A Complete Price Guide For the Jack Russell Terrier
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Jack Russell Terriers are active and funny dogs with lovable personalities. They make exceptional family pets and are valued for their companionship and the loving devotion they show to their human families. If you’re considering adopting or buying this breed, congratulations are in order. They have an average lifespan between 14 to 21 years to be your companion. Before you go out and buy a Jack Russell Terrier, there are a few things to know. Purebred dogs can be expensive, but this is just the beginning of the cost. Bringing a Jack Russell into your home is a commitment that you will make for perhaps longer than the average human child lives in the home. We offer a complete price guide for the Jack Russell Terrier, to give you an idea about the average price of a puppy or adult dog, and the ongoing costs to expect.
How much does a Jack Russell Terrier Cost?
The average price for a Jack Russell Terrier is between $800 to $2,500, according to Terrier Owner. The price range is varied because the value of a purebred dog with rare markings, a pedigree, and high conformance to breed is valued high in the dog breeding community. Quality is a determinant of the value of a Jack Russell Terrier, but there are also other considerations, including breeder reputation, health, age, and bloodlines. The initial layout for this breed is the most you are likely to spend at one time unless your dog has health complications. Next, we go in-depth to look at information to help you buy a Jack Russell Terrier for a fair price.
Consider your reasons for buying a Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terriers make wonderful companions and family dogs. If your only goal is to find a suitable companion, you may find a dog for a lower price, if budget is a consideration. Dogs that do not conform at high levels to breed standards set by the American Kennel Club are less expensive when you deal with reputable breeders. If your goal is to raise this breed, a breeding pair with championship bloodlines or rare markings is likely to cost $2,500 each. Show dogs can cost even more.
How to assess conformity to breed standards
It’s essential to know the standards established for the Jack Russell Terrier breed if you plan to show the dog or breed them. You don’t need to be an expert, but knowledge of what to look for in the physical appearance and personality of a dog helps judge the value of a dog. You can find breed standards for the Jack Russell Terrier at the American Kennel Club website. It’s fairly extensive and only necessary if you plan to purchase a high-quality dog. Thorough knowledge of the standards can help you to know if you’re being charged a fair price for the quality of the dog.
Can you find a Jack Russell Terrier at an animal rescue shelter?
The odds of finding a purebred Jack Russell Terrier at an animal rescue are slim, but it is possible. There are benefits and drawbacks to adopting a shelter dog. In most cases, you will not have any information on the history of the dog, its parentage, bloodlines, past behaviors, or health history. If your goal is to adopt a companion, most of these things won’t matter, except for the health record. Most shelter pets are spayed or neutered or must be within a set time. You cannot breed them. The average cost of adoption is from $50 to $300, according to Hepper. The benefit is that you save a lot of money for the initial cost. You also rescue a pet in need of a loving home and make room for another animal to receive care at the shelter.
The reputation of the seller matters
Terrier Owner urges everyone to deal with reputable breeders to purchase a purebred Jack Russell Terrier. Not all breeders are reputable and some may overcharge you for the quality of dog offered. It’s more beneficial to deal with a reputable breeder to ensure that the quality of the dog is as represented, and you will pay a fair price. Reputable breeders put a lot of time, effort, and money into their dogs. They take the parents for regular vet checkups to ensure the pregnancy is going well. Dogs are fed a healthy and nutritious diet, and raised in a loving home. Puppies receive a medical checkup, genetic testing, and their first vaccinations. The breeder maintains all records for the parents and puppies, including medical history, and pedigrees, affirming the purity of the breed, and any special bloodlines, if applicable. The dogs are raised in a clean and spacious environment with room to exercise.
Disreputable breeders operate puppy mills. They raise dogs as cheaply as possible, skimping on the dietary needs of the dogs, failing to take them in for medical checkups, and not keeping proper records for papered dogs, or their health histories. It’s best to avoid these setups because the quality and health of the puppies are questionable at best. The same goes for online advertisements for Jack Russell Terriers. There are a lot of scams out there from hackers who steal information from reputable breeder websites, offer to ship the dog to your address, then take your money and abscond. It pays to do the research and confirm that you’re dealing with the actual breeder, but it’s best to meet them in person to confirm that all is in order with the environment. If you come across a Jack Russell Terrier that is offered at a ridiculously low price it’s best to find out why. Some reputable breeders who are getting out of the business may sell off their dogs at a lower price, but this isn’t generally the case. Some dogs with poor genetic markers or disabilities are sold at lower prices. Some inexperienced breeders may not know the value of the dogs they’re raising, but they may not take the right steps to ensure healthy dogs.
