Jack Chi Dog Breed

Below are specs and details for the Jack Chi dog breed.

Your Jack Chi will be a small dog, but most range in size from 5-20 pounds and 8-15 inches in height. Despite their small size, however, they may not like to be picked up much.

The Jack Chi is usually a curious and busy dog, and while they may want to play with children, strangers and other pets, care should be taken so that they don’t behave aggressively. They don’t bark much, but they are small dogs that can have a very strong hunting instinct. If socialized early with children and other pets, they should get along well.

Your Jack Chi is probably going to desire a lot of attention, but they may not need much grooming. If they have the high energy of a Jack Russell Terrier, they may want to play a lot; if they have more Chihuahua in them, they may prefer sitting with you. Attention should be given to how much they eat, as they may eat non-stop if allowed, and this is not good for their health.

The Jack Chi is a new hybrid that appears to have been around since only the very early 21st century and, due to this, it does not have much of a history. The AKC doesn’t recognize hybrid breeds and the Jack Russell Terrier parent breed is also not acknowledged; it does officially recognize the Chihuahua and did so in 1904.

Oddly enough, the Jack Russell Terrier was a breed that preceded the Russell Terrier and the Parson Russell Terrier - but only the latter two are officially recognized by the AKC: the Parson Russell in 1997 and the simply named Russell several years later in 2012. It was the Jack Russell Terrier, however, that was first bred in England in the very early 19th century. There was a desire for an energetic, intelligent hunting dog with short legs that would be sufficient in the low, flat lands where it worked.

The Chihuahua is named after the region in Mexico from which it is believed to have come, but it remains a mystery if it actually came from there. Artifacts excavated from areas throughout Mexico appear to show the breed being present there as far back as the 9th century A.D. It is one of the oldest registered breeds in the United States, as the AKC was only 20 years old when it officially recognized the Chihuahua. The breed was introduced to the southwestern U.S. in the 18th century, but it wasn’t a popular dog because they were too small to be useful on farms. Once the American middle class exploded in the 1960's, however, the Chihuahua became popular because its small size allowed it to adapt easily to apartment living.

Being cross-bred from a Jack Russell Terrier and a Chihuahua, the Jack Chi will inherit characteristics from both parent breeds. Some may have more Jack Russell Terrier than Chihuahua characteristics and vice versa, and still others may show a balanced mix from both parents.

Your Jack Chi’s triangular-shaped head is bound to be small, and it may likely have a long or even a very long muzzle. The legs will probably have a slim, athletic look, and if well-fed and properly exercised, the body will be small and lithe. The ears may be large and pointy like a Chihuahua or flop forward like that of a Jack Russell Terrier. As both parent breeds tend to have eyes that stare curiously, your Jack Chi is certain to have that same quizzical countenance. The tail may be medium-length and straight, or it may curl up nearly into an "O".

The Jack Chi comes in a somewhat wide range of colors, but the most common ones are white, black, cream, dark brown, golden or a combination of any of these two. They may have patches around the eyes, pink footpads or even have three coat colors in an unusual pattern.

White & Tan

Tri-Color

Like the colors, the size of your Jack Chi may vary greatly: anywhere from a mere 5 pounds to a relatively enormous 20 pounds. Just as the weight may be very different from one Jack Chi to another, the height will vary from 8 to 15 inches.

Mixed breeds vary much more than their purebred parents in many different aspects such as size, coat, and even temperament. Even puppies from the same litter cannot be guaranteed to appear or act the same. If these traits are important to you, ask your breeder about the differences among each generation of Jack Chi since the percentage of each parent breed changes per generation. F1 Jack Chis are the result of crossing a purebred Jack Russell Terrier with a purebred Chihuahua. An F1B is when a breeder takes one F1 Jack Chi and crosses them back with either a purebred Chihuahua or purebred Jack Russell. An F2 is the progeny of two F1 Jack Chis bred together... and so on.

There are both long and short haired Chihuahuas, plus Jack Russells come in 3 coat types: smooth, rough, and broken. This ensures plenty of coat possibilities depending upon what type of coat the parents had. For instance, if you want a long-haired Jack Chi, look for a reputable breeder than has both a long haired Chihuahua and broken coat Jack Russell Terrier.

These dogs will also have many size variations. Chihuahuas are bred down to Miniature and Teacup sizes, and Jack Russells also come in a miniature variety. Although they are not as common, it is possible to find breeders that offer Teacup or Mini Chihuahua x Jack Russell mixes. Keep in mind that sometimes dogs that have been bred smaller for size often suffer health consequences that can be costly for the owner.

