Jack Russell Terriers are a popular dog breed known for their spirited personality and hunting ability. But how much does a Jack Russell Terrier cost?
This can vary depending on the breeder, location, and other factors, but they generally tend to be mid-priced dogs. Here we’ll take a look at what you can expect to pay for a Jack Russell Terrier.
First of all, What Makes Jack Russell Terriers special?
The Jack Russell Terrier is an intelligent, high-energy dog breed. This small terrier breed is excellent for apartment living and is remarkably easy to train, thanks to its love of pleasing its owner. They’re very good with children they’ve grown up with; however, they must be taught not to be overly aggressive towards strangers or young children that they haven’t been properly introduced to.
Jack Russells are playful and loving family dogs who are quick on their feet. They can adapt well both indoors and out but prefer the company of people over being left alone for long periods.
Their size makes them ideal pets for seniors, or people with limited mobility are glad to have a companion that doesn’t require much space.
A Jack Russell’s short coat requires very little grooming to keep it healthy, but they should be taken outside for a quick daily walk to get rid of excess energy.
What is the cost of a Jack Russell Terrier?
As with any purebred dog, it can be difficult to determine what you will pay for a Jack Russell Terrier without contacting individual breeders. That said, in general, these are mid-priced dogs. They are not particularly expensive, but they’re not cheap either – especially when compared to mutts, usually free or very affordable.
One guide recommends that you expect to pay between $800 – $1500 USD for a Jack Russell Terrier pup from a breeder. This price does not include delivery costs if applicable, nor does it include dog accessories like crates, food bowls, etc. If you plan on taking your puppy with you when you travel by plane, then you will need to expect additional costs there too.
What are the Extra Costs?
It’s unlikely that there are any additional costs associated with buying a Jack Russell Terrier – but if you do have specific circumstances, for example, if your dog needs surgery or you want to pay for them to go into a home when you die, then this may affect the price. You can find out more about these types of factors in our guide here.
Otherwise, standard dog-related expenses apply. As well as the original purchase price of your puppy, typical expenses might include vet fees, food, treats, toys, etc. These are all detailed in our article here. The only other significant potential cost is traveling to pick up your pup from the breeders – but this is typically a very short distance.
What is Going to Be Included?
When buying a puppy from a breeder, you can expect to receive all relevant paperwork. This will include the dog’s medical history and any health guarantees the breeder provides.
You can also choose specific traits from each parent animal for your new pups in most cases, such as coat color, size, and temperament. If you want something unusual, then it’s likely that the breeder will have kept some of these rarer genetic traits in stock and will sell them on to you.
However, it must be said that this process does not always result in finding a replica of your future pet. Every Jack Russell Terrier is unique, and you should not expect every pup to be identical.
Jack Russell Terrier vs. Other Dogs
You can get a Jack Russell Terrier for less than $800 if you know where to look – but it will probably need serious rehabilitation and training before you can trust it around your family and pets. On the other hand, many free or very cheap dogs out there already have good behavior and do not require extensive work after adoption.
If the dog is important to you, we recommend paying a little more for your next puppy. You’ll receive all health guarantees and documentation about their lineage, as well as get someone to take care of them when you die or go into/emergencies (depending on your wishes). You can find out more about these services and how they affect the price of a dog in our guide here.
If you’re looking for something specific like an unusual color, good temperament, etc., then it may be worth paying more too. But if you just want a dog who’s going to be able to play with the kids and enjoy walks, then there are plenty of low-cost or free dogs available who will do this without any training or care from you.
Summary
Jack Russell Terriers are mid-priced dogs. You can get one for less than $800, but this usually means that the dog will need extensive rehabilitation and training before it’s ready to be introduced to your family. For something with more personality, you should expect to pay between $500-$800. This includes all health guarantees and documentation about their lineage, as well as someone to take care of them when you die or enter emergencies (depending on your wishes).
Expect normal puppy-related expenses like vet costs, food, treats, etc., plus any traveling time either way if applicable – but no additional ones.
If the dog is important to you, we recommend paying a little more for your next pup. You’ll receive all relevant documentation and health guarantees, as well as get someone to take care of them when you die or go into/emergencies (depending on your wishes).
Suppose you’re looking for something specific like an unusual color, good temperament, etc.. In that case, it may be worth paying more too – but if you just want a dog who’s going to be able to play with the kids and enjoy walks, then there are plenty of low-cost or free dogs available who will do this without any training or care from you.