Initial startup costs for a Jack Russell Terrier
The initial cost of bringing a new puppy into your home is the most you are likely to pay at one time, so brace yourself. On top of the cost of buying or adopting a dog, you need to get ready for his arrival with the necessary supplies. Pet Budget outlines a few of these supplies you will need. Your new puppy will need to have his bed. If you plan to crate train him, throw in the cost of the crate. It’s an optional item, but it can help for training purposes. Your new dog will need food and water bowls, nutritious dog food appropriate to his stage of life, a collar, grooming supplies including a brush and shampoo, puppy pads for potty training, a leash, and his toys. These are all necessary items that you should acquire before you bring him home. You will also need a small kennel or pet taxi to keep him safe in the vehicle when you bring him home and take him to his vet appointments.
Other expenses
All puppies need to have routine medical examinations. Jack Russell Terriers are no exception. It’s best to choose a vet you trust, and take your new puppy in for a checkup. The vet will monitor him for developmental milestones, and make sure that he gets the necessary vaccinations on time to stay healthy. It’s best to catch any medical complications that may arise early, while they are the most treatable. Veterinary visits are not usually that expensive unless there is a problem. You may want to consider buying pet healthcare insurance for your new puppy, to help offset any expenses that might come up. Plan to spend about $30 per month on nutritious food for your pet. As your puppy grows he will continue to need new toys from time to time. Puppies are notorious for chewing them up while they’re teething.
Another expense that is worth the cost is to have your puppy chipped. Most animal healthcare clinics offer this service for a reasonable cost. Chipping is similar to a vaccination. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice. The vet injects it under the skin. If your puppy is lost and turns up at a shelter, the finder can scan the chip. The chip contains your contact information so the finder can contact you to make arrangements to bring your puppy home. You can also purchase tracking devices. They’re worn on the collar to track the whereabouts of your dog from your smartphone. There are many electronic devices available. Many are geared to help make your pet safe and comfortable. Most of them are unnecessary, but some pet owners want nothing but the best for their dogs. If you’re a busy professional with a career, you may need to pay for a dog sitter or a dog walking service. It’s difficult to estimate the cost since dog walkers charge individual rates. Your Jack Russell Terrier needs daily exercise. If you’re not able to do the dog walking you’ll need to pay someone else to do it. If you have the time, it’s best to spend these special moments bonding with your dog and getting some healthy exercise together.
Some pet owners invest in obedience and training classes for their dogs. This is an option, but it is something you might want to consider as an expense if you feel that you need the extra help training your puppy. The cost of dog trainers varies from one region to another. If you plan to show your dog, you will need to invest in a professional trainer. Most owners depend on professionals to prepare their pets for competitions and show them. If this is a goal, plan on spending extra for the entrance fees for competitions, travel, and accommodation expenses. You will also pay for groomers to prepare the dog for his shows. There is no limit to the number of luxury items made for dogs. Most of the novelty items available are not necessary. You don’t need fancy electronics to raise a healthy and happy puppy, but some pet parents enjoy lavishing things on their dogs. We recommend keeping the quality high on the supplies and foods you buy for your Jack Russell Terrier. You don’t need to break the bank with the most expensive products, but you generally get what you pay for.
Final thoughts
The Jack Russell Terrier is an intelligent and fun little dog that happens to be in high demand. These dogs make wonderful companions and family pets, but the price is often high. A Jack Russell Terrier with papers costs between $800 to $2,500 or more, depending on the quality and the demand. Our complete price guide for the Jack Russell Terrier is made to help you avoid the common pitfalls of buying a purebred dog. Your knowledge of the breed and the breed standards will take you a long way in assessing the fair value of a purebred JRT. If you’re lucky, you might find a JRT for adoption at an animal rescue shelter. It can save you hundreds or even thousands. If you do buy a puppy, choose a reputable breeder, verify that you’re dealing with the actual breeder and not a scammer, and take a look at the environment where the puppies were born. Prepare your home for the arrival of your new JRT. Keep all the electric cords out of his reach, along with anything he could chew up. Buy the supplies he will need so you’re ready for him on the day of his arrival.
