Jackie Boy

[Howard E]

My pet name for a young Jack Russell terrier we are dog sitting for a few weeks. What a curious dog.

Generally mild mannered and well behaved, a bit needy, craves attention, but otherwise, is not a problem.

Found out last night this dog is a killer. Took him out for his final walk of the evening and 10 feet out of the door he took off in a shot, yanked the leash out of my hand and was gone in a flash. About 50 feet away in the faint glow from our front porch light, he had spotted a possum that was dining on fallen crab apples. As possums go, this one is huge....as big or bigger than the dog. No matter, dog was on him in a heartbeat and went straight for the back of the head. JB had this possum in his jaws and was shaking him so hard possum was off the ground. Was making a very good attempt at killing this thing.

Got them apart and in an attempt to get the dog away, had to drag him kicking and fighting back to the house. Dog was nearly levitating in his lust to get back at him. Got him back inside and he went ballistic at the door. This morning, was again off like a shot to the same spot.....desperately looking for that possum so as to finish the job.

I can only imagine what that dog would do to a flock of birds. That would not be pretty. On the other hand, if one could train him to leave the birds alone, and concentrate on vermin like rats and mice and similar threats, one of those could be a valuable help keeping the vermin population down. Almost unstoppable in his zeal for killing those things.

If not, and he found out he liked killing birds, you could not have a worse threat. Like keeping a box of sweating dynamite in the house.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

They are smart dogs. It may be very possible to train him. But it may take a firm hand, lots of patience and consistency.
I'm terrible at explaining such things but maybe @sourland could give you some suggestions.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can't help but giggle at your story - especially the sweating dynamite.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm only sad that he didn't have time to finish what he started...
Mary

 

[theoldchick]

Well, he was bred to kill vermin. Enjoyed the story!

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed with Mary. I'd have waited a bit longer before picking up the end of the leash.

I have a JRT mix. She is supposed to keep my chickens safe. For the most part, she will leave them alone, unless she gets excited, and then has a bad case of "the runs". She will plow through a group of free range chickens, and enjoys seeing them run. Has never put tooth to them. Of course, she gets disciplined when that happens. Her strong prey drive makes it necessary for me to keep her on an electronic radio frequency boundary collar. It works 99% of the time. I had a remote control collar for training her to the chickens. But it broke. Time to replace it. 2 corrections was all It took to convince her that chickens were not to be chased or engaged in any way, shape or form. That training lasted over 6 months. She is a good mouser, and no doubt will be a good ratter if she ever finds one.

 

[lazy gardener]

JRT were used as hunting dogs for the peasants. Only the rich land owners were allowed to use guns and shoot large game. So, the peasants had their little JRT, who would bring home rabbits and other stew pot fodder to provide meat for the poor folks.

 

[centrarchid]

The dog can be trained. Dogs are more expensive than fences when area to be defended is small. It takes as several acres at least before dogs start to become competitive with respect to cost.

With dogs like Jack Russell's, keeping them off chickens may be the easier part. A past neighbor had a couple that free-ranged a beef barn that also supported one of my walks of games. Chickens were well protected as coyotes were not yet an issue. Barn structure was another issue as dogs invested a lot of effort going after rodents. Digging undermined some of the base stones as they were used to keep structural timbers from contacting soil.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If the dog can be trained to leave chickens alone they are a very good poultry guard dog. Jack Russell Terriers were bred by English fox hunters and free range poultry keepers to drag foxes out of their dens, face first with the fox still kicking and biting. The word Terrier refers to "terraferma" and to any dog (not a hound) that is game enough to close with game in its lair and physically dig it up or drag it out.

Jack Russell Terriers and their close cousin the Patterdale Terriers were first developed by two fox hunting buddies Jack Russell and the Reverend Patterdale. They needed a dog that was small enough to ride in a side pocket of their hunting coat while they rode to the hounds but with a heart big enough to tackle a fox in its burrow.

 

[Howard E]

Video is informative on many counts. If that is what a severe rat infestation looks like, no wonder folks have that much trouble with rats. Not sure even a pack of dogs is going to get to those on their own without help with the digging. Maybe over time a couple dogs could thin the herd but that many rats would be a problem.

Also reminds me of me digging in my garden, but replace the dogs with RIR's and how they go after grubs and worms I turn over. Or field mice.

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I am beginning to think I may need to swap the name Jackie Boy for Dr. J, as in Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde fame. Has a split personality. One minute, dog is docile to the point of being lethargic......laid out on the couch doing a very good imitation of something dead......barely able to lift his eyelids let alone his head. Next moment, he comes to life and is a wild little fireball. Is chewing everything , getting into to everything and causing trouble with his neighbor (our existing little house yapper). Dog is bored and looking for something to do. Whoever coined the term "idle hands are the devils workshop" was thinking of this dog. High octane and super smart! Good if you could train him to be on your side. Really, really bad if not.