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I have a question regarding a good breed to pair with a male jack russel terrier. We recently had to put our old female hound to sleep. Ever since, our little jack russel seems lost and uninterested in life. We've tried extra play time and attention but he still seems to be lonely without her. Can someone recommend a breed of dog that would be a good companion for him.

>>I have a question regarding a good breed to pair with a male jack russel terrier. We recently had to put our old female hound to sleep. Ever since, our little jack russel seems lost and uninterested in life. We've tried extra play time and attention but he still seems to be lonely without her. Can someone recommend a breed of dog that would be a good companion for him.

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Pick the type of dog YOU like, as well as one suited to live with him. Definitely a female (spayed), since JRTs tend to fight with other dogs of the same sex who share the same home. That's a trait of many breeds, not just JRTs.

If you like hounds, another hound should be great. It can help if the other dog is of a similar size, but since JRTs are so powerful, some of the softer small breeds might be a little too small to live in complete comfort with him!

Maybe you could mention some breeds you're considering and we could help you think about which you and your dog would most enjoy.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Thanks for the ideas. We were definately looking at another female and spaying is something we do with all our pets. My son would like a beagle. Our Jack is a little shorter than average, a beagle should end up slightly taller than him. The other option would be another tan and black hound. Both these breeds seem to get along well with other dogs. Do you think a beagle would be a good match energy wise?

>>Thanks for the ideas. We were definately looking at another female and spaying is something we do with all our pets. My son would like a beagle. Our Jack is a little shorter than average, a beagle should end up slightly taller than him. The other option would be another tan and black hound. Both these breeds seem to get along well with other dogs. Do you think a beagle would be a good match energy wise?
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The Beagle could work well, yes. I would get one of the larger rather than the smaller ones. Beagles were bred to hunt as JRTs were, and they have too much energy for some homes. Those two might exercise each other nicely and be a lot of fun for the family.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com