Activities For Jack-Rat Terriers
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Introduction
Jack-Rat Terriers are a small but mighty hybrid of the high-energy Jack Russell Terrier and the fearless Rat Terrier. This breed, which is also sometimes referred to as the "Jersey Terrier," is a furrific candidate for any activities that involve running, jumping, chasing, or hunting, since their ancestors were bred to do just that! These bouncy fur-babies can be quite a handful when they aren't properly stimulated mentally and physically. This breed is very intelligent and curious but is also small enough to find themselves in precarious situations. Keep reading to find some fun and exciting ways to keep both you and your Jack-Rat Terrier happy and healthy!
Doggy Drag Racing
Popular
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Normal
30 mins
Items needed
Lure or Flirt Pole
Activity description
Drag racing, also known as "lure coursing," a great low-cost, sunny-day activity for Jack-Rat Terriers to indulge their high prey drive in a safe way. This field is essentially a doggy race-track where the participants chase a lure that's made of a plastic bag or animal pelt. Not only is drag racing an excellent way for your pup to get in shape, but it's also a healthy way for them to express their instincts to hunt and chase without endangering other animals (or your expensive antiques!). Dogs should be one year old before they begin competing, but they are never too young to practice at home!
Step
1
Practice with a flirt pole
Flirt poles are a canine toy and training tool that looks like a fishing pole with an artificial lure attached. This tool is an excellent way to teach your Jack-Rat Terrier the concept of lure chasing. Make practice fun and enjoyable by using an excited tone and walking with a "skip" in your step to encourage interaction.
Step
2
Make a run for it
After your dog has grasped the concept of "getting" the lure, then turn the activity into a game of chase. Run away from your dog while dragging and smacking the ground with the lure to encourage them to chase and "get" the lure while it is in motion. Over time, try practicing with distractions, such as other people around or music playing. Once your dog has this down, you can start competing!
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Flyball
Popular
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Sunny Day
Moderate
Hard
30 - 60 mins
Items needed
Obstacles
Ball box
Tennis balls
Activity description
Flyball is essentially a relay race for dogs -- except much cuter and fluffier than the human equivalent! The basic premise is that a team of canines (usually four) run through an obstacle course where they trigger a panel to release a ball, which they then retrieve and bring back to the owner or next pooch in line. Flyball is the pawfect sunny-day activity for the fetch-loving Jack-Rat Terrier and their humans since it costs very little to get started. Jack-Rat Terriers excel in this sport since they are super fast and small in stature, which allows them to quickly maneuver through obstacles. Training for this sport is a multi-step process, so mastering this activity will take time.
Step
1
Practice the basics
The first step to mastering flyball is to practice the individual skills required. Your dog will be required to know how to fetch, maneuver through an obstacle course, and finally to trigger the panel that releases the ball. Start small with a fun game of fetch -- sometimes, having a ball-loving doggy friend to show your dog how it's done can help. Alternatively, you can buy a dog toy that has a hollow center for you to stuff some treats in to entice your pup to retrieve it. Practice running the obstacle course with a leash first and give your pup lots of praise when they complete each individual obstacle.
Step
2
Triggering the ball box
The final step is teaching your dog to trigger the ball box. Lure your dog to the panel with a treat and show them that putting pressure on the panel will release the ball. For most dogs this is the hardest part; keep working on this and your dog will be a flyball master in no time!
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Barn Hunt
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Normal
30 - 60 mins
Items needed
Aerated metal tubes
Live rats
Hay bales
Activity description
Both Rat Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers have a very high prey drive since they were bred to eliminate rodents from homes and farms. Because of this naturally high hunting instinct, Jack-Rat Terriers excel at sports that tap into this drive, especially Barn Hunt, one of the newest canine agility sports to hit the doggy scene. Barn Hunt organizations set up a safe space for dogs to track live rats within a maze of hay bales, but don't worry about the rats; they are cherished fur-children who love the sport just as much as the dogs! Since the rats are kept in a metal, aerated tube they're not at any risk of injury. Deaf, older dogs and amputees are all accepted by the Barn Hunt Association, which makes this an excellent choice for special needs dogs who cannot compete in sports with rigid standards. Besides the fact that Barn Hunt events are super-inclusive, they are also relatively inexpensive (or free!) to attend!
Step
1
Set up the course and give it a go
Those who want to practice barn hunting in the back yard before taking it to the big leagues can do so with just a few hay bales and an enclosed metal or plastic tube to temporarily house the live rat. Set the hay bales up in a way that your pooch can quickly maneuver around and over them to locate the "prey." Give lots of treats and praise when your dog correctly identifies the right hay bale.
Step
2
Let your dog "catch the scent"
First and foremost, you will need to let your dog smell the tube with the live rat inside. This will help Fido to catch the scent, which will help them to track the rats once the hunt begins. Jack-Rat Terriers are naturally curious, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting your pup to pick up on the scent.
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More Fun Ideas...
Agility Courses
Obstacle courses are a furrific way for high-energy dogs such as the Jack-Rat Terrier to let off some steam and build muscle while they are at it! Jack Russell Terriers and Jack Russell hybrids are naturally agile and fast runners, so it's no surprise that this breed is one of the best at this sport!
Frisbee
Jack-Rat Terriers love to play fetch and most will chase almost anything that is thrown for them (but getting it back may be a little more difficult!). If your pup is usually more of a ball chaser, try spicing things up with a Frisbee or even a plastic boomerang! Besides being downright hilarious at times, a game of frisbee is fantastic exercise for high-strung Jack-Rat Terriers!
Conclusion
Jack-Rat Terriers have a naturally high activity level, which can be both a good and bad thing depending on the outlets they are given. These energetic critters are wonderful and well-behaved companions as long as their exercise requirements are met. We hope this guide gives you some inspiration to get up and get active with your pooch -- who knows? Your pup may just be a champion fly-baller at heart!