Jackador (Jack Russell Terrier Lab Mix): Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

Jackadors are a rare delight that you don’t come across very often. While designer dog breeds are fairly common, the Jackador isn’t bred by many breeders. Since they don’t have specific breed standards, they can vary greatly in size, appearance, and temperament. Here’s what you need to know about Jackadors and what you can expect if you care for one.

Breed Overview

The Jackador is a hybrid dog breed that’s a cross between a Jack Russell Terrier and a Labrador Retriever. Jackadors often have a combination of the best of both worlds and tend to be affectionate and loyal family dogs. They’re highly intelligent and curious, and they love to play. So, you can expect life with a Jackador to be filled with fun and plenty of laughter.

Jackador Characteristics

 

Jackador Puppies

Jackadors aren’t commonly bred intentionally, but you may find puppies at your local animal shelter or rescue. Jackador puppies tend to be bundles of energy, so don’t expect them to sit still and cuddle for too long. They love to play and need to have plenty of exercise incorporated throughout their daily routine. They’re also quite curious and intelligent, so they’ll benefit from playing with enrichment toys and engaging in other mentally stimulating activities.

Because Jackador puppies are very curious, it’s especially important to puppy-proof your home and make sure that they’re supervised while going through housetraining. Make sure to protect electrical sockets and wires and store any cleaning products and other common household chemicals in unreachable spaces.

Some Jackador puppies can be a bit more challenging to train because they can have a stubborn side to them. It’s important to start obedience training as early as possible to help Jackador puppies get a strong foundation and provide plenty of socialization opportunities.

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Jackador

Since Jackadors aren’t a registered dog breed, they aren’t bred to meet specific temperament standards. So, you may see more variance between two Jackadors than between two purebred dogs of the same breed. However, you’re likely to see a mix of personality traits that take after a Jack Russell Terrier and a Labrador Retriever.

Jackadors tend to be high-energy dogs, so they’re often well-suited for people with active lifestyles. They can be the perfect running buddies, and they’ll also enjoy participating in outdoor activities. As Labrador Retrievers are known to love water, Jackadors typically take to swimming pretty quickly and will enjoy going to the dog beach or swimming in a pool.

These dogs are also very smart and clever. They can become quite the escape artists and have a strong prey drive, so it’s important only to let them run off-leash in a fully fenced yard. They’ll enjoy playing games with you, and many will love participating in agility courses and other fast-paced dog sports.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Jackadors tend to form strong bonds with one or two people and are very affectionate with their families. They’re very playful and will enjoy being included in family activities. Jackadors can be fun playmates for children, but their energy can feel overwhelming for younger children, especially if the Jackador is a larger size. Therefore, it’s important to teach both the Jackador and the children how to interact with each other respectfully and supervise all initial interactions.

Since Jackadors are social dogs, they don’t do well being left home alone for long hours. They often do best in homes where there’s at least one person around to keep them company.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Jackadors can have a naturally strong prey drive, as Jack Russell Terriers were originally bred to hunt foxes and other small game. So, it’s possible that a Jackador may not ever be fully trusted to be with other kinds of pets without any supervision.

Jackadors tend to be fairly social dogs that enjoy playing with others. With proper socialization, they often enjoy living with another canine companion.

Things to Know When Owning a Jackador

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Jackadors can have varying dietary needs because they can be either small or medium-sized dogs. It’s best to consult your veterinarian to determine a healthy diet and food proportions for your Jackador. Veterinarians can also help you track a Jackador puppy’s growth and development and help you make adjustments to their diet as they mature.

When shopping for dog food, make sure to select high-quality food from reputable pet food brands. Look for dog food that uses natural ingredients and avoid recipes that use artificial colors and flavors and ambiguous ingredients like animal by-product meals.

Since Jackadors tend to be high-energy, active dogs, you may want to explore looking into specialty diets that contain a higher percentage of protein. Make sure to speak with your veterinarian to see if your Jackador would benefit from eating a high-protein diet.

