10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Jackapoo

The Jackapoo is one of the mixed breed dogs that have managed to become popular in recent decades. Based on its name, it should come as no surprise to learn that one side of its heritage comes from the Jack Russell Terrier. Meanwhile, the other side comes from either a Toy Poodle or a Miniature Poodle, which are related breeds. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Jackapoo:

1. Has a Number of Other Names

Mixed breeds are not as well-established as pure breeds. As a result, it is common for them to have multiple names, which are cobbled together using various components of their parent breeds’ names. Thanks to this, interested individuals can tell how a mixed breed came into existence even if they aren’t familiar with them, which can be very useful when it comes to interacting with such dogs. In any case, other names for the Jackapoo include Jackdoodle, Jackadoodle, Jackapoodle, Jackpoo, and Poojack.

2. Recent Creation

Chances are good that Jackapoos have been in existence for quite some time. After all, there were plenty of mixed breed dogs created in the past, there are plenty of mixed breed dogs created in the present, and there will be plenty of mixed breed dogs created in the future. However, the concept of the Jackapoo as a mixed breed in its own right is something that seems to have been popularized in the 1990s. As breeds go, that isn’t very old at all, particularly since some of them can claim to be standardizations of even older landraces.

3. Can Trace Its Name to the Reverend John Russell

The Jackapoo can trace its name to the Reverend John “Jack” Russell. Said individual was very fond of fox hunts, which is why he developed Fox Terriers into Jack Russell Terriers. In fact, Russell was a founding member of the Kennel Club, though it is interesting to note that he never showed his Fox Terriers on the conformation bench. Supposedly, Russell compared his Fox Terriers to wild flowers and the dogs shown on the conformation bench to cultivated flowers, which says much about what he thought about the status of the emerging breed at the time.

4. Descended From a Dog that Doesn’t Do Much Hunting Nowadays

Terrier is a term that indicates a small dog meant to drive foxes as well as other burrowing animals out of their holes. In the case of the Jack Russell Terrier, it started out as a breed meant for fox hunting. However, there was an effort to develop them for badger hunting as well, which resulted in a shorter but stronger variant because of the different needs for taking on different animals. Nowadays, Jack Russell Terriers don’t see much use in hunting for the simple reason that interest in hunting has plummeted following the Second World War. There are breeds that have gone out of existence because of the lose of their primary role, but Jack Russell Terriers made a very successful transition to being household companions.

5. Comes From Either Toy Poodles or Miniature Poodles

There isn’t a single kind of Poodle. Instead, there are either three or four kinds of Poodles depending on the exact area in question. Generally speaking, people recognize Standard Poodles, Toy Poodles, and Miniature Poodles. However, there are some places that recognize Medium Poodles as well. Jackapoos come from either Toy Poodles or Miniature Poodles, which should come as no surprise because Jack Russell Terriers are on the smaller side of things for dogs.

6. Descended From Water Dogs

Speaking of which, it can be said that Jackapoos are descended from hunting dogs on this side of their heritage as well. After all, Poodles started out as water dogs, meaning dogs that specialize in retrieving game as well as flushing out game in the water. This can be seen in how the iconic look for these dogs are meant to help them out while they are in the water. For example, the long hair around the chest provides insulation for their vitals. Similarly, their shorn hindquarters are meant to reduce water resistance while the tufts on their legs make it easier for them to find purchase.

7. Can Lean Towards One Parent Breed Over the Other

A particular Jackapoo can lean towards one parent breed over the other. In part, this is because they haven’t been bred for that long, meaning that interested individuals shouldn’t expect to see the kind of consistency found in pure breeds. However, it should also be mentioned that Jackapoos aren’t always first-generation mixes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, if a first-generation mix is bred with a Jack Russell Terrier for whatever reason, the resulting offspring will tend to lean towards the Jack Russell Terrier side of its heritage rather than the Poodle side. As such, interested individuals should take a strong interest in exactly how a particular Jackapoo came into existence.

8. Can Have a Stubborn Streak

It is very common for terriers to have a stubborn streak. After all, they were expected to engage burrowing animals in their own tunnels, which is the kind of scenario that takes a fair amount of courage. This is particularly true for terriers expected to take on animals such as, say, the badger that possess a well-earned reputation for both tenacity and toughness. Naturally, Jackapoos often have a stubborn streak as well. Something that interested individuals should handle through patience, firmness, and consistency.

9. Smart Dogs

On the plus side, Jackapoos tend to be smart dogs. Simply put, working dogs are often smart dogs because intelligence made it easier for them to learn their roles as well as carry out their roles. For that matter, it is worth mentioning that while Poodles are sometimes seen as rather silly animals, they are actually some of the smartest dogs out there. The fact that Poodles can become everything from circus performers to guide dogs speaks volumes about their remarkable adaptability.

10. Benefits From Early Socialization

Jackapoos are one of the many breeds that benefit from early socialization. Jack Russell Terriers might be more household companions than hunting dogs in the present time, but some of their hunting instincts live on. As such, early socialization can be very helpful for enabling Jackapoos to get along with children as well as other animals.