Starting your puppy on the right diet is important. Where possible, you should use the same food as the dog breeder to prevent an upset tummy. If you want to change the dog food, you need to change it slowly by adding small amounts of the new food to the original food.

As your Jack Russell grows, make sure you change from puppy food to adult dog food. Tailoring their diet helps to make sure your dog is getting the correct nutrients for their age. It’s easy for them to become overweight so you’ll need to know how much to feed a Jack Russell. Puppies should be fed three or four times a day, but as they get older, you should only feed them once or twice a day.

Jack Russells prefer to eat small biscuits. Make sure the dry dog food is suited to the size of your dog. Food packaging will provide guidance on suitability and portion size to help you serve the right amount.

There are three types of Jack Russell coats – smooth, broken and rough. So, whether you have a wire haired or long haired Jack Russell, their coats are low maintenance. To minimise the amount of fur on the floor and furniture, you should brush your dog once a week; removing any loose fur and keeping their coat clean and smooth.

A true hunting dog, Jack Russells love exploring and have lots of energy, so they should be exercised daily. Puppy legs can get tired easily; however, you should aim to walk an adult Jack Russell twice a day, for at least one hour.

Their exercise doesn’t have to be limited to walks – playtime can count too! Keeping your dog exercised for an hour a day keeps their mind and body active. It will also prevent any destructive behaviour that might creep in if they become bored.

Jack Russells learn quickly and are eager to please, and training them will help prevent bad behaviour. Training classes are a great way to pick up tips and give your Jack Russell a chance to socialise. For better results, include toys and treats as part of their training; making it fun and delicious for your dog.

Puppy toilet training tends to be easy with this breed and can be included with their dog training too.

The Jack Russell has a lifespan of 13 to 16 years. They’re a generally healthy breed with little health issues. However, covering your dog with Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance can help to keep them protected if the worst happens.

Yes, Jack Russells are intelligent dogs and were bred for hunting. This means that they can follow commands and work well with other dogs.

The Jack Russell Terrier is an early British fox hunter. Their long legs and flexible bodies make them excellent hunters. They’re also small enough to get into dens and lure the prey out.

Yes, Jack Russells bark a lot and can be very vocal. They are bred to hunt and will bark to let their owner know that they have found prey. Their bark is part of their character and is completely normal behaviour.