Exercise 🐕

You can expect to spend at least an hour a day exercising a Jackador. They’ll enjoy going on brisk walks around the neighborhood. However, younger Jackadors often prefer letting loose and running around. They may enjoy playing fetch or playing tag with other energetic dogs.

Along with physical exercise, Jackadors require incorporating mentally stimulating activities into their daily routine. They’ll enjoy playing with treat dispensing toys, dog puzzles, and other enrichment activities. Once you’ve built a solid foundation on training, many Jackadors will love learning new tricks and commands.

Training 🎾

While Jackadors are intelligent dogs, they can be a little challenging to train at first. They can have a mind of their own or be easily distracted as puppies. They’ll require firm and fair training and often do best when they have short and frequent training sessions scheduled throughout the day. Jackadors respond well to praise and positive reinforcement, but they’ll double down and become stubborn if they feel they’re being treated unfairly.

Fortunately, training becomes easier if you remain consistent and continue to strengthen your bond with your Jackador. Many owners find success when their Jackador starts to see them as fun and trustworthy people.

Grooming ✂️

Jackadors have relatively minimal grooming needs. They can have either short or medium-length hair. They’re moderate shedders and can shed more heavily during certain seasons. Most Jackadors will benefit from being brushed a couple of times a week. You can use a bristle brush on Jackadors with short hair and a pin brush on Jackadors with medium-length hair. A deshedding tool can also be helpful with managing loose hair, especially during shedding seasons.

It’s also important to maintain your Jackador’s nails. Their nails will have to be trimmed about every 2 to 3 weeks. Jackadors can have dark nails, and it can be difficult to see where their nail quick starts. So, you may want to invest in a nail grinder or schedule an appointment with a veterinarian or professional groomer to trim their nails without any incidents.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Jackadors are generally healthy, but they can start to experience specific health issues as they age. Here are some common medical conditions for Jackadors that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Male vs Female

There aren’t any known behavioral or personality differences between male and female Jackadors. Since the sizes of Jackadors vary greatly, it’s hard to say if males consistently grow larger than females. A Jackador’s size and appearance will depend on their individual genetics, and their temperament can be affected by genetics and environment.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Jackador

1. Jackadors can look very different from each other.

Since Jackadors are a combination of two very different dog breeds, you’ll find that two Jackadors can appear very different from each other. Some grow to become small dogs, while others can be medium-sized dogs. They can also have varying coat types and textures, and some will have solid coat colors, while others will have markings.

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2. Jackadors may have an insatiable appetite.

Research has shown that about 23% of Labrador Retrievers carry a gene variant that affects the brain’s ability to recognize hunger and feeling full. Labrador Retrievers that have this gene variant are at a higher risk of overeating and obesity. So, it’s important to stick to feeding Jackadors appropriate portion sizes and be mindful of how many treats you give them each day.

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3. Jackadors can clear tall heights.

Jackadors can be talented jumpers if they take after a Jack Russell Terrier. Despite their small size, Jack Russell Terriers can jump as high as 5 feet, which is nearly 4 times their height. So, don’t be fooled by a Jackador’s small size because they can end up being quite the acrobats. It’s important to clear your tables and countertops of any food, as a Jackador can easily jump on top of them.

Final Thoughts

Jackadors are fun and playful companion dogs. They’re best suited for people with active lifestyles and in families where they won’t be left home alone for long hours. Jackadors may be a bit challenging to train at first. However, with some time, consistency, and tasty treats, they often become easier to train and eager to please their owners.

Overall, Jackadors bring more color and excitement to life with their bright personalities. When matched with the right family, Jackadors will grow strong attachments to family members and become very loyal. They’re a friend for life and one of the best companions you could ask for.

• See also: Wire Hair Jack Russell Terrier: Facts, History & Origin (With Pictures)

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Featured Image Credit: (L) Gemma Regalado, Unsplash | (R) Laura Roberts, Unsplash