The Jack Chi’s temperament depends on the behavioral traits inherited from its parents. Some will get more from the Jack Russell Terrier side, whereas others will inherit more from the Chihuahua, and there are those that will have a fair mix of characteristics from both breeds.

To be sure, however, you can expect your Jack Chi to be energetic, friendly and curious. They tend to eat as much as you put down for them, so keeping their diet maintained means monitoring how much they are allowed to eat. They are very good in apartments and can usually get enough exercise inside, but they do like walks. If they have more Jack Russell Terrier, they may want more activity and may not be too keen to being held for long periods of time. Training can be a bit difficult, but with a moderate amount of patience, it can be done.

The Jack Chi is not a bad dog around children, but due to their small size, restless energy and possibly somewhat fragile bone structure (especially if they get more from the Jack Russell Terrier parent), they may not be the best dog for a household with kids. If they are of the more excitable variety, they may prompt kids to play roughly and the result could cause concern. Still, they can be brought up and socialized with children, and that can allow them to live happily with them.

Because your Jack Chi could be very curious as well as have a strong hunting instinct that is triggered by smaller animals, it may be best to keep them away from those that are smaller. With larger dogs and pets, they should play well, but as they are highly energetic, they should be watched in case they stop playing and attempt dominating.

Your Jack Chi may be fine with strangers, but they may not. Still, they do like to play and they may want to play with passersby when you walk them. They can be hyperactive, but they are not barkers and may not even bark when people come to the door. They can be fierce if threatened, but they are not good watchdogs since they tend to not bark much.

Below are pictures and images of the Jack Chi dog breed.

Your Jack Chi should be a low- to medium-maintenance dog regarding grooming, but they could be high-maintenance when it comes to exercise. (The amount of exercise can be determined by their weight and health: if they are overweight or have destructive behavior, this is usually resolved by frequent and regular long walks and playing with them).

They are usually fine as indoor dogs, but they may acquire destructive behavior if left alone too long and too much, or if overfed or not exercised enough. They will most likely have a lot of energy and desire a lot of attention.

Because the hair length of the two parent breeds varies greatly, your Jack Chi may have long, feathered hair like a Jack Russell Terrier’s tends to be, or it may be short and coarse like the Chihuahua. Yet again, it may be a bit of both. If the hair is long, a fair amount of brushing is required; if it is short, there will be little need. On the other hand, the short-haired Jack Chi will probably shed a lot in the summer, so there is that concern.

Although the Jack Chi may be highly excitable and most likely will have a great amount of stamina, they will most likely get enough exercise from moving around constantly - even in small apartments. Nevertheless, they do like walks, and it is strongly recommended to have toys for them in the house so they don’t chew and destroy things.

As they come from two small breeds that are adaptable to indoor living, the Jack Chi is a good apartment dog. If left outside, be sure they cannot jump over or dig under the fence, especially if they have a lot of Jack Russell Terrier mentality. They don’t need a lot of space outside, but if they have more Chihuahua traits, they may not like relatively cold weather. Despite being small, chances are extremely slim they’ll be preyed upon as they can be fierce when confronted.

Another reason that the Jack Chi is better suited for indoor living is the possibility of allergies to grasses and trees. Because of this, they may develop skin rashes, so it is recommended you be aware of this. They may also have eye problems, and these may be partially prevented by weekly (gentle) cleanings of the eyes with a damp cloth. They may have a voracious appetite, so be sure to monitor how much is set before them - or they may eat everything. Although they tend to get enough exercise inside and on their own, long walks are not bad and may help to keep them healthy and happy by tiring them out.

Your Jack Chi should have a life expectancy of about 12-15 years.

• Patellar Luxation

The following dog breed registries and organizations recognize the Jack Chi as a dog breed:

• American Canine Hybrid Club
• Designer Dogs Kennel Club
• Dog Registry of America Inc.
• International Designer Canine Registry

• Sources
• http://dogs.petbreeds.com/l/337/Jack-Chi
• http://www.businessinsider.com/dog-breeds-that-live-the-longest-2014-9
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/jack-russell-terrier-chihuahua-mix.html
• http://www.all-about-chihuahuas.com/chihuahua-jack-russell-terrier.html
• http://www.dog-first-aid-101.com/jack-russell-chihuahua-mix.html
• http://www.jack-russell-lover.com/jack-chi.html
• http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/jackchi.htm
• http://www.designermixes.org/breed_info/175/jack_chi.aspx
• http://www.greatdogsite.com/hybrids/details/Jack_Chi/
• http://www.totallychihuahuas.com/history-of-chihuahua
• http://www.chihuahuawardrobe.com/history-of-the-chihuahua-breed/
• http://www.pupvana.com/chihuahua-puppies/jack-chi-puppies.html