Althouse: "What a nosedive! And he couldn't care less."

March 15, 2017

"What a nosedive! And he couldn't care less."

25 comments:

Sal said...: He was totally embarrassed but tried not to show it.; 3/15/17, 9:40 AM
Levi Starks said...: I had a Jack, she was a marvelous dog, and I found out during disc dog competitions that she loved performing in front of a crowd.
They're born performers, and love competition. But sometimes when the excitement is too great unexpected things happen.; 3/15/17, 9:48 AM
Fernandinande said...: About the only trick our dogs can do is catch a tennis ball, then run away and bury it.; 3/15/17, 9:51 AM
madAsHell said...: I have some experience with Jacks.

Jacks are judged in three categories. Conformance which is essentially a beauty contest without the tiara. Racing is a second category. It evaluates speed, and competitiveness. Finally, the go-to-ground category. Go-to-ground evaluates the dog's ability to follow the scent trail into the den.

My first Jack came from a family breeding operation with a single breeding pair. She was all about the tennis ball. She was only happy when completely exhausted. The dirt in the nap of the tennis ball ground her teeth down to nothing. She also had hip dysplasia, and perhaps, lived with some pain. She behaved like the dog in the video.

My second Jack (see the avatar) came from a real breeder (more than one breeding pair, and lots of dogs in kennels). This dog was bred for conformance. She even has ribbons for the best 4-6 month old puppy.

Unfortunately, the pursuit of conformance has diminished her more notorious Jack Russell legacy. She won't go outside in the rain, and if she does she squints to keep the rain out of her eyes. Tennis balls are interesting.....sometimes.

The other day, we came upon a rabbit in the park. The rabbit froze, and the dog appeared to be pointing with one front leg off the ground. After some quantum of time, the dog still pointing, looked at me....."You might want to go over there, and catch that rabbit!".

The rabbit hissed contempt, and ran into the blackberry briar.; 3/15/17, 10:14 AM
PB said...: Dog breeds = eugenics, with all the problems. Go look up any breed and look at the genetic health issues.

Buy a mutt.; 3/15/17, 10:21 AM
Anne in Rockwall, TX said...: Love your jacks, Mad!; 3/15/17, 10:21 AM
traditionalguy said...: I felt sorry for the owner hustling to catch up as the Terrier lapped her twice. That dog has no empathy. But I bet he catches all the birds he sees.; 3/15/17, 10:21 AM
roesch/voltaire said...: What fun, it looks like our Chibi, a Papillon, when excited and distracted, but tonight we hope her focus well be better as we run a trial agility course.; 3/15/17, 10:55 AM
madAsHell said...: Go look up any breed and look at the genetic health issues.

The breeder gave up a winning dog because of genetics. My dog is a carrier for luxated lens eye disease. She is spayed.

Buy a mutt.

Agreed, but the local humane society only seems to have pit bulls, and chihuahuas. I'm in Seattle, and you cannot believe the expense that people will endure to have a dog. They send $500 checks to P.O. boxes in Texas, and just hope a dog comes north.

There's an operation in Taiwan that gathers up street dogs, and sends them State-side......for a premium!!; 3/15/17, 11:01 AM
Big Mike said...: An excitable Jack Russell terrier? Who has ever heard of such a thing?; 3/15/17, 11:17 AM
roesch/voltaire said...: Yes some breeds have been over-bred and have health issues, but always work with a reputable breeder, check the parents of the dog you want, and spend time with the dog before you make your decision. Then your chances of getting a healthy dog are good.
Buy a mutt is also risky so you have to make a choice on what kind of characteristics you want in a dog.; 3/15/17, 11:22 AM
madAsHell said...: Wow!! I find myself agreeing with R/V.

Who are you, and what have you done with the real R/V??; 3/15/17, 11:29 AM
n.n said...: He reminds me a lot of my dog... Taking life in stride.; 3/15/17, 11:36 AM
FullMoon said...: madAsHell said...

.....

The other day, we came upon a rabbit in the park. The rabbit froze, and the dog appeared to be pointing with one front leg off the ground. After some quantum of time, the dog still pointing, looked at me....."You might want to go over there, and catch that rabbit!".

The rabbit hissed contempt, and ran into the blackberry briar.

