Jack Russell Dachshund Mix: The Ultimate Guide of the Little Quirky Dog

Meet Jackshund: The Dachshund Jack Russell Mix

A Jack Russell Terrier Dachshund mix is probably one of the most adorable creatures on this planet. They are happy, fun, playful, and fiercely loyal and protective. If there were ever a reason to utter the phrase “cuteness overload”, it would be the moment you set sight on some Dachshund Jack Russell mix puppies. Their little sausage bodies and cute Jack Russell faces combined with endearing Dachshund ears can win anybody over. Their hilarious appearance is a part of their appeal—just think of all the Dachshund memes going around and remember who Jackshund’s parents are.

Also called Jackshunds or Jackweenies, this mixed breed is a real charmer. In spite of their overwhelming cuteness, you need to make sure they’re a good fit for your home before you adopt a Jackweenie. As a responsible owner, you need to take into account things other than their attractive appearance. The critical factors you should consider include their personality, health, dog grooming facts, necessary activity levels, and so on. To help you out, here is a crash course on this loveable mixed breed.

Dachshund Jack Russell Terrier Mix—A History Lesson

Source: otto_daxijackboyee

The Dachshund and Jack Russell mix emerged some 30 years ago, probably in the USA, but there is no definite info on the exact origin of the crossbreed. There are plenty of details on the parent breeds, though.

Both of the parent breeds were initially bred for hunting. Dachshunds were created specifically to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals. That’s why their body is such comedy gold—strong and short legs made it much easier to maneuver through the long, narrow underground tunnels that their prey lives in. This breed originates from Germany, and it came to the USA around the middle to late 19th century. Here’s a fun fact—they were one of Picasso‘s great inspiration! If you’d like to know more, check out these Dachshund facts which will tell you a great deal about this breed!

Jack Russell Terriers were used for hunting foxes. Because even the blood-thirsty hunters of the 19th century felt terrible for accidentally getting their pooch while trying to kill a fox, these dogs had to be mostly white. It made them much more distinctive from the foxes they were hunting, and, therefore, much less likely to get shot instead of the prey. This breed is a creation of a man named Parson Russell, and it originated in England, somewhere in the 1800s. It came to the USA in the 1930s.

Three Reasons Not to Adopt a Jackshund

When choosing a companion for the next decade or so, you should approach the matter responsibly and be adult about it. This mix is cute and happy, sure, but is it really a good match for your lifestyle? Here are three reasons not to get a Jackshund.

1. They’ll be terribly unhappy if left alone.
2. They’ll probably try to eat your hamster.
3. They’ll never go down without a fight.

They’ll Be Terribly Unhappy if Left Alone

Jackweenies will love you with all the strength they can muster—and seeing that they’re a mix of two formidable hunters, it’s quite a bit of force they pack in such tiny bodies. That means that they’ll be extremely sad when you’re away. They’ll howl, and bark, and whine. You’ll get worried and start feeling guilty. The neighbors will get annoyed. It’ll be awful for everybody involved (and the neighbors, too). If you know that you’ll need to be away from home for long periods or you’re generally likely to work long hours, do yourself (and the dog) a favor and get a more independent breed.

They’ll Probably Try to Eat Your Hamster

Both parent breeds are hunters, which means that Jackshunds have a strong prey drive. They’ll go after your hamster. They’ll terrorize your parrot. They’ll try to beat your cat into submission (and likely fail and get hurt. Cats are mean creatures). You can try to avoid this by socializing them with little animals from the youngest age. Still, you’ll never be able to erase decades and even centuries of selective breeding that was aimed at increasing their prey drive. If you have small animals, or like them and are planning to get them, you should choose a mellower dog.

They’ll Never Go Down Without a Fight

Jackweenies have zero chills. They’ll pick a fight with much bigger dogs if they believe they have a reason to. They won’t tolerate any strangers lurking around. They won’t even obey you without putting up a fight, and at some point or another, you’ll be ready to swear that your dog has just told you, “No, you sit down”. They do have the stubbornness of a Dachshund, after all. Jackweenies are not a great choice for the first-timers, so if you’ve never had a dog before, either skip this mix or prepare to dedicate a large portion of your life to training and socializing them. Make sure to avoid the most common mistakes in dog training!

Three Reasons to Adopt a Jackweeny

Don’t get frightened, though, because there are many great things about Jackshunds. Once you’ve made sure they’re a good fit for your home and family, you’ll fall in love with the mix. Here are three reasons to adopt a Jack Russell Dachshund mix puppy.

