8-18 lbs
12-15"
United States
Your Jack Chi is a hybrid canine resulting from the breeding of the Jack Russell Terrier and the Chihuahua, and is a fairly new hybrid on the scene. A renewed interest in crossbreeding purebred dogs has been resurrected over the past two to three decades. It is believed that this hybrid was developed during this period, estimated to have begun in the 1980s or 1990s. A small to medium-sized canine who appears to have been bred for companionship purposes, they have been described as being sweet, affectionate, friendly, playful, alert and energetic. They are considered to be low maintenance in the grooming and care category, requiring only weekly brushing, unless the Chihuahua breed parent was of the long-haired variety. In this case, if the long-haired Chihuahua breed parent has a dominant role in the coat of your pet, and the coat is longer, brushing may be required several times a week. Bathing is generally done only as needed to keep the coat clean and sweet smelling.
Your Jack Chi hybrid family member is the product of the breeding of a Chihuahua and a Jack Russell Terrier for the purpose of family and individual companionship. This is a fairly new hybrid and, as such, there is little history about them beyond the fact that they were developed in the United States. One can only assume that the approximate date of origin falls into the past two to three decades, a time of regeneration of crossing and mixing a variety of purebreds to create these “designer” or hybrid canine breeds. While there is little historical information about the Jack Chi, there is plenty of information available on the parent breeds, the Chihuahua and the Jack Russell Terrier. The Chihuahua breed hails from Mexico and can be traced back to the 9th century where images of a dog resembling the Chihuahua have been found in artwork, written works and other artifacts. Though the history of the origination of the Chihuahua remains shrouded in folklore, they are believed to have been developed in ancient Mexico as a dwarf pet canine. This parent breed made their appearance in the United States in about 1850 and has been firmly implanted ever since. The Jack Russell Terrier originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1800s for hunting and tracking purposes. The small size and compact build of the Jack Russell made them perfect as they were large enough to keep up with the foxhounds but small enough to “go to ground” and rout the foxes from their dens. Today, while their noses remain ever vigilant for those unusual and interesting scents, they are primarily utilized as family pets and companion dogs.
Your Jack Chi can take on the appearance of either or both of the parent breeds, the Chihuahua and the Jack Russell Terrier. The coat will likely be short and dense and the colors of the coat can be black, white, brown, chocolate, cream, golden, fawn, black and brown, black and white, black and tan, brown and white, dark brown, light brown and tricolor. They are described as being a small to medium sized dog, being a maximum of 15 inches tall and weighing between 8 and 18 pounds. They have a dense coat, short neck, elongated but muscular body and large eyes on a triangular head. The ear set can be either erect like the Chihuahua parent or folded or curled over like the Jack Russell parent. The snout, body build, and coloring generally show the contributions from the Jack Russell parent while the coat and the length of the legs are more like the Chihuahua side. It is quite possible that your Jack Chi could actually be under 10 inches at the shoulder! The muzzle could also take on the thinner size from the Chihuahua side. The facial expression will be alert and intelligent with large dark eyes and a black nose. The hindquarters will be strong and muscular to provide the strong, springy gait and jumping ability from the Jack Russell side with feet that can be round and thickly padded or small and dainty with good padding, the padding likely being pink or multicolored. Your cute pup will have a tail that resembles the Chihuahua side, being long and a little fluffy.
The Jack Chi is considered a moderate shedder. Brushing once or twice a week should help to remove loose, dead hair and debris from their coat. Your pup needs bathing only as necessary. Your furry friend will need to have their ears checked and cleaned regularly to avoid infection caused by dirt and bacteria. Keeping up with dental examinations and teeth cleaning will help to reduce the potential for periodontal disease development, which is common among canines. Eye examinations should be done to assess and monitor any of the variety of eye problems, both internal as well as external, which are known to afflict the parent breeds. Check your dog's nails for length twice a month, trimming as needed.
Your Jack Chi will definitely be a delight to have underfoot! Full of energy and love but not easily trainable, this little guy naturally tries to be the leader of the pack. You will need to be very patient and firm as you train, using positive encouragement and reinforcement to establish who’s in charge. Don’t be afraid to request professional help if training seems overwhelming for you and your daily life schedule. Your Jack Chi will get along great with children and other pets, though smaller ones could be looked upon as prey (from the Jack Russell side, no doubt) and some aggression and stalking might be experienced. Early socialization should reduce any aggressiveness toward small children and pets. Generally friendly with everyone, strangers may produce some wariness or caution. Early socialization should help to modify this as well. Be prepared to provide lots of exercise and play for this energetic, frisky pup. Both breed parents contribute the potential for large amounts of energy which will need to released on a daily basis. Not following through with appropriate exercise periods and activities could lead to some inappropriate and unappreciated destructive behavior – remember that your dog is at heart.
Your Jack Chi hybrid is an energetic bundle of love and playfulness. This energy will need to be spent daily to keep them healthy and happy, the need to avoid boredom being great. Taking your companion for long walks a couple of times a day will help achieve this. Keep your dog on a leash when outside as their tracking and hunting nose never stops seeking scents. Also, because your Jack Chi is so intelligent, hide and seek games will keep your furry family member from becoming bored and avoid the development of annoying chewing, digging and destructive behaviors. Because of their small size, they are perfectly suited for apartment or condo living, but remember that exercise needs must be met on a daily basis. It is important to note that, because of the traits inherited from the Jack Russell side, your dog will need to be safely monitored in the yard with a high-walled fence that will be difficult for them to jump. Care must also be taken to prevent digging for an escape route.
