Re: For those interested in 3 ... my story ...

In Reply to: For those interested in 3 ... my story ...
Category:   Behavior Problems
Posted by:  Robby Johnson
Posted on:  March 29, 2002 at 12:15:18

: I would like to briefly tell the two individuals who want three terriers my story:

: 1. I bought my bitch Madison in October, 1999, as an 8-week old puppy, from a backyard breeder, at a horse show. Thankfully she is fine, and is the best dog alive.
: 2. A year later we added Gizmo, who came, at 10 months, from my dear friend who is a very ethical JRT breeder. He is very correct and I love him to pieces. He is the most terrier of my pack.
: 3. In December, some friends who have JRTs, who we were going to visit, rang to tell us about a male they were fostering. These friends are wonderful people, and very well-meaning, but they're not as educated as they need to be (they've bred bitches with prick ears, and are more prone to the "Irish Jack," terrier, which I won't even get started on). Lucky was 6 months old at the time, and they were going to give him to a chicken farmer. I pictured a dog with a bullet in his head, or in the cycle of shelter/rescue, etc., in that scenario so, as we were going over to visit anyway, we took Madison and Gizmo to meet Lucky with the understanding that if they got along and it worked out, we'd bring him home with us. Mainly because I knew I could give him a safe, responsible home.

: Since then, I've told everyone that I definitely know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Jack Russell Tootsie Roll Pop. 3.

: Maddie and Gizmo will both be 3 this year, and they are well past the puppy stage. In fact, Madison would sleep all day if you let her. Lucky will just be a year in May, so he's very much a puppy. He's been to basic obedience, was neutered and chipped 2 days after we got him here, and shows the potential to be a really settled dog as soon as he ages out of puppyhood.

: However, there are more quasi-squabbles now (all of mine are pretty submissive and no one is a really dominant type, thankfully). We stuff Kongs for the dogs and each has to go to their own room to enjoy it. Gizmo has this inert need to possess everyone's stuff. Lucky likes to roughhouse and play with Gizmo, which Gizmo fortunately tolerates. Do I see the potential for same sex aggression developing? Who knows? From what I've read, it can happen at any time/stage of the dogs co-existence. I am prepared for that to happen, and understand it is a consequence.

: Remember, this breed was developed to work alone. They're normally not into group activities. When I throw tennis balls to the dogs in the backyard now, I always have four or five in my pockets, so I can throw in quick succession. If I just were to throw one, I'm sure a squabble would break out.

: I now have 3 dogs to be responsible for: ensuring they're fed (it's obviously more costly), they're happy, etc. Boarding isn't an option any more as it's too costly. I now have to have a house-sitter come in, for the rare times when I don't take my terriers with me. Despite what we know, many dog professionals are predisposed to having a negative outlook on JRTs. So finding a sitter who will put up with them is tough!

: Does shedding bother you? Because with 3, I have to vaccuum almost daily. Do you enjoy a soliloquy of barking? Because if one hears the newspaper man and barks, it triggers a chain reaction!

: What I found, when Lucky came, was that I could manage 2 dogs easily. I have 2 hands. I don't have 3 hands, and I immediately wished I did when we got Lucky. Taking the dogs out to walk is always an adventure. I normally come home with shin splints from being dragged along at terrier speed! (Just kidding, they're actually pretty good.)

: The positives? When they all curl up on you on the sofa, or all climb under the covers with you on Sunday morning, it's pretty blissful.

: If I had it to do over again? Hmmm ... I'll always be a sucker for a dog-in-need, but I also saw immediately that I'd spread myself a bit thin for my other two. I'd have to say no, I wouldn't. It's not fair to everyone involved. With each dog you add you lose the "dog quality" time, and are just getting things done to get them done. Whereas feeding 1 dog took me five minutes, feeding 3 takes me 10, so I lose five minutes when I could be loving and petting and playing with a dog!

: Robby

Response:

Dear Robby,

Thank you for sharing your experience; your trio is lucky (pardon the pun!) to have you as their owner. Best wishes for a peaceful future for all of you.