| I would love to be able to say that I
acquired my first Jack Russell Terrier after carefully researching the
breed .... but that's not how it happened!
Dogs had always been an important part
of my life, and there was never a time when a dog once acquired didn't
become an integral part of our family. Our dog was my comforter and
confidante as a child, and to this day, I simply can't imagine my life
without dogs in it!
I had many times noted a sign on a highway I
regularly travelled - a kennel which bred Jack Russell
Terriers. I determined that one day I would stop and investigate to
see what this breed was all about. So one day I dragged my
sister along and told her I was going to pretend to be interested in
buying one, so that the breeder would spend some time with me and show me
the dogs! Who knew what a life-altering journey had begun as we
turned down that lane from the highway! In we went, and to make a long story short, my sister
still thought I was "pretending" until I handed over a deposit on a small
tan and white bundle barely bigger than the palm of my hand.
It could have turned out badly ... I was
living on a quarter section at the time, but informed the "breeder" that I
would be continuing my university education in the city, and might need to
live in an apartment. He assured me that Jack Russell Terries make
"great little apartment dogs", and "want nothing more than to be with their
owners"! But instead of a negative outcome, what happened was that I
discovered my passion for this breed. Instead of moving to an
apartment .... well, since that time, my living accommodations and
surroundings have been centered around what is best for my dogs!
On long walks with Brady, he was finding dens
to investigate, and was so fearless and confident .... sometimes I had to
wait hours for him to emerge, and meanwhile I could hear him underground,
barking steadily. In those days I had never heard of locator
collars!! He patrolled and protected the property, and
brought back all manner of "varmints" on his return - squirrels,
jackrabbits, weasels, - and one day to my astonishment took a leap in the
air and caught the magpie who was taunting him! He routed foxes from
their dens, and once cornered a badger in a granary before I managed to
grab him and take him away from it! Because his determination and
drive fascinated me, I began to do some research to see if he was the
"norm" or whether I had a complete anomaly! And thus it began!
To quote an article that was written after an early American trial:
"Jack Russell Terrier owners are a merry little fraternity,
hopelessly possessed by their dogs". Truly, they own me more than I
them.
Suzanne Hunt |