1. They can be great family dogs.
2. They are extremely lively.
3. They make excellent watch-dogs.

They Can Be Great Family Dogs

If properly trained and socialized, Jackweenies can be great family dogs. They will love the entire family to bits, and their high energy levels make them great companions for kids. Because of their curious nature, they’ll always try to pry into other people’s business. If they live with multiple people, they are less likely to be left alone for a long time, which is vital for Jackshunds’ happiness and well-being.

They Are Extremely Lively

This mix usually has ridiculous amounts of energy. They’re likely to get you to go outside even when you would rather not, which is excellent for your health. You’ll never be bored, because Jackweenies tend to do the silliest of things all the time, and that makes them even more adorable. Their liveliness is a crucial part of their charm, and it’s quite irresistible for most of the dog-people out there.

They Make Excellent Watch Dogs

Jackshunds are suspicious by nature, so they’ll always let you know if somebody is coming. They won’t trust strangers without you around, and if taught well, they won’t even accept food as a bribe. Don’t fret too much if you hear them bark, though—they might be just letting you know that a leaf has fallen off of a tree.

Characteristics and Personality of Dachshund Jack Russell Mix

Source: Mocha the Jackshund

This mixed breed is an incredibly adorable one—so much so that not one, but both of the parent breeds have found their way to our top 10 cutest puppy breeds list! When it comes to physical traits, there are many variables to take into account. A Jack Russell Mini Dachshund mix is obviously smaller than the mix with the regular Dachshund, while a Jack Russell Terrier Longhaired Dachshund mix will have a slightly longer coat, and so on.

These pups can take after each of their parents, but there are no guarantees on which characteristics they’ll take from each breed. You can’t know in advance how they’ll turn out. In general, though, the shape of their body and ears is a copy of the Dachshund in them, and the face and coloring are usually the proof of their Jack Russell heritage.

Dachshund Jack Russell cross temperament is a mix of their parents. In essence, they’ll typically have the stubbornness of a Dachshund combined with the high levels of energy commonly found among Jack Russell Terriers. Jackshunds are lively and happy. They are always on alert, but also fiercely loyal to their people. They are fearless and will stop at nothing to protect their territory and their humans. They have an incredibly high prey drive and will chase anything smaller than them, including cats, mice, and birds.

Is a Jackweeny a Good Fit for Families?

With proper and timely training and socialization, Jackweenies can be great family dogs. Their playful nature will endear them to children of all ages, but the problems may arise if children get too rough with the dog. Never let little children play with your pooch unsupervised because kids usually don’t know where a dog’s limits are. A Jackweenie won’t hurt a kid unless provoked, and even then, it won’t be anything serious—probably just a warning nip—but it can frighten the child.

Dachshund training can be a lot challenging, and their stubbornness can transfer to their mixes as well. If you’re well-versed in the art of dog training, you won’t have any problems in getting everybody to get along. If you’re a first-time owner, make sure you pay extra attention to dog-child playtime. Make sure you start training them from a young age. In our article on dachshund potty training, you can find lots of useful tricks for outsmarting these beautiful pups.

How Much Grooming Does a Jackshund Require?

Source: grow_real_medicine

Jackweenies are not among the breeds with high maintenance requirements. Depending on the type of Dachshund in the cross, they can have short to medium-length coat, with or without undercoat. In any case, brushing two or three times a week should do the trick. Bathe them when necessary. It’ll happen more than you’d expect, as they love to roll in stinky things. It’s just their thing, and they get it from their Dachshund side of the family.

You’ll need to clip their nails regularly (once or twice a month), and you should never hear them click on the floor when the dog walks. If you can’t brush their teeth daily, make sure you do it at least two or three times a week, and find some good dental toys.

Dachshunds can suffer from skin problems, so we advise you to groom your pooch regularly and stick to the best grooming tips!

How Difficult Is It to Train a Jackshund?

If you have any experience whatsoever, you shouldn’t have any problems training your Jackshund. Thanks to their Dachshund side, they can be incredibly stubborn and opinionated, so expect to get frustrated from time to time. They do best with positive reinforcement and don’t react to punishment well. You can buy some of the gifts for Dachshund and use them as part of a positive reinforcement technique!

Still, if you start early and make it obvious that you’re the boss, you’ll train your buddy… Well, if not precisely effortlessly, at least without any serious problems. If the dog smells weakness, though, you’re toast—which is exactly why this mixed breed is not a wise choice for first-time owners. In our article—best ways to train your puppy—you can find lots of practical techniques on training these youngsters.

What Are the Common Health Issues of a Jack Russell Dachshund Mix?

