How Long Do Jack Russells Live? 16+ Years Average Lifespan
If you are already a Jack Russell Terrier owner or looking forward to adopting one, you might be thinking, how long do Jack Russells live? Or what is their average lifespan and expectancy? In that case, this post gives you a complete idea of what you are looking for.
The Jack Russell Terrier is a tiny breed suitable for those who live in homes with much space since they are hyperactive dogs. Still, raising a JRT in an apartment is possible if you have easy access to a park or garden.
Jack Russells are the pets for you if you’re seeking an active dog with a lively mood and a long lifespan! You will have a lifelong buddy if you have a Jack Russell Terrier.
But how long do Jack Russells live to be a lifelong companion? What is JRT’s average lifespan? There is a saying that small dogs live longer and Jack Russells are living proof. Jack Russell Terriers have an average life expectancy of around 13-16 years. It’s a relatively longer lifespan than other small dog breeds. This article thoroughly discusses the factors affecting JRT’s life expectancy. It will help you to give your Jack Russell a 16+ lifespan.
Typically, JRTs are a healthy dog breed though they have some common health issues. Therefore, if you properly look after your JRT, you can expect a decent lifespan.
These friendly dogs, often referred to as Parson Russell Terriers were first bred in England in the early 1800s by Reverend John Russell, a renowned fox hunter. Since they were born as hunting dogs, Jack Russells are energetic and regarded as being fast, clever, and productive.
I also hope to share my experience with my two Jack Russells, Shaggy, and Lenny. That will be a quick impression of life expectancy, common jack Russell’s health problems, What is the life expectancy of Jack Russell mix, and more.
I have listed the main topics that discuss in this post below. Let’s get started!
How Long Do Jack Russell Terriers Live?
We are all aware that the typical dog lives ten years. But a Jack Russell Terrier has a longer lifespan than other dog breeds.
Read – Jack Russells breeding age
This might be on your mind if you consider buying a Jackie as your new pet. The average Jack Russell’s lifespan is 13-16 years.
However, it may be influenced by things like lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, and so on.
Real Life Examples for Jack Russells’ Long Lifespan
We asked our Jack Russell Owners’ Facebook Community how long their previous Jack Russells lived. You can see their answers below.
What is the average lifespan of Jack Russell Terriers?
Jack Russell Terriers are one of the healthy and longer-living dog breeds. Their life expectancy is average between 13 -16 years.
It is a wise decision if you plan to adopt a Jack Russell Terrier. You will find a great companion for about One and a half decades.
Jack Russell Terriers are an active, aggressive, and healthy breed. Their life expectancy depends on the nutrition they get, exercise, and timely care of the owner. Therefore, your care for the dog directly affects how long Jack Russell lives.
How Long Do Jack Russells Live In Human Years?
The majority of us believe that a dog’s life is equivalent to human life of seven years. However, it is not entirely correct because it defies logic when calculated using the life stages that both humans and dogs reach.
Let me use Jack Russell as an example to illustrate how the lifespan of a human and a dog varies. A Jack Russell Terrier that is one year old is mature enough to have puppies.
However, a seven-year-old human won’t even be able to consider having children because there are so many other factors involved in having children!
As a result, the age difference between a human and a Jack Russell is not usually linear. You can’t say that if I’m 14, my Jack Russell is seven years old.
So, how long do Jack Russells live in human years? A Jack Russell’s lifespan is 12.5 years, which translates to 65 years in human years.
How long do Jack Russells mix live? Comparing other mix Terriers lifespan
It is worth knowing how long Jack Russell’s mix breeds live. Therefore, comparing other mix Terrier breeds would help you to get a clear idea about the real-life expectancy of your lovely dog.
The following table explains the compared average life of mix Terrier breeds.
| Terrier Breed | Average Life Expectancy | Terrier Breed | Average Life Expectancy |
| Airedale Terrier | 10-12 Years | Miniature Bull Terrier | 11-14 Years |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 10-15 Years | Norfolk Terrier | 12-15 Years |
| Australian Terrier | 11-13 Years | Norwich Terrier | 12-14 Years |
| Bedlington Terrier | 12-14 Years | Parson Russell Terrier | 13-15 Years |
| Black Russian Terrier | 10-11 Years | Rat Terrier | 15-18 Years |
| Border Terrier | 12-15 Years | Russell Terrier | 13-15 Years |
| Boston Terrier | 13-15 Years | Scottish Terrier | 13-15 Years |
| Bull Terrier | 10-14 Years | Silky Terrier | 12-15 Years |
| Cairn Terrier | 12-15 Years | Skye Terrier | 12-15 Years |
| Cesky Terrier | 12-15 Years | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 12-14 Years |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier | 12-15 Years | Tibetan Terrier | 12-15 Years |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier | 10-14 Years | Toy Fox Terrier | 13-14 Years |
| Irish Terrier | 13-15 Years | Welsh Terrier | 12-15 Years |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 13-16 Years | West Highland White Terrier | 13-16 Years |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | 13-15 Years | Wheaten Terrier | 12-15 Years |
| Lakeland Terrier | 12-16 Years | Wire Fox Terrier | 13-14 Years |
| Manchester Terrier | 14-16 Years | Yorkshire Terrier | 13-16 Years |
When is Jack Russell considered as a senior dog?
Jack Russells are small and cute for their entire life. It is challenging to assume a Jack Russell Terriers age by the impression. However, they become moody and lazy when they reach 11-12 years of age.
Their tempers and aggressive attitude get reduced at that age. They tend to be more serious and mature. That is the time when Jack Russell is considered a senior dog.
What is the average age for a Jack Russell to die?
