of the dogs in the kennel and in that same winter Arthur Heinemann contracted pneumonia on a hunting outing and died. It seemed that all need be started over from scrap, instead thanks to people like Dan Russell, Eddy Chapman, Robert Williams and Mrs. Clark one of the most intelligent dog breeds was salvaged. Eddy Chapman wrote four books about this new breed, some of which have been translated in German “Real Jack Russell Terrier” being one. Today Eddy Chapman lives in England and he is the largest breeder of Jack Russell Terrier in the world. Many of our dogs come directly from his kennels. Peggy Randall, friend of Eddy Chapman became the most famous breeder of Jack Russell Terriers in New Zealand where she founded a new kennel and continued breeding Chapman's line of dogs.
Today Pam Randall continues late Peggy Randall's work in New Zealand while her son Paul Brunett Randall “Mister Tabarrino,” is the largest breeder of this breed in all of Italy, in the province of Arezzo in Tuscany. Paul Randall continues breeding the slyer Jacks with even wittier ones. Sometimes he participates in Expositions realizing that the beauty of his dogs serves as good publicity. But most importantly Paul Burnett Randall selects his dogs for their expression, talent, capacity of comprehension- all this without forgetting that the Jack Russell is a hunting dog.
In Europe in the 1970's the Jack Russell with the square shape (length equal to height) became of fashion. It was believed that a good Jack would have to fit in a perfect square and the smaller JRTs left out of the standard were considered worthless. Some began to cross breed Jack Russells with the more agressive Lakeland terriers in order to have a good dog for the beauty expositions. This crossbreeding altered the character of the Jack Russell: In the foxes den this mutant breed would attack the foxes. This new breed was acknowledged by the FCI with the name of the “Parson Russell Terrier” and for the little Jack there was no place. Only on the 10 th of October in 2000 did the lover's of the little Jack Russell finally obtain acknowledgement for the real brother of the Parson Jack Russell” and the standard was established for a new independent breed, the Jack Russell Terrier.
SMALL BUT BRIGHT
It was thanks to John Russell and all of the others that believed in him that today whe have and excellent dog for companionship: aware of all around him, sociable, not aggressive, vivacious but calm when necessary, with a great instinct for hunting. (Hunts mice, rats, moles, rabbits, and all small animals that hide in dens.) His courage is surprising. He is excellent for truffle hunting. He is capable of adapting to all situations. He understands imediatley the mood of his owner and has a strong telepathy with him. Phsycologists consider the JRT a great dog to help against stress and depression. He is a big cuddler and will follow you everywhere. He likes to ride in the car, swim in the sea and river or lake, you can teach him to fish.
His coat can be of three basic varieties: rough, broken or smooth. But it must be prevalently white. See the Italian standard for the Jack Russell.
The Jack Russell Terrier is an extremely sly dog. He understands if you are really angry or only a little and he will look at you with an innocent smile in his eyes. He likes to be the Alpha dog and knows how to exact respect from all. When he enjoys chewing your clothes, shoes or furniture he does so to punish you for leaving him alone. A Jack Russell Terrier can live easly in a small apartment. If he feels loved, he will always be happy and affectionate. If you disregard him he will become melancholy and even shy.
A SECRET ON HOW TO LEARN TO KNOW EACHOTHER
The Jack Russell is a dog so intelligent that you need only speak to him and he will understand. He capable of establishing a true friendship with you and making you understand that not only does he need you but you need him. A JRT puppy is like a new baby in your home. With children he wants to be a playmate; he does not want to be a baby-doll but a brother. It is easier that a child will hurt a JRT puppy. Usually they become inseparable friends. A JRT with other animals in the house is okay, they quickly learn to respect one another, just don't expect a JRT to become the friend of your pet rabbit, or guinea pig- this would be against his nature. Don't forget that he is a natural hunter. JRTs are great friends with horses the become friends quickly, maybe the horse is happy that the Jack frees him of mice.
HOW TO WARMLY WELCOME YOUR JACK RUSSELL PUPPY
- Bring him home in your arms
- Have him find a comfortable dog bed, perhaps under your bed or in a secluded place away from breezy air current and sources of heat, best of all with your old sweater.
- Have two separate bowls one for water and one for dry puppy food.
- Give him a beef knee bone to chew on – it helps inhibit the accumulation of tatar and cavities- absolutely no chicken, turkey or rabbit bones because the break into shards.
- Do not ever give him chocolate or cocoa of any kind. It is poisonous for him.
- Do not put him in an air-conditioned car, he will easily catch a cold.
