In the dog world the newest phase seems to be breeding poodles with multiple breeds to create new mixes. One of the newer breeds that has gained a lot of notoriety is the Goldendoodle, which is a Golden Retriever and a Poodle bred together. There are numerous doodle breeds out there, and with the amount of new crosses steadily growing larger it is no surprise that Jack Russell Terriers have made their way onto this list as well.
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History of the Jack Russell Poodle Mix
The full origin story of the Jack Russell Poodle Mix, also known as a Jackapoo, is still a bit of a mystery. No one seems to know exactly when this cross arrived on the designer dog scene, but it is speculated to have happened in the 1980’s or 90’s. This estimation makes sense since this is about the time that a lot of other doodle mixed breeds were starting to be seen as well. .
Unlike Goldendoodles or Bernadoodles that are a mixture of standard poodles and other breeds, a Jackapoo is a crossbreed of miniature or toy poodles and a Jack Russell Terrier.
Jackapoo Appearance
Jackapoos, also known as Jackadoodles, can have a wide variety of appearances based on how their parents look. They are generally considered a small to medium breed.
Coat types can also range from a more wiry hair courtesy of their Jack Russell side, to soft and curly from the Poodle lineage. With both parental breeds having a wide variety of color, it makes sense that their offspring follow suit. Jackapoos range from darker colors such as chocolate, black and brown to lighter tones like cream, tan and white. It is also normal to see them having mixed color coats, the same as their Jack Russell parents.
No matter what coat color or type these dogs have, they are absolutely adorable every time.
Jackapoo Size
With this designer dog being newer, there are no specific breed standards when it comes to size. The fact that they can be bred from either a miniature poodle or a toy poodle doesn’t help narrow down the size parameter either.
Toy Poodles are the slightly smaller of the two standing up to 10 inches tall. Most Toy Poodles weigh roughly a meger 5 pounds. The slightly larger Miniature Poodles are between 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh a little more than their toy cousins. On average the Mini Poodles are around 10 to 15 pounds. Jack Russel Terriers range similarly in weight from about 12 to 18 pounds.
At the end of the day, despite the almost 15 pound difference between the smallest and largest parental breeds, Jackapoos tend to be a little larger at 12 to 25 pounds.
See also: Jack Russell Terrier Pregnancy: How to Tell?
Temperament
With Jack Russell Terriers being known for their endless energy and Poodles for their intelligence, the Jackadoodle is a force to be reckoned with. They get bored very easily and need a ton of exercise, both mental and physical. If these needs are not met they can turn into destructive dogs and have the potential to develop a myriad of behavioral issues.
In order to help curb these possible problems, training from a young age is exceptionally important. This may be fairly easy due to their intelligence and ability to pick up on new things rather quickly.
On the other hand, a firm and consistent training method is essential due to the stubborn streak that usually comes from their Jack Russell side. Keeping training periods short with minimal distractions will help keep the stubbornness from taking over.
Despite their stubbornness, Jackadoodles aren’t known for being an aggressive breed. Of course with any breed aggression or other behavioral problems are always possible. It is important to socialize puppies to a variety of people and situations to help build up confidence. This will help them feel safe when interacting with other dogs and people. It will also help promote appropriate behavior with others.
Any dog that has not had socialization has the ability to become scared in situations that are new to them and may become aggressive in an effort to protect themselves. A wonderful way to both socialize and work on training is to go to puppy classes. Make sure to contact the puppy class provider for specific requirements and age groups.
Grooming Care
Jackapoos often take after the poodle side in regards to shedding, or lack thereof. While there are no completelyhypoallergenic dogs, this breed tends to cause less allergy symptoms.
This makes grooming and coat care fairly simple. Usually once to twice a week brushing is enough to help maintain a healthy coat. Bathing is recommended on an as needed basis. This is something that can be done at home or at a groomer.
Most dogs do well with an oatmeal shampoo as it is soothing and moisturizing. These can be purchased over the counter or through a veterinarian.
Exercise
With both the Jack Russell Terrier and the Poodle having very high energy needs, it stands to reason that the offspring are the same. Couple their high energy needs and intelligence and you have a dog that loves to play and needs a lot of entertainment and mental stimulation.
A good way to fill those requirements comes back to training and daycare. Daycare will help them work off a portion of their never ending energy and gives them a chance to play with their friends. Training can also help engage the problem solving part of the brain which keeps them mentally active along with physically active.
Common Health Problems
Thankfully Jackapoos are generally healthy dogs. They are not known for being prone to any specific disease.
Being a mixed breed dog can actually be very beneficial when it comes to being predisposed to health issues. They are a little less likely to end up with certain breed related health problems than purebred dogs. This is due to the fact that they have a much wider gene pool than purebred dogs.Luckily neither Poodles nor Jack Russels have a tendency to have any concerning diseases.
Jackapoos may end up having arthritis, luxating patella, blindness and other age related changes that any animal can get. As always, each individual dog is able to get health issues regardless of if they are common in the breeding line or not. For this reason routine veterinary care is important.
Jackapoos With Family and Friends
Jackapoos are very social, loving dogs. This makes them wonderful family pets. They tend to be good with children; but as always small children and dogs should be supervised when together.
They also usually get along well with other dogs also. Jackapoos are very energetic dogs so they may not make the best housemates or playmates for nervous cats. If the cat runs, the jackapoo may think it’s a fun game while the cat feels very differently about the situation.
Lifespan
Both Jack Russell Terriers and Poodles have similar lifespans. On average, they usually live to be between 13 and 15 years old. Jackapoos follow in their parent’s paw prints and share the same general life expectancy.
Price
With these cute designer dogs being such a good family pet, generally healthy and low maintenance when it comes to grooming, the question is how much do these puppies cost?
As with everything there is a wide range with many variables. On average puppies are usually priced between $250 to $800. Oftentimes these puppies can be found at the low range or even cheaper but these are often puppies from an accidental breeding as opposed to an intentional breeding.
The main difference being that with an intentional breeding through a reputable breeder, the parents are often screened for health issues to help ensure the highest likelihood for a healthy litter. Puppies from a well known, experienced breeder will be more expensive up front, but with health screens in place it may save you more money in the long run.
Before you go out and buy the first cute Jackapoo face you see, make sure you ask the breeder questions. Ask to see both the mother and father of the litter, if there are any known health issues in either line, and how previous litters have been if the parents have been bred together previously. It is also important that you know if the breeder has any requirements such as a time frame for first vet visits, neuter/spay, or any other unique specifications. This will help you ensure you find the perfect pup for your family.