These lovely dogs can have some health complications in older age, such as being partially blind and deaf. Overall, they will have around 12 years without any significant health complications.
They are a strong and high-tolerance Terrier breed. Therefore, it takes more than 12 years on average for a Jack Russell to die.
The proper care and nutrition will support Jack Russell Terriers to live up to 16 Years of age.
How long do Jack Russells live when given the proper care?
With proper care, Jack Russell’s lifespan can be extended. For example, taking your canine for a 30-minute walk every day may be quite beneficial in the long run.
There have been lots of reports of Jack Russells living for more than 16 years. Can you believe that a Jack Russell Terrier has lived more than 20 years with the proper care of his owner? Yes, it is true.
If you properly take care of your pet dogs, they can have a longer lifespan than the average life expectancy.
What Is the Oldest Living Jack Russell?
There is no information about the current oldest living, Jack Russell Terrier. However, documented oldest Jack Russell had lived 20 years and 106 days.
It was a Jack Russell Terrier born in 1994 named Willie; he lived until September 2014 with a loving family in the United Kingdom. Willie, please accept the greetings from Shaggy and Lenny.
Factors Influence Jack Russell’s Lifespan
You now know the full answer to your question of how long Jack Russells live. Even while Jack Russells benefit from a strong gene pool that prevents them from being very sick compared to other dog breeds, many additional factors affect Jack Russell’s lifespan.
Read – How Long Do Chihuahuas Live? Guide For A Longer Lifespan
- Nutrition and grooming
Since Jack Russells tend to overeat due to their small size, ensure that the food you feed them is well-balanced and composed of high-quality ingredients.
You can also reduce how often you provide them, for instance, twice daily, to maintain a healthy weight.
- Caring
You must also make sure that your Jack Russell Terrier is well cared for, even if you can’t take him to a grooming salon. Make sure they get bathed when they get dirty, have their nails cut short, and get their teeth frequently brushed to prevent illnesses so that it does not reduce Jack Russell’s lifespan.
- Physical Activity
Due to their need to hunt, Jack Russells need a lot of physical activity to manage their high energy levels.
They must be engaged regularly, preferably with a 30-minute walk each day, to keep them functioning. Otherwise, Jack Russells may get restless or violent.
Obesity can dramatically shorten your Jack Russell’s life span since it increases the risk of developing illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
Additionally, given the extraordinary intelligence of Jack Russells, playing games that require problem-solving is a terrific way to keep them engaged.
- Illnesses
Jack Russell Terriers are prone to infections in the ear and eye problems. Ear infections in Jack Russell Terriers are frequently brought on by bacteria, which produce wax discharge and itching.
Jack Russells are predisposed to a few eye conditions, namely cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. These eye conditions can result in blindness if they are not treated in a responsible way.
- Genetics
When choosing a Jack Russell Terrier puppy, be sure to ask about the dog’s family history, as it may give you an idea of the diseases that may develop in the future.
Most genetic conditions are related to the eye or ear, and they can reduce Jack Russell’s lifespan.
Lens Luxation is frequently reported; it is the displacement of the eye lens of a dog. This condition can lead Jack Russell to go blind, resulting in early death from accidents because they can’t see properly.
Congenital deafness is another; training those Jack Russells takes time and the use of special equipment, like double-fault leash systems, is common.
Jack Russell Terriers are devoted dogs that long for their owners’ everlasting affection. So, for those who are looking for both a dog and a friend, they will be the most excellent choice!
How well you take care of your Jack Russell can determine the answer to your question; how long do Jack Russells live? While we cannot guarantee it, It is known that Jack Russells live a long and healthy life, sometimes up to 20 years, if given plenty of exercise, nutritious food, and your affection and support, which will be essential to uphold a stronger bond for decades!
What health problems does Jack Russell have?
All dog breeds have common health problems. As a Jack Russell owner, you will want what comes in the future to prepare for it. Your preparedness will keep your dog healthy and happy.
- Partly blindness / Dislocating lenses
Among the other eye problems that dogs can suffer from, Jack Russells are prone to partial blindness and dislocating lenses. It is called ‘Lens Luxation.’
This problem can be treated entirely with surgery. And also, you can use eye drops to control the situation with a Doctor’s prescription.
- Gum disease
Gum disease occurs when a tooth’s deep supporting structures are inflamed. The released bacteria from infected gums can spread all over the body and damage the Kidneys and Liver.
This condition can be prevented by maintaining your Jack Russell Terriers dental health.
- Breathing issues
Breathing problems are more often within small dog breeds like Jack Russell Terriers. It would be best if you kept them energetic with proper exercises all the time.
If the breathing issues or shakings become more compromised, it is advisable to go for surgery.
No one likes to see their lovely pups looking sad or depressed. Therefore, taking action in time is highly advisable.
Final thoughts – How long do Jack Russell Terriers live?
We discussed all the information related to the life expectancy of Jack Russell Terriers so far. The exact answer for how long Jack Russell Terriers live is just an average number.
Usually, Jack Russells live happily and playfully for up to 12 years. Therefore, how maximum Jack Russell can live depends on the owner’s care and attention.
Significantly, there are few main things needed for a healthy dog, such as;
- Nutrition and Healthy foods
- Exercise
- Early-age training
- Grooming
Jack Russell Terriers are great life companions and intelligent family dogs you can have in your life. In my experience with Shaggy and Lenny, they tend to be bossy sometimes with your unlimited love and affection.
But keep in mind to train your Jack Russell well for the maximum obedient result you expect.
Thank you for reading this article. Keep an eye on Jack Russell Owner for more informative articles about your favorite dog breed.
