and just leave. Ideally, puppies should be raised in the breeder’s own home – not an outhouse, barn, garage or outdoor kennels – in a clean, healthy environment where they can be well socialized and become accustomed to all the various household noises and the comings and goings of different people.
Examining the puppies
If you are satisfied that the puppies are of the type that you want and that their home environment is happy and healthy, study them closely. Watch how they play together and interact with their mother as well as their littermates. Try to gauge their temperament.
If you are looking for a bitch puppy, then ask the breeder to remove the dogs – or vice versa if you are looking for a male puppy. The most favoured colours most people look for in Jack Russells are completely white bodies with black and/or tan ears and round the eyes and a coloured patch at the root of the tail.
The puppy you are looking for should be a happy extrovert who is full of life, bold, unafraid and naturally curious. You should examine the puppy of your choice very carefully.
• Start off by checking that the puppy’s upper and lower teeth are in line – the upper front teeth should be just over the lower in a scissor bite
• Make sure that the ears are clean and not smelly
• There must be no sign of mucus from the nose, vulva or rectum.
If you do decide to buy a puppy, the breeder may want to check on your credentials as a worthy potential owner, and you should not be offended if you are asked some pertinent or personal questions about your home, lifestyle, work, etc. The breeder is not being nosey or prying into your affairs; they are protecting their puppy and ensuring that he goes to a good home where he will be loved and well looked after.
Agreement to purchase
The breeder may want you to leave a deposit to secure the puppy you like. By all means, leave a small one but get a written agreement that should the puppy not be in the same good condition in two weeks’ time when he is ready to leave home, there is no contract to buy.
Some breeders, particularly those who register with the Kennel Club, may offer their buyers four to six weeks’ free insurance and a ‘buy back’ agreement should the puppy not be suitable. Many people who breed the hunting-type Jack Russells are just as concerned about the future welfare of their puppies and they may offer similar facilities.
With either type, you must insist on getting a receipt for the money that you hand over and also ask for the puppy’s papers. If they are not forthcoming, get an agreement that the breeder will apply for them and will send them to you in, say, two to three weeks.
Crates are not cruel for puppies, although you should not leave them shut inside for too long. With some cosy bedding, toys and water, they can become a safe den for your dog.
Be prepared
Now is the time to prepare for the arrival of your new puppy. In the time between visiting him and making the decision to purchase and bring him home, there are certain preparations that you will need to make. Make sure that you have the following items of essential equipment before collecting the puppy:
• A crate which is big enough for the puppy when he is fully grown (this could be used for travelling, too)
• A bed – heavy plastic for preference (basketwork is ideal for chewing)
• Vetbedor fleece bedding for comfort
• Two or three tough playthings and toys
• Two unchewable water and food dishes
• A light cat collar and lead
• A leather collar and lead to fit him when he is an adult dog
• An identification tag for the collar with your address and telephone number engraved on it
• A six- or eight-panel puppy play pen.
When I acquire a new puppy, I always prepare a cardboard box. I remove the top, cut a hole in the wall of the box which is big enough for a puppy to pass through, and then turn it upside down on a piece of Vetbed which I cover with a sweater from a member of the household. Puppies love to go inside; they get a sense of security and even if they chew it, it doesn’t matter – I can always prepare another one.
Collecting your puppy
On the big day, don’t go alone to pick up the puppy. Ideally, two people should collect him as he will need to be held and comforted in the car on the way home – he may never have been in a car before and nor will he have left his family. Take some towels and tissues with you in case he is travel sick.
Persuade the breeder to give you about seven days’ worth of the food that the puppy is accustomed to eating – this will prevent stomach upsets in the transitory period. The breeder should also give you a diet sheet, detailing how often and when he should be fed.
If the puppy is old enough to have already had his first vaccinations, get the certificates to show your own vet. If he has not been vaccinated, do not let him out of the car to urinate in lay-bys under any circumstances – they are hotbeds of infection and it is not worth taking unnecessary risks.
A dog is at his most vulnerable regarding disease when he is a puppy or a pensioner, so, in view of the cost of a puppy and the high fees charged by vets, it is a good idea to purchase pet health insurance. Some breeders will even provide this, at least for a limited transitional period, and the Kennel Club makes arrangements when a puppy is transferred to the new owner.
Fortunately, the average Jack Russell is made of stern stuff and he will seldom need the attentions of the veterinary profession, but you never know what the future may bring – accidents can happen.
Other things to do
Find a vet you respect and like and tell him/her about your new addition. Make an appointment to see the vet two days after the puppy arrives home for a health check and his vaccinations.
Make certain that your garden really is escape proof. Jack Russells are notorious escapologists and the smallest hole attracts them like a bee to a flower. So check for holes in fences, gaps in hedges, gates that can be crawled under, bars that are wide enough to allow a small puppy through, and unprotected garden ponds.
Similarly, in the house, ensure that cupboard doors at ground level are securely closed, there are no trailing electrical leads or wires that can be chewed, and consider positioning a child gate at the bottom of steep stairs until the puppy is older.
Coming home
The first thing to do when you arrive home is to take your new puppy out into the garden. When he performs (urinating or defecating), praise him lavishly. Whatever you do, however, you must not let the children go wild with him; he could get over-excited and leave an unpleasant deposit on your new carpet. He needs some quiet time to snuffle about and discover and get acquainted
