How to calm a Jack Russell terrier puppy or adult – 8 ways to tire out a Jack Russell

If you need to know how to calm a Jack Russell terrier they may be taking over your life and making it difficult to get anything else done.

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There are different ways to tire out your Jack Russell terrier, but our favourite tricks are based on three important elements that target the physical and mental activity of your dog and initiate the energy-burning process.

These three elements are;

  • Socialization
  • Mental Stimulation
  • Physical Exercise

All of these are important, and you must consider them while making an exercise plan for your Jack Russell Terrier. 

Although the Jack Russell terrier is a good breed to have, even experienced pet parents find it quite difficult to train a Jack Russell terrier. You have to put a lot of work  into training them to keep them busy.

But once you are on the right track, they are the most affectionate and lively dogs to have in your family. They make great companions and keep you as busy as they are!

How to tire out a Jack Russell puppy

Running and walking 

How to exercise a Jack Russell terrier? For most dog breeds running and walking are enough for them to tire out and complete their exercise plan. But for working dogs like Jack Russell terriers, it is the bare minimum of exercise you can give to your dog. 

They need to burn energy otherwise they may have problems with excessive barking or separation anxiety.

Swimming 

How much exercise does a Jack Russell need? The short answer is a lot.

Water exercises are somewhat more strenuous than land based exercises as water acts as a resisting force, and your dog has to burn more energy.

Teaching a Jack Russell terrier to swim is a great addition to your exercise plan.

But it isn’t necessary to swim every time you see water; playing beside a beach or a pool is a great way of stimulating and exercising your pup.

Jack Russell Barking constantly - how to calm a Jack Russell terrier

The training never stops

If your JRT is not familiar with any commands, start with teaching them the basic commands and then shift to more advanced training.

Even if your terrier knows all the commands and has trained well, don’t discontinue the process; make them practice whenever they can.

That includes when out on walks, at home, in town, or at the beach.

Read the full guide on how to train a Jack Russell terrier the right way here.

Stimulate the mind to bring the calm

Jack Russell terriers need both mental stimulation and physical exercise to keep them sane.

If your dog behaves negatively even with sufficient exercise, they may be missing the mental stimulation part, and you may need to work on it with fun training games like these.

Games based training helps to build the bond between you and your dog and establish ground rules that you can both see rewards from.

Use your space

People who have a yard with good fences should definitely utilize their outdoor space to tire out their Jack Russell terriers.

You can set your yard so that it gives passive training to your terriers without you having to tire yourself out.

Get an automatic ball thrower or tennis ball gun like this one to keep your Jack Russell entertained for hours. 

Just make sure that your yard is safe for your dog; you don’t want your pup to injure themselves in the process.

Toys are great for mental stimulation

How to keep Jack Russell busy? We can’t always be around to play with our dogs and that’s where toys come in.

Some Jack Russell terriers are not that interested in toys, and you have to develop the interaction between your dog and the toys.

Buying durable and safe toys is a great way of developing your dogs independence.

Read this guide to the must have essentials for Jack Russells including indestructible toys for Jack Russells.

Training a Jack Russell puppy with games

Zoomies

Zoomies are the occasional bursts of energy that your dog might have, and usually, it makes the dogs run in circles or spin around at great speed.

The food they eat can play a huge role in energy levels, try a well balanced diet to even out their behaviour.

Experiencing zoomies can be both startling and frustrating at the same time, but you have to make peace with them because you are going to witness them a lot while parenting a Jack Russell!

Do you know your pronking from your splooting? Read these 10 weird dog behaviours explained, and which ones to worry about.

Let your family and kids tire out a Jack Russell terrier

Jack Russell terriers are very affectionate, but are Jack Russell terriers good with children?

As long as they are given boundaries, and the kids stick to the rules, they can develop a great bond with children and all family members.

Let your children play with them in the yard, or take them to a picnic place or someplace near the lake to play different games like fetch.

Always supervise to ensure your child’s and your dogs’ safety before you let them play.

How to calm a Jack Russell terrier conclusion

Jack Russell terriers are cute little packets of energy that you need to keep busy in order to keep them sane and positive.

Unfortunately, if you don’t have the energy and time to train your Jack Russell terrier, it’s not the best dog breed for you. 

But the rewards to owning a well behaved Jack Russell are endless.

If you have only just decided to own a Jack Russell terrier don’t forget to try adoption, because even if they are pure breeds, they still end up in shelters and adoption houses.

This guest post was written by Myrah – Author Bio:

Myrah Abrar is a computer science graduate with a passion for web development and digital marketing. She writes blog articles for best family dogs.

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