WHAT A PUPPY EATS
At three weeks old puppies begin to taste a mixture of ground chicken and turkey meat boiled with pasta that we give twice a day to the mother that is still milking. A puppy sucks milk up until the 46 th day of age.
The weaning of our puppies starts at the 46 th day with the mixture described above. This food we give to out puppies twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening. You must leave the food at the puppies disposition no longer than twenty minutes, when he does not want to eat, put it in the refrigerator and offer it in the evening but warm it up a bit first. Throughout the day the puppy should always have available dry puppy food and fresh water. If you want to spoil him you can give him something from your table, even ice cream, but never ever cocoa or chocolate a poison for dogs. It is good to teach him to eat bits of apple, pear, cherries, strawberries, bananas, watermelon, etc. Fruit contains vitamins necessary that lengthen his life. A raw egg yolk mixed with his food once a week and sometimes a spoonful of sunflower oil will make his coat shiny. You may give him yogurt, cheese, ricotta and even bread, but always dry puppy food. When it is hot in the summer he will not get indigestion with dry puppy food.
TRAINING YOUR JACK RUSSELL
It is easy because he is a very intelligent dog. You must start from the very first moment that he sets his paws in your home.
- As soon as he has finished eating take him out to do his business and remain outside until he does in the praise him
- Observe the puppy when he pees in the house, put at newspaper on the pee. Soon you will have the house covered with newspaper. When he pees on the newspaper praise him.
- When he pees elsewhere put him on the newspaper and explain to him that it is here that he is to pee.
- When the puppy begins to pee on the newspaper leave only one in the house and slowly bring it towards the door, then outside the door and then outside the house.
- If you do this with commitment and constancy, your JRT will understand in a week that it is not the pee that disturbs you but where he does it.
Awhile ago I was teaching Timothy to pee on newspaper. After a few days I had washed the floor and had forgotten to place a new newspaper down. Suddenly I saw Timothy nervously circling for the entire room. He finally found where the newspaper was stashed and he pulled one out with his teeth by himself. At that moment I knew that I could put the newspaper outside; he had learned.
Attention! Sometimes your puppies faeces may have mucus and even traces of blood in it. Don't be scared. The puppy is changing enzymes in his intestine to new food after being used to his mother's milk. After 5 months it is better that he eats only dry food. It is much easier for you and is studied to be easily digested. Remember that in order to train your puppy you must leave him hungry until after the lessons, and then feed him.
THE FIRST NOTIONS OF OBEDIENCE
• First you must teach him his name ( ex. Jack come here; Jack go there…) Everytime that he understands praise him.
• Then you can teach him to “SIT.” This is how: get down on the ground and with a hand put pressure on his back. With the other hand hold his head up high and repeat “SIT.” Everytime he understands reward him with a treat. Repeat this exercise for a few minutes everyday.
• How to make him walk on the lead: Best is to have a choke chain with a ring at the top. Start to walk quickly and do not let that your JRT gets distracted. He will tend to pull. Give the lead a quick light snap and turn on your heel and say, “HEEL.” Every day do this exercise for about ten minutes because he must think that it is a game. Never follow him n the direction that he chooses because you must be the boss and not him.
• How to train him to lay down: get on the ground next to him and hold him for his collar with one hand and in the other hold his reward treat. Move the treat in front of his nose then put it on the ground in front of him. He will want to follow the treat and you push him to the ground. While you do this exercise repeat the word, “DOWN.”
The true secret in the training of the Jack Russell is your constancy and the loving petting that you give your puppy in all of his successes. Don't forget that the Jack Russell is an ideal dog for AGILITY matches where they jump and slalom obstacles and run through tunnels where you and he will have crazy fun. With what treat to reward your Jack Russell? You'll have to discover what he likes best; I know a JRT that would do anything for a piece of chicken but will also for a piece of bread.
LAST ADVICE
• When you need to wash your Jack Russell because he is dirty use only warm water without soap or shampoo or various perfume. These you should use only when you take him to a beauty exposition. It is a good idea to train him to accept a bath after three months.
• When your JRT runs on three legs don't worry he does it for play. But if you see that he is suffering and does not want to put his leg on the ground take him to a veterinarian.
• If you take your JRT to the country to walk there is no need to trim his nails. But if you need to go to a specialist where they do dog grooming.
• Never put your puppy on bedding that has foam rubber inside. He may chew it and swallow it and then that is a serious problem.
• Don't make him sleep outside he can catch pneumonia.
• The best toy for your JRT is one of your old shoes so when he chews your furniture give him the old shoe and he'll be happy.
|