Source: davethedogkc

Generally speaking, mixed breeds have fewer health issues than pure breeds. It all depends on the particular case, but a Jackshund will usually be healthier than either a Dachshund or a Jack Russell Terrier. Dachshunds need care, so you should keep an eye on their offsprings. too! There are some things to look out for, such as:

1. Intervertebral Disc Disease
2. Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
3. Patellar Luxation

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is probably the most critical health issue for Dachshunds, but the risk is slightly reduced by crossing them with a Jack Russell Terrier. Your pooch is still not immune to it. This back problem damages the discs between the vertebrae of the spine, and the seriousness of IVDD ranges from mild discomfort to paralysis. This is not a health issue to be taken lightly, so make sure you take your dog to the vet as soon as you suspect anything.

Legg-Calve Perthes Disease is a condition that targets the upper part of the dog’s hind leg bone. The bone just below the hip starts to deteriorate and waste away, causing your Jackweenie to carry the affected leg and their muscles to waste away. Physical therapy can help in some cases, but this condition usually requires surgery.

Patellar Luxation causes your dog’s kneecaps to pop. It is only painful at the moment when the kneecap gets dislocated and stops hurting after that. The dog will skip around in order to put a small amount of pressure as possible on the affected limb. If you notice any unusual behavior, take your little buddy to the vet asap.

It’s important to learn how to keep your dog’s joints healthy and protect your pooch from any health issue they are prone to. Dachshunds are prone to seizures which can affect their lifespan. Their mixes rarely get this health issue, but if you notice that they suddenly start spasming, take them to the vet immediately.

How Much Exercise Do You Need to Keep up with Your Jackweeny?

Source: Max the Jackshund

These little boys and girls have a lot of energy. You need to provide them with a healthy outlet because if you don’t, they’ll find a way to occupy their time—usually by destroying your property. Lucky for you, they do a lot of running around anyway. They’ll buzz from person to person, stick their noses into other people’s (and dogs’!) business, bark at things, climb on beds and hop back down, go to check out the bathroom, bark some more, hop some more, and at the end of the day, they’ll be exhausted. It’s a dog’s life, you know.

Because of their restless nature, your job is much more manageable—about 45 minutes of activity a day should be enough, depending on the individual. Split this into two 10 to 15 minutes’ walks and a 15 to 25 minutes’ playing session, and you’ll ensure that your dog’s needs are taken care of.

What Is the Best Food for a Dachshund Jack Russell Mix?

Source: Jackshund (Jack Russell \ Dachshund)

For such a little thing, a Jackweenie can eat a lot. The recommended daily portion is 3 cups, which is more than double of the recommended portion for an average dog of the approximate size. It fits with their lifestyle, though, because this breed is incredibly active.

The daily portion should be split into two meals. Individual dogs have their own preferences, and some will like dry food, while others will prefer wet. If your dog is a dry food kind of a guy or gal, check out our top 20 best dry food brands. If they prefer canned food, you might be interested in our list of top 10 best consumer-rated canned dog food brands. Always make sure your pooch eats high-quality food because their health depends on it.

In any case, you shouldn’t have any problem gauging your dog’s likes and dislikes—they tend to make their opinion quite clear. Still, here are some recommendations:

• Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Real Meat Recipe Premium Dry Dog Food. This food includes real bison meat and is meant for highly active breeds with strong muscles—just like your best bud. Be careful with giving your pooch this formula in the long haul, as high-protein dog food can cause health problems.
• Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food. If you’re still dealing with a puppy, this chicken-based food is one of the best choices available.
• Nutro WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS. Containing farm-raised chicken, Nutro WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS is an excellent option if your pooch is not in their prime anymore.

You want your pooch to grow healthy and strong. Avoid giving them the worst dry dog food on the market, and choose best dry dog food instead. If your pooch is still a little munchkin, take a look at our list of best puppy food brands. In case you have a gray-coated grandpa doggo, provide them only with the best senior dry dog food.

Depending on your dog’s breed and size, you can choose between the best dry dog food for small dogs or the best large breed dry dog food and see which one sticks! Don’t forget to consult your vet prior to changing your dog’s diet!

Check Out These Other Cute Dachshund Mixes

If you have your heart set on a Dachshund mix, but you’re not really sure whether a Jackshund is a good match for your situation, check out other adorable crosses!

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Russell_Terrier
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachshund
3. Sauvé, Christopher P., et al. “Oronasal and Oroantral Fistulas Secondary to Periodontal Disease: A Retrospective Study Comparing the Prevalence Within Dachshunds and a Control Group.” Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, vol. 36, no. 4, 2019, pp. 236–244., doi:10.1177/0898756420909657.
4. Kellogg, Brian, and William C. Oakes. Rabbit Hawkers Dogs: “Dogs for the Bush”. EagleWing Publishing, 2000.