Jack Russell Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Hardy, healthy and with loads of energy, Jack Russells are happiest when they&rsquo;ve got a job to do!&nbsp; But it&rsquo;s definitely not a case of all work and no play with these little guys. Walk through the door and their joy at having you home is obvious. And with that special combination of loyalty, affection and enthusiasm, it&rsquo;s no surprise that this is one of the UK&rsquo;s best-loved breeds.

Terrier

Type

13 -  16 years

Lifespan

Small

Size

6 - 8 kg

Weight

26 - 33 cm

Height

Active, fearless, vocal

Temperament

60 mins per day

Exercise

Low maintenance

Grooming

What is the average life expectancy for a Jack Russell?

Jack Russells have a life expectancy of 13-16 years.

Jack Russells are heavy shedders and will need brushing once a week, especially during high moulting seasons (spring and autumn). Brushing will help to reduce the amount of fur that falls out but will not completely eliminate dog hair on your clothes and furniture.

Why does my Jack Russell follow me everywhere?

Jack Russells often form a dependency on their owner who cares for them, especially the person who feeds, trains and exercises them. Following you could be a <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-deal-with-dog-separation-anxiety" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog separation anxiety">sign of separation anxiety</a> if they are not often left alone, but is likely just their way of showing you that they love you.

Jack Russells can be quite snappy and they like their own space. They don&rsquo;t have the patience or tolerance to be handled by children. But they do like to play games such as fetch. They would not be a suitable breed for young children but would get along well with an older child who understands how to handle them.

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi (online) Jack Russell Terrier. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/jack-russell-terrier" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Jack Russell page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/jack-russell-terrier</a></li>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">David Godfrey, Rosanna Marsella, Richard Squires (online) Skin: atopy. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/skin-atopy" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Atopy page">https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/skin-atopy</a></li>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">Mathews K, James Simpson (online) Anal sac impaction. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/anal-sac-impaction" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Anal Sac Impaction page">https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/anal-sac-impaction</a></li>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">Joseph Harari, Gareth Arthurs (online) Patella: medial luxation. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/patella-medial-luxation" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Patella Medial Luxation page">https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/patella-medial-luxation</a></li>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">Brooks D E, Williams D L &amp; Gould D (online) Lens: luxation In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/lens-luxation" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Lens Luxation page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/lens-luxation</a></li>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">Vetstream Ltd &amp; Gould D (online) Lens luxation In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/lens-luxation" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Lens Luxation factsheet">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/lens-luxation</a></li>
	<li style="margin-left: 24px;">Vetstream Ltd (online) Atopy. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/atopy" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Atopy factsheet">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/atopy</a></li>
</ul>

Content provided from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to vet experts Vetstream's website">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Canis</a>

Vetlexicon is the world&rsquo;s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world&rsquo;s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

That’s All You Need to Know About Jack Russells

Lively, fearless and energetic, a Jack Russell has lots of personality wrapped up in a small bundle! They were originally bred for hunting, so they have a strong prey drive. They like being left alone for long periods though as they can get bored easily and get up to mischief. They also like to dig and bark. But their playful, intelligent and affectionate natures make them a popular breed of dog and <a href="/all-things-pet/best-dog-breeds-for-families-with-kids" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to the best dog breeds for families">great family pets</a>.

Lively, fearless and energetic, a Jack Russell has lots of personality wrapped up in a small bundle! They were originally bred for hunting, so they have a strong prey drive. They like being left alone for long periods though as they can get bored easily and get up to mischief. They also like to dig and bark. But their playful, intelligent and affectionate natures make them a popular <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">breed of dog</a> and great family pets.

If twice-daily <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Walking Guide">long brisk walks</a> are what you&rsquo;re into, then you and your Jack Russell are likely to get along just fine. On the other hand, if you&rsquo;re looking for a companion to spend hours on end chilling in front of the TV, this probably isn&rsquo;t the best dog for you.

These guys can get bored easily when left to their own devices and they can also make a lot of noise. As such, they&rsquo;re not ideal for you (or your neighbours!) if the house is empty for long stretches of the day.

