What is the average Jack Russell lifespan? This breed is fun, energetic and loyal, but before you get a JR you might want to know how long do Jack Russells live?
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The good news is that they have one of the longest lifespans of any dog breed.
How long do Jack Russells live for?
What age do Jack Russell Terriers live to? The average Jack Russell life span is anywhere between 13-16 years, but the average Jack Russell life expectancy in Britain is much higher due to nutritional diets and good healthcare.
Jack Russells can live well in to their late teens and early 20’s with the right diet and exercise.
How old is a Jack Russell in human years?
Not many people know that seven dog years does not equal one human year for every dog breed.
That rule only really applies to larger breeds and Jack Russells can actually live much longer.
See our chart below for your Jack Russells age in human years.
The link between nutrition and the Jack Russell life span
We all know that food is important to our health. “We are what we eat” and the same goes for our four-legged counterparts.
Dogs need a well-balanced, nutritional diet packed full of vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy into old age.
Read more on what to feed a Jack Russell terrier here.
It’s also important not to feed them certain human foods, anything too salty, sweet or fatty can have a really negative effect on their health.
Read our guide on how to tell if you have an overweight Jack Russell if you’re concerned about the weight of your pup.
Butternut Box
All Butternut Box meals are grain-free and free from most known allergens, making them perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
The meals are made using 60% meat, 40% veg, lentils & minerals, and 0% nasties, which means they are highly digestible for adult dogs and puppies.
Each meal is perfectly portioned for your dog’s needs. No need to worry if you’re giving them enough.
The meals are all gently cooked – which kills the bad bacteria without losing any of the good stuff. Then frozen ready for you to store at home.
We love it so much we’ve partnered up with Butternut Box to get you a whopping 50% off your first box, then another 50% off your second box!
And there’s no obligation to stay if your pup doesn’t love it.
Owning a Jack Russell terrier
Know your Zoomies from your pluffing? Yeah, you’ve got a Jack Russell terrier! they are full of energy and mischief and that’s how we like them.
Jack Russells are super smart and busy dogs that need a lot of time and patience. We have even made a checklist of ‘Things every Jack Russell owner needs’.
Of course training a Jack Russell properly is one of the best ways to bond with your pup, get them used to rules, and avoid issues like excessive barking and separation anxiety.
Jack Russell health problems
Whether you have a ‘smelly Jack Russell‘, a ‘fat Jack Russell’, or a ‘noisy Jack Russell’, we don’t mind as long as they are happy and healthy.
To know what to look out for check these 8 common health problems in Jack Russells.
We’ve already mentioned how diet can have a huge impact on a Jack Russells health but some plants can help too.
There are some fantastic healthy herbs for Jack Russells, that can help a lot of common issues.
When will a Jack Russell calm down?
We get asked this one a lot!
Generally speaking, Jack Russells start to calm down at around 10 to 12 years old.
Is your dog getting bored and destructive? Read our top tips on how to tire out a Jack Russell terrier here.
Jack Russell puppies can have a lot of energy and need lots of fun training games to keep them busy.
Caring for an older Jack Russell
Like us dogs start to slow down as they get older. Being less active means they need less protein in their diet in favour of things like Omega 3’s and Glucosamine to help keep joints healthy.
Dog health supplements can be a great way to support your JRs diet as they get older. How long do Jack Russells live for? You might be surprised just how old they can get to!
How old is the oldest Jack Russell terrier?
Britain oldest dog was believed to be a Jack Russell named Charlie who passed in 2019 aged 23!
So how old do Jack Russells live to?
It can totally depend on each individual and how completely spoilt they are!
Famous Jack Russells
The Jack Russells intelligence and charisma have led them to be quite well known over the years. From great explorers to starring roles here’s a roundup of some of the most memorable JR’s.
Nipper the perhaps the first famous Jack Russell, born in 1884. He was the inspiration for the painting Dog looking at and listening to a Phonograph, later renamed to His Master’s Voice. But it’s probably better known for it’s later use as the HMV logo.
A Jack Russell named Bothy made history in 1982 as part of the Transglobe Expedition. Owned by explorer Ranulph Fiennes, he became the first dog to travel to both the north and south poles. An impressive ‘tale’.
Father and son team Moose and Enzo played Eddie in the long-running sitcom Fraser. Perhaps best known for the famous Jack-Russell-stares that unnerve the radio psychiatrist. They received more fan mail than any other character on the show.
In the Mask starring Jim Carey the real star was Max. The Jack Russell Terrier played the role of Milo (after which our very own JR is named!) who is one of Stanley Ipkiss’s only friends in the 1994 U.S film.
We have just lost our Jack Russel she was 14 and was A Great dog everything you have said is right about them missing her so bad
Aw sorry to hear that, I bet she had a wonderful life though 🙂
Hi my Jack Russell is 18 years old currently and still strong.
18 is long
My terrier is 16 and thriving
My JRT ( Jackjack) just passed away 02/28/24, on his own ,age 16 , one mo, 19 days.
Very active til he had a spine injury. One morning , he can not stand up.
He had a spine injury. Slowing down due to his weak legs, he limit his walk. , but doctor wasn’t worried about it. But he can still run.
My female JRT is 17 years, lost some of her hearing apart from that slim fit and healthy. A year ago lost my male JRT he was 16 years 6 months unfortunately full of arthritis, blind and had dementia . Both were rescue dog.
We had two Jack Russel’s like you. Henry just passed he was 17 yrs old, arthritis, blind and dementia like yours. Had to put him down, hardest thing we have ever experienced. Lily is still going strong at 13.
Hi
My Jack Russell crossed with a Corgi is 20. She was a rescue found in Oswestry when she was a pup suffering from pneumonia and a couple of broken ribs
20 is a fantastic age, rescue Jack Russells are so resilient!