Appearance of the Jack Highland Terrier
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| The Jack Highland Terrier can be white, white with black or tan markings, or tricolor (black, white, tan). The coat is likely to be dense and double and may be smooth or broken and of short or longer length, requiring at least weekly brushing and bathing only when necessary. Your hybrid may reach a height of 25.5 to 35.5 centimeters and weigh from 6 to 9.5 kilos, depending on sex and which parent breed dominates the biological mix. Your dog will probably have a compact, muscular body with a strong hindquarters that allows the bouncy, springy gait provided by the Jack Russell parent. The hybrid will have large eyes that don't protrude, and a wide set of ears with erect or V-shaped ears that are curved or folded. Teeth come together in a scissor bite and may appear larger in proportion to the size of the dog's head. Your hybrid's feet will probably be round, compact and well padded. The muzzle may resemble that of the Jack Russell or be slightly smaller, like the West Highland White Terrier. The tail can vary in length and can be carried high or slightly curled over the back. |
Temperament of the Jack Highland Terrier
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| Your Jack Highland Terrier is a hybrid that can adopt the temperament characteristics of either of its parent breeds, the Jack Russell Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier. Personality traits that can be inherited include alertness, affection, courage, cheerfulness, friendliness, independence, energy, gentleness, intelligence and loyalty. It is good with children and strangers, but perhaps not so good with cats and small animals, as the parent breeds were both originally bred to hunt small animals. Early socialization will help modify some of these traits with children, strangers and small animals. He has incredible energy levels and will need plenty of daily exercise to expend this energy to avoid the destructive behavior problems that are generally known to accompany boredom. This hybrid has the potential to be described, like its parent breeds, as an energetic, loving and playful family dog who loves to run and play and, as his nose is always alert, seeking out interesting scents is also in his hereditary lane. He'll be curious from morning to night and, if left to his own devices, is likely to get into mischief if left alone for long periods. |
Needs and activities of the Jack Highland Terrier
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| The Jack Highland Terrier hybrid will be an energetic addition to your family. Both breed parents are contributors to high energy levels, and this energy will require 60 to 80 minutes each day of appropriate physical activity to expend. These minutes of exercise can take the form of several daily walks or periods of playtime in the dog park, or high-intensity recovery in the backyard or obedience and agility training and practice. He's an intelligent dog and, if not mentally challenged as well as physically challenged, will probably let his inquisitive nature and sensitive nose get the better of him if left alone for long periods. He's a chewer and a digger, traits that, combined with his level of intelligence, can make him a true escape artist. He should be kept on a leash when walked outdoors, as he will happily follow his nose in search of interesting and unusual scents as he walks. His small size makes him perfect for apartments and condos, provided he is given appropriate exercise opportunities. He'll also be very happy in a family home with or without a fenced yard, provided he gets daily exercise. They can live in rural or urban areas in any climate, as long as they have adequate extra protection against extreme temperatures in areas where climatic extremes are likely. |
Maintenance of the Jack Highland Terrier
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| Since the Jack Russell is not considered hypoallergenic and the West Highland is, the question of whether this hybrid takes on hypoallergenic traits will depend on which parent breed has the greatest influence in the biological mix. The same applies to shedding tendencies, as the Westie is a minimal excretor while the Jack Russell is considered a constant excretor. Coat length will also largely depend on which parent breed dominates the biological mix, with the West Highland having the longest coat. This means that brushing may have to be done twice a week instead of once a week, for example. The bathing issue remains much the same, with both breeds requiring bathing only when necessary, with recommendations to simply wipe the coat between shampoos to keep it cleaner. Of course, as with most canine breeds, regular ear examinations and cleaning, as well as regular dental examinations and teeth cleaning, will help prevent ear infections and periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss over time. Eye examinations should be performed at home as well as by your veterinary professional. Home eye examinations can be as simple as checking the cleanliness of the area around the eyes and cleaning if necessary. |
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