My Jack Russells don't get along

[roland3204]

I have two Jack Russell terriers that just won't get along. They are both female. One is 9 and one is 7. They don't really fight, just kinda push each other around, and never ever play together. I'd really like them to be friends. Any suggestions?

[Dekka]

Why should they be friends?

I own and breed JRTs. Keeping same sex JRTs together is generally a bad idea. For the most part if they ignore each other you are doing very well. IME JRTs aren't a breed that play with other dogs as a general rule once they are adults.

I have had JRTs that enjoy each other's company without playing. Just sitting together, investigating the barn together.. etc that is the sort of companionable things JRTs tend to do.

[adojrts]

Originally Posted by Dekka

Why should they be friends?

I own and breed JRTs. Keeping same sex JRTs together is generally a bad idea. For the most part if they ignore each other you are doing very well. IME JRTs aren't a breed that play with other dogs as a general rule once they are adults.

I have had JRTs that enjoy each other's company without playing. Just sitting together, investigating the barn together.. etc that is the sort of companionable things JRTs tend to do.

Guess my JRTs missed that memo, along with countless other jrts that I know very well that play with other jrts and breeds as adults. Hell my ol girl at 15 yrs was playing the other day with her granddaughter (also an adult).
My young adult plays with a Frenchie and Mal all the time along with any dog that wants to play. And if they don't want to play, she ignores them and finds one that will.

Bottomline, a well socialized and stable minded jrt of any age will play with other dogs etc.

[Dekka]

Maybe some do, most I know don't. They can happily get along but don't rough and tumble play they way, say labs due. Not just mine, but ones that have visited or fostered just don't seem to play the way that the whippets or other visiting dogs do. Seems when talking at trials that most people's (not all of course) don't seem to play as they get older (not counting playing with puppies, I mine playing with other adults).

But just because they don't wrestle doesn't mean they don't like each other. Dekka likes Seren, but they don't play... they run around off leash together, investigating the same things and sticking together.

In short dogs don't have to play to get along. Talking to people at trials it seems its normal (not just for mine) for JRTs not to be big into playing a lot with other adults. I don't think it has anything to do with stable minded. That is like saying all people who don't enjoy rough and tumble play are unstable. I do thing they should be able to enjoy other dog's company though.

ETA Kaiden is the most stable JRT I have met. He is good with all people and great with dogs, even other intact males. He is confident and doesn't have an aggressive or shy bone in his body. Kaiden is well socialized and gets along with other dogs, however since about 3 he hasn't played with another dog.

[JessLough]

Why do your dogs need to play together? If they are happy not playing together, why try to force it?

[adojrts]

Originally Posted by Dekka

Maybe some do, most I know don't. They can happily get along but don't rough and tumble play they way, say labs due. Not just mine, but ones that have visited or fostered just don't seem to play the way that the whippets or other visiting dogs do. Seems when talking at trials that most people's (not all of course) don't seem to play as they get older (not counting playing with puppies, I mine playing with other adults).

But just because they don't wrestle doesn't mean they don't like each other. Dekka likes Seren, but they don't play... they run around off leash together, investigating the same things and sticking together.

In short dogs don't have to play to get along. Talking to people at trials it seems its normal (not just for mine) for JRTs not to be big into playing a lot with other adults. I don't think it has anything to do with stable minded. That is like saying all people who don't enjoy rough and tumble play are unstable. I do thing they should be able to enjoy other dog's company though.

Many of the ppl at Jrts trials, esp the breeders often don't socialize their dogs to other breeds, let alone have them together unless they are paired in runs. Very much a crate and rotate bunch in general. Rule of thumb with many is to keep them apart in N.A, U.K seems to be different from what those breeders and judges have told me. (never been there to know, so have to take their word on that).

That said, still know countless ppl that have jrts that do play with other dogs and breeds as adults.

[Dekka]

Oh I never said none would. Just that its common for JRTs not to be huge body contact players. Take Kaiden, he was socialized with many breeds (I only had him, no other JRTs) He played till maturity and hasn't played since. He loves other dogs, but isn't into rough and tumble play.

Some lines might be more prone to play. But I dont' think it should be up to an owner to want/make the dogs play if that is not their natural inclination. As long as they get along its all good.

[SaraB]

Originally Posted by JessLough

Why do your dogs need to play together? If they are happy not playing together, why try to force it?

This.

I do agree with ado about the jrt's though. At least the ones I have met have been outgoing and do play with other dogs. A few have reactivity issues with unknown dogs but are great with resident dogs.

[adojrts]

[QUOTE=Dekka;1952641]Oh I never said none would. Just that its common for JRTs not to be huge body contact players. Take Kaiden, he was socialized with many breeds (I only had him, no other JRTs) He played till maturity and hasn't played since. He loves other dogs, but isn't into rough and tumble play.

Some lines might be more prone to play. But I dont' think it should be up to an owner to want/make the dogs play if that is not their natural inclination. As long as they get along its all good.[/QUOTE]

Didn't say that they should, agree with not 'making' dogs play if they don't want to or don't get along.
I took exception to you stating that jrts don't as a rule and that wasn't correct on any level.

[JacksonsMom]

Most JRT's I meet just like to run with other dogs and chase and nip. This is just my experience at dog parks and stuff though, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. But almost everyone that comes into the park comes with super high energy which can often NOT be a good thing as they get all the other dogs going.

I would say my dads JRT mix isn't a big "player" either. She likes to run around the yard with the other dogs or play tug-of-war with Jackson, but she's not big into wrestling and roughing around. Whereas Jackson, if there's a puppy or a dog that allows it, will sit there and wrestle, and growl, and tumble around.