If twice-daily <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Walking Guide">long brisk walks</a> are what you&rsquo;re into, then you and your Jack Russell are likely to get along just fine. On the other hand, if you&rsquo;re looking for a companion to spend hours on end chilling in front of the TV, this probably isn&rsquo;t the best dog for you.

These guys can get bored easily when left to their own devices and they can also <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-stop-dog-barking-in-5-easy-steps" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to stopping dogs barking">make a lot of noise</a>. As such, they&rsquo;re not ideal for you (or your neighbours!) if the house is empty for long stretches of the day.

Jack Russell <a href="/puppy-inusrance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppies are adorably small</a> and fortunately they do enjoy cuddle time, but they like their own time and space as well.

From a young age, they have a hunting instinct that will get them in all kinds of trouble. Don&rsquo;t leave your <a href="/puppy-insurancce" title="Link to the Everypaw Puppy Insurance page">puppy</a> alone in the garden as Jack Russells are prone to digging and can easily escape.

They&rsquo;re an intelligent <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">dog breed</a> that responds well to training, but they can also be stubborn and will try to test you, so be consistent, convey authority and use positive reinforcement.

A happy Jack Russell jumping up to the overhead camera

This energetic breed is fearless and stubborn - they will happily venture off on their own especially if they catch the scent of another animal. They may be small but they have a lot of character and a <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-stop-dog-barking-in-5-easy-steps" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to stopping your dog barking">loud bark</a> to go with it.

That strong prey drive means that introducing a Jack Russell into a home where there&rsquo;s a <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> or other small animal is a highly risky move. They don&rsquo;t always get along with other dogs although this potential problem can be overcome with a <a href="/all-things-pet/puppy-socialisation-helping-your-pooch-make-pals" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to puppy socialisation">socialisation programme from a very young age</a>.

Although their playful side means they can easily become best buddies with older kids, Jack Russells can get very snappy - so they aren&rsquo;t the best choice if there are younger children around.

A high energy dog like this demands a good quality, fuel-rich diet. Your vet will advise on the right quantity depending on age and any specific health needs, as well as on the right proportion of dry to wet feed.

Generally, Jack Russells are not picky eaters and have a big appetite. But they do prefer a small biscuit size, as it is easier for them to eat. They can easily gain weight so will need their food weighing to make sure they are getting the right amount. Daily feeding guidelines are printed on dog food packaging. It is best to split this amount into two separate meals for an adult dog, or 3-4 for a puppy.

For <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaws Dog Grooming Guide">grooming</a>, these guys are low-maintenance, although their coat tends to shed all year round; more so in the Spring and Autumn. If you brush their coat twice a week or so with a slicker brush, it can go a long way in reducing the amount of hair on your floors and furniture.

Both smooth coated and rough coated Jack Russells are popular in the UK. Especially for the rough coated doggies, a twice-yearly trip to a professional

A bored, restless Jack Russell can soon lead to furniture chewing and other types of destructive behaviour. So from the moment they arrive, it&rsquo;s important to focus both on training - and on giving them lots to do!

On the training front, their intelligence means that a Jack Russell can soon pick up the basics (e.g. Sit, Stay, Down, Heel and Bed). The way forward generally involves a firm (but not harsh!) manner and lots of positive reinforcement. This type of approach can also help to address some of their more antisocial traits such as their tendency to jump up at their favourite people as soon as they walk into the room (especially if you address it from a very young age).

Activity-wise, one of the best home setups for a Jack Russell involves giving them access to a well-secured back garden for them to burn off any pent up energy during the day. And of course, they&rsquo;re even happier if you can take lots of time out to give them a <a href="/all-things-pet/games-to-play-with-your-dog" title="Link to Everypaw's article about games to pay with your dog">game of fetch</a>!

For walking, you are looking at around 60 minutes each day for an adult dog; usually split between a morning and evening session. If it&rsquo;s safe to do so, this should ideally include <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-recall-training" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog recall training">some time off the lead</a>.

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If you&rsquo;re looking to bring tons of fun home, a Jack Russell could be the one for you. We&rsquo;ll leave the <a href="/all-things-pet/the-dog-exercise-guide" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Exercise Guide">training and exercise</a> up to you, but we&rsquo;re more than happy to look after your pups healthcare. Everypaw&rsquo;s Lifetime Jack Russel Insurance can help your Jack Russell when it comes to those accidental bumps and bruises, as well as unexpected illnesses.

