Jack Russell dog breed

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 puppy 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 keep you right.

They’ve lots of energy so 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 30 minutes.

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 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.

Atopy means Jack Russells are prone to suffer from genetic skin allergies. It affects 1 in 10 dogs.

There are lots of allergens that can affect sufferers. Dust mites, pollen and mould are the most common. Less commonly, they can be allergic to protein in food.

If your dog has atopy, they’ll experience regular ear and skin infections. They may also have itchy eyes or a runny nose. You should visit your vet if your dog is scratching, biting and licking themselves.

Anti-inflammatory medications are given to reduce inflammation. You might also need to avoid allergens in their diet and give them food that has high levels of fatty acids. Desensitisation vaccines are given over a few months to treat the condition, followed by life-long yearly injections.

Regular grooming will help with natural skin cell shedding. Medicated washes and ear cleaners are also available. Other drug therapies may be needed in severe cases, but your vet will be able to advise you of the best treatment for your Jack Russell.

Impacted anal glands is when there is a build-up of fluid in the anal sac, becoming inflamed and infected. The cause is unknown but is often related to diet. You should visit your vet if your dog is licking and biting the area, has redness, swelling, or is dragging their bottom on the ground.

The anal sac needs to be emptied to treat the problem. If there is an infection, antibiotic ointment may be needed and in severe cases, surgery may be required.

Luxating patella is where the kneecap is unstable and doesn’t slide into the correct place. Dogs suffering from this condition will hop rather than use the affected leg.

Some animals don’t require any treatment as it can be temporary. In most cases, surgery is required to correct the position of the kneecap. Your vet will be able to advise you on the best treatment for your Jack Russell.