Jack Russell Terrier vs Jimmy Carter Rabbit.
BTW, was there some guy named Jack Russell responsible for the breed?; 3/15/17, 12:05 PM
whitney said...: That was fantastic. The video AND the commentary; 3/15/17, 1:20 PM
Ann Althouse said...: If I were to get a dog, I would research to pick the breed that would maximize getting what would fit my needs and tastes and find a great breeder. I would want to reinforce good practices. I think that's better than saving one dog tgat has resulted from bad behavior by humans.; 3/15/17, 1:20 PM
Kyzer SoSay said...: This was a great video. Thank you for the big big smile on my face, Althouse. Our yellow lab (really hers, I just adopted him when I came onto the scene) is just about as excitable but not quite as fun to watch. I'm hoping for a slightly smaller dog to replace Cooper when he's gone (still has many years left, hopefully). Something in the 30-50lb range, rather than the 80lb of yellow fur that is currently warming the foot of the bed (I assume).

I checked. Yup, still there. And our calico cat is cuddled up mere inches away. Animals are awesome.; 3/15/17, 1:41 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: madAsHell said...
Wow!! I find myself agreeing with R/V.

Who are you, and what have you done with the real R/V??

3/15/17, 11:29 AM

Even celestial asses, like garage mahal or our resident serial killer/philosopher R/V, can agree (or disagree intelligently and above all cordially) on an important subject such as dogs. Probably because they don't vote or pay taxes (the doggies, I mean).

Ann, what a control fetish you have. Did you endure really bad experiences with risk that make you totally unable to take a chance? You have no idea how any dog will turn out any more than you know whether your children will give you grandchildren.; 3/15/17, 1:45 PM
madAsHell said...: BTW, was there some guy named Jack Russell responsible for the breed?

There was, and there is also a mythology. Good luck sorting them out.; 3/15/17, 2:32 PM
madAsHell said...: If I were to get a dog, I would research to pick the breed that would maximize getting what would fit my needs and tastes and find a great breeder. I would want to reinforce good practices.

It's not really about the dog, the breed, or the breeder. It's about you, and you've already been vetted, and approved by Zeus.

Of course, you might also consider the size of the dog, and the outcomes such a dog can generate.; 3/15/17, 2:44 PM
Fernandinande said...: madAsHell said...
Agreed, but the local humane society only seems to have pit bulls, and chihuahuas. I'm in Seattle, and you cannot believe the expense that people will endure to have a dog. They send $500 checks to P.O. boxes in Texas, and just hope a dog comes north.

We took in 16 dogs in about 3 years outside the Navajo res, all but two of them puppies 6 to 8 weeks old. They were all medium-sized mixed-breed herding dogs. We'd got them checked/shots/anti-worm-gooed by the vet in Kayenta (w/discount!), and all were healthy, then get the puppies to some rescue groups that operate mostly in Denver and Salt Lake city. The dogs and their ancestors typically never go in a house and never see a vet, and sometimes have to catch some of their own food, so there's some natural selection going on; they have to be disease and weather resistant, not too stupid and maybe not have weird builds or useless fur. We kept one adult dog that loves everyone, which isn't typical, and rehabbed another adult who was terrified of people but turned into a lover, and found him a nice home. Neither had ever been in a house or car or had a collar on, but it's surprising how fast they adapt.; 3/15/17, 3:06 PM
Fernandinande said...: madAsHell said...
The rabbit hissed contempt, and ran into the blackberry briar.

My two would spend the next 30 minutes digging it out of there.; 3/15/17, 3:11 PM
Gahrie said...: The Ozzyman version is funnier.; 3/15/17, 6:41 PM
JAORE said...: I like dogs. I like big dogs..... I like outside dogs.

Our "last dog" died after 17 years of love. Wife Judy was asked to take over a failing county shelter. She didn't know anything about shelters, but she's the best manager I've ever met. We made solemn vows to NOT adopt any dogs until our traveling days are mostly behind us.

Neil is out Chawippet (Chihuahua- Whippet), Minnie is our Chug (Chihuahua-Pug). Neil had been dumped on a road, Minnie was really sick. They both needed a foster desperately. We did, we failed as fosters, i.e. we adopted.

Sign.... What cha gonna do?; 3/16/17, 9:15 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Oh, but when they reach out to pet you with those little rat claws...; 3/16/17, 9:19 AM