We have a range of Lifetime cover for you to choose from, and you can compare our policies and the extra benefits included on <a href="/Home/dog-insurance.html">our dog insurance page</a>.

If you&rsquo;re looking to bring tons of fun home, a Jack Russell could be the one for you. We&rsquo;ll leave the <a href="/all-things-pet/the-dog-exercise-guide" title="Link to the Everypaw Dog Exercise Guide">training and exercise</a> up to you, but we&rsquo;re more than happy to look after your pups healthcare.

<a href="/lifetime-pet-insurance" title="Link to the Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance ">Everypaw&rsquo;s Lifetime</a> Jack Russel Insurance can help your Jack Russell when it comes to those accidental bumps and bruises, as well as unexpected illnesses.

We have a range of Lifetime cover for you to choose from, and you can compare our policies and the extra benefits included on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/dog-insurance">our dog insurance page</a>.

In a normal eye, a lens is held in place by fibres called lens zonules. Lens luxation is when there is a progressive breakdown of the lens zonules, which causes instability. Eventually, the lens will become fully loose and move forward (anterior) or backwards (posterior), causing further problems such as blindness, eye pain, redness and clouding of the eye surface.

It is a recessively inherited condition that can be tested for before breeding.

Urgent surgery is required for anterior lens luxation to remove the lens. Even after surgery, affected dogs will have poor vision. There are also risks of glaucoma or retinal detachment. In some cases, posterior lens luxation has been managed with eye drops but this is not always possible.

Luxation of the patella is when the kneecap jumps out of the groove that it is supposed to sit in to, and instead slides down one side of it. This causes the leg to lock up, making it painful to bend. Affected dogs will carry the affected leg and hop on the other.

Sometimes the patella will jump in and out of place resulting in on/off lameness. In most cases, the patella remains out of place and requires an operation to correct the problem.

Dogs born with a groove that is too shallow or ligaments that are attached to the wrong place is what causes this condition. Affected dogs should not be bred from as the condition can be passed on.

Impacted anal glands are when the anal sac is unable to be released and therefore fills up with fluid, causing infection and inflammation. The cause is unknown but is likely related to diet, external anal sphincter dysfunction, undersized anal sac ducts, or loose stools.&nbsp;

Affected dogs will lick and bite their backside, have redness and swelling of the anal sac region, and will experience pain when emptying their bowels. They may also drag their bottom along the ground.

To treat the problem the anal sac needs to be emptied and flushed with antibiotic ointment by a vet. Surgery may be required in severe cases.

Atopy is a genetic predisposition to develop an allergy to environmental allergens such as pollens, moulds, house dust mites, storage mites, skin dander or dietary proteins. The immune system over-reacts to these foreign substances leading to inflammation and itchiness.

Affected dogs will lick, scratch, bite or chew themselves or scoot their backside along the floor. They also have recurrent ear or skin infections &ndash; the most affected areas being their pads, armpits, face, ears and groin area.

Treatment involves avoiding the allergens, feeding a diet high in fatty acids, anti-inflammatory medications or desensitisation vaccinations.

Common Jack Russell Health Problems by Vetstream

Jack Russells are prone to several health issues, most of which are treatable or manageable with medication. Vetstream have helped out and identified the following are the most common conditions in this breed.

Jack Russel Insurance, Care, and Health Advice | EveryPaw

Get a quote for your Jack Russell's insurance

Jack Russell

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Zoomies to Senior Snoozes, We've Got Them Covered

The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

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As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/multi-pet-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Multi-pet Insurance page">Insure multiple pets</a>&nbsp;for a multi-pet discount

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Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

Two levels of our Lifetime Pet Insurance cover have been rated 5 Stars by independent financial business, Defaqto, for 8 years in a row.

Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Jack Russell Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Jack Russell Terrier Facts

Is a Jack Russell Terrier Right for Me?

What Are Jack Russell Puppies Like?

Life with a Jack Russell Terrier

Caring for Your Jack Russell

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise