14-23 lbs
10-11"
United States
The Jack Tzu is a mix between the Jack Russell Terrier and the Shih Tzu. He is a small dog that tends to mimic the body type of the Jack Russell Terrier with slightly longer fur and a slightly smaller body type than the purebred Jack Russell.
This hybrid breed may be slightly sensitive when it comes to some things such as training and discipline, but he does wonderfully when left alone for short periods of time. The Jack Tzu is an excellent choice for a family dog as he gets along with virtually everyone, from small children to other pets and strangers.
This is a very active dog who, although small enough to work well in any size home, needs a lot of chances to get out and exercise. The Jack Tzu has a tendency to become overweight if left solitary for too long, so exercise is extremely important!
Overall, if you're looking for a small dog with lots of personality who will make a wonderfully well-rounded family pet, then the Jack Tzu may be perfect for you. Just keep in mind that this breed can be notoriously hard to train due to a big stubborn streak, so if you are new to dog ownership, be ready for a bit of a challenge.
As a hybrid breed, the Jack Tzu hasn’t had a lot of time to develop a history, and not much is known about their origin. Thankfully, we do know a lot of great information about his parent breeds, the Jack Russell Terrier and the Shih Tzu.
The first parent breed, the Shih Tzu, is thought to be one of the more ancient dog breeds. Bred by the Tibetan lamas in Tibet, the Shih Tzu has always been thought of as resembling a tiny lion, in fact his name even means “little lion”! His big personality and fluffy coat aid in that persona and along his tiny tough nature, his gentle and loving side worked well for being a primary companion to the monks. However, he did get to use his intimidating personality to help act as a watchdog for the lamaserie and eventually earned him a place in the Chinese palace as a gift from the monks. After a while, once the end of imperial rule in China came about, the little lion dogs almost faded from existence. Fortunately, some Shih Tzus had been presented as gifts to foreigners and made their way to England. From there it was only a matter of time before the dogs were recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1969, and to this day the Shih Tzu is popular for his loyal and happy attitude, unique appearance, and big heart.
The Jack Russell Terrier breed started out by being inspired by Trump. Not the former president, but by Trump the terrier, who was owned by an Oxford student by the name of Jack Russell. When Russell met Trump, he fell in love with the Terrier breed and knew he was hooked. Using Trump, Russell developed the Jack Russell Terrier to assist him in his fox hunting endeavors.
This breed was well-known for a flat, compound chest and long flexible body that was perfect for diving down holes after foxes. Although the Jack Russell Terrier was eventually registered by the American Kennel Club in 1993, there was a group of people who weren’t too happy about it.
The Jack Russell Terrier Club of the United States already had high standards for the Jack Russell Terrier and weren’t convinced that the AKC would meet those same standards. Thankfully for that group, the AKC could not use the Jack Russell name as it had already been trademarked by the JRTCA, so the breed is known as the Parson Russell Terrier on the AKC website.
To this day, these amazing dogs are used as hunting, show, and companion animals all over the US. When these two parent breeds are combined, we can see why the Jack Tzu is so popular. They are a small, feisty, independent, and loyal breed who also has a loving and cheerful side that is hard not to love. The Jack Tzu is definitely a handful, but if you are looking for a dog that can do a number of different activities with you and will be your best friend forever, the Jack Tzu may be perfect for you.
This is a small hybrid breed that tends to weigh around 14 to 23 pounds full grown. Because he is a hybrid mix, the Jack Tzu is going to have a varying appearance, sometimes even within the same litter. While there can be a number of different looks for this breed, the most typical one is that of a smaller Jack Russell Terrier body, with a solid build. He has longer legs than the Shih Tzu and a longer face as well, yet the fur follows more of the Shih Tzu side than the Jack Russell Terrier; being either long and soft or short with a mixture of soft and rough.
The colors can range quite a lot for this breed, but all mixtures are beautiful and unique. The ears are usually folded over and a trademark beard and moustache combination decorates the Jack Tzu’s playful face. The eyes of this breed are always alert and intelligent, either being a dark or light brown. The nose is small but appealing and usually black.
While the Jack Tzu is not high maintenance in regards to keeping his fur in an orderly fashion, he does tend to shed quite a lot. This means that he is not a good choice for those with allergies and frequent brushing will be needed in order to keep the shedding down to a manageable amount. Regular brushing at least 3 times a week with a bristles brush and a comb should be plenty to keep the shedding in line and the Jack Tzu’s fur looking great. Bathing only really needs to happen whenever your dog gets really dirty or every few months, as this breed does not have a bad doggy odor.
After bathing your dog, always be sure to dry his ears thoroughly. This is because the Jack Tzu has folded over ears that can trap excess moisture very easily, thus leading to ear infections and irritation. By cleaning the ears and drying them well, you can avoid any infections that may occur. Besides brushing and bathing, be sure to trim your dog’s nails every few weeks in order to keep the paws healthy and decrease the amount of scratching your dog may do when he jumps up onto someone or something. Because of this breed's longer and thicker coat, he can overheat easily and tends to prefer cooler temperatures.
Jack Tzus often suffer from patellar luxation, eye conditions, and other potentially expensive health conditions. Secure pet health insurance today to avoid high veterinary care costs. Our pet insurance tool lets you compare plans from leading companies like Figo and Spot. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
The Jack Tzu is a very intelligent dog who has a bit of a stubborn streak, but also loves to play and cuddle. Based on his background, it isn’t hard to determine where his loyalty comes from as well as his desire to chase after prey. This breed loves to dig, so if you have a garden or a nice yard, be prepared to create a special space for the Jack Tzu that is just for digging. There is no doubt that the Jack Tzu’s owner is one of his top priorities.
Mid-afternoon lap snuggles and following you all over the house are common activities that he will love doing all day long. If you are in need of a watchdog, the Jack Tzu is ready to assist; based on his origin, the Shih Tzu was used as a watchdog while the Terrier has always been a very alert and protective breed.
Although this dog isn’t much of a barker and does relatively well around other dogs and strangers, it is important to work on socialization and training in order to avoid any over-protective nature that may show up otherwise. The Jack Tzu does have a hint of independence which may show up around larger dogs when he tries to show who is the boss.
The Jack Tzu is a little dog with a lot of energy! Although his small size makes him perfect for living in any sized home, it is extremely important to get him outside to get some exercise. Doing so will ensure that he doesn’t become destructive and get into things that he shouldn’t.
Some great activities that you can do with your Jack Tzu to tire him out are training, playing fetch, going for a jog, taking a long walk, or playing at the park with other dogs. No matter what you choose to do, always make sure that you spend some time training, as this will not only tire your dog out mentally, but will also teach him how to behave in multiple different areas and situations. Because the Jack Tzu is small and doesn’t bark much, he can live virtually anywhere as long as he has a place for exercise.
Written by Loreziel Ortega
Published: 10/30/2017, edited: 12/20/2021
More articles by Loreziel Ortega
Hello, May l ask if there are amy Jack Tzu breeders in Swizerland or France. We live in Geneva. Many thanks!
My dog is 10 months old and will play with other males dogs of all ages but when a female dog is introduced he submits puts his tail down and will lay on the floor he doesn't bark or act aggressively towards the other dogs. He has played with a female 10 month pit bull staff mix but female dogs his size he won't play with.
Facts about them it’s a jack tzu
