Jackabee

Quick Take

• This small dog demands as much exercise as a breed nearly twice its size, and falling short has real consequences. See the exercise demands →
• Its hunting ancestry left behind instincts that can make the Jackabee genuinely dangerous in one specific household situation. Explore the hunting instincts →
• Training this eager-to-please dog has one hidden obstacle that catches most owners off guard. Discover the training challenge →
• The Jackabee carries a surprisingly long list of health risks, and one obscure condition stands apart from all the rest. Review the health risks →

The Jackabee is a spunky, hard-working, and upbeat little mix with almost endless reserves of energy. It is produced from a cross between a Jack Russell or Russell Terrier and a Beagle. As with any crossbreed, the Jackabee (also styled as Jack-A-Bee) will not inherit traits in equal proportion to its parents. Instead, it can inherit traits in many different combinations and arrangements. Most dogs will usually have the body of a Jack Russell and the head of a Beagle with muscular hindquarters, long and floppy ears, and a long tail. The thin, coarse, and sleek coat can come in many different variations, including cream with tan spots, white with beige spots, or a combination of tan, brown, and white.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Jackabee

Size and Weight

A full-grown Jackabee is a small dog with an athletic frame. Males tend to be slightly larger on average, but both sexes can grow to about the same size. They are on average 10 to 16 inches tall and weigh between 15 and 30 lbs.

Evolution and History

As the Jackabee is a relatively new hybrid breed, there’s limited information available about its origins, apart from the fact that it was likely developed in the U.S. around the 2000s from two breeds that originated in the U.K.

The Jackabee’s parent breed, the Jack Russell Terrier, is a curious and lively terrier that was developed in the 19th century for the purpose of fox hunting — a very popular pastime among the English upper class at the time. It’s also possible that the Russell Terrier (also known as the English Jack Russell Terrier and Short Jack Russell Terrier) is a parent breed of the Jackabee, and this breed is a little smaller than the Jack Russell, with shorter legs. Both breeds are named for the hunter and dog breeder Reverend John Russell, who was born in Dartmouth, Devon, England, and lived from 1795 to 1883.

The Beagle, the Jackabee’s other parent breed, is a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky pack hound that originated centuries ago to hunt smaller game animals. While hunting together, the terrier and hound had complementary roles. The terrier would chase the fox out of its den, and the hound would hunt it down and trap it. While it’s possible that the Beagle could be traced back to the 5th century B.C., it’s thought that the modern-day dog’s ancestors were scenthounds called Talbot Hounds, brought by William the Conqueror into England during the 11th century. Recognizable as the dog breed of cartoon character Snoopy, beagles are also commonly used around the world as detection dogs to sniff out prohibited items due to their superior sense of smell and tracking skills.

Common Health Issues

The Jackabee, like its parent breeds, is prone to several health conditions, including deafness, anemia, glaucoma, cataracts, ear infections, narcolepsy, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, dwarfism, and cancer. It also tends to suffer from a few developmental or degenerative disorders, including hip dysplasia (a dislocating hip socket, which can cause lameness), luxating patellas (a dislocating knee), Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (a degenerative hip), and intervertebral disc disease (a spinal problem that may cause pain and paralysis).

Another problem you need to look out for is Von Willebrand’s disease, which causes excessive bleeding due to a deficiency of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein that helps platelets stick together and to blood vessel walls during clotting. Potential owners should never neglect their dog’s health; always buy from a reputable breeder who screens for health problems, and follow up with your vet regularly to catch issues as early as possible. Despite the severity of some conditions, the Jackabee can still live 12 to 15 high-quality years.

Temperament

Don’t let its small size fool you. The Jackabee has a playful, alert, and energetic personality with a rambunctious streak and a mind of its own. Potential owners should be aware that its parent breeds were originally hunting dogs. As such, it was expected to use its intelligence and independence to hunt down and trap prey. This does not necessarily mean the Jackabee is a hunting dog now, but you should still expect the dog to have some hunting instincts intact.

This curious hybrid dog tends to literally follow its nose everywhere and explore its surroundings. It also exhibits some aggression toward small animals, so it shouldn’t be trusted around guinea pigs, rabbits, and similar pets. Some of these instincts can be minimized with good training as a puppy. Owners should also channel their energies into fun games and tasks. Otherwise, this dog can easily resort to mischievous and destructive behavior.

How to Take Care of the Jackabee

Despite its small size, the Jackabee is by no means an easy dog to care for. It needs the same amount of exercise as a dog almost twice its size. Nevertheless, this can be a good choice for both novice and experienced owners, thanks in part to the ease with which it can be trained. If you need more information about the particular details of your dog’s care, then you should consult with your vet.

The Best Dog Food

A full-grown Jackabee should be fed about a cup of dry food that is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The exact amount of food will, of course, depend on the dog’s age, size, and activity level. Because this hybrid dog does have the tendency to develop some degenerative or arthritic conditions, it should not be allowed to exceed a reasonable weight; obesity can put additional strain on the dog’s body and reduce its quality of life. Consult with your vet to obtain more information about the dog’s dietary needs and to formulate a good feeding plan.

Maintenance and Grooming

The Jackabee typically has a short, smooth coat that needs to be groomed about once a week with a simple slicker brush and comb to remove some of the loose or dead hair. To maintain proper hygiene, clean the ears with a cotton ball and brush the teeth with a canine-specific paste regularly. Baths should be given about once a month to keep this dog free of dirt and grime. As the Jackabee has a small jaw, this predisposes it to periodontal disease, so you should aim to brush your dog’s teeth regularly (every 1 to 2 days if possible) and supply chew toys that can help to keep teeth and gums strong.

Training

The Jackabee’s inquisitive, intelligent, and hard-working nature should serve it well throughout the entire training process. This mix is eager to learn and follow human commands. However, because of its keen sense of smell, the Jackabee is constantly bombarded by distractions. Owners will therefore need to invest plenty of time and patience with this mix; you should also consider holding your training sessions in an environment with minimal stimulation.

Positive reinforcement methods, such as treats and praise, work very well to encourage your dog to follow commands. If you are struggling with the entire training process, you might want to enlist the help of a professional trainer.

Exercise

The Jackabee is an energetic and high-spirited dog that needs some 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every single day (equivalent to around 10 or 11 miles every week) to satisfy its need for physical stimulation. This dog will enjoy long walks and runs, playtime, games, sports, and ‘earth dog’ activity challenges that really allow the Jackabee to flex its considerable hunting talents. It should do very well with a fenced yard in which it can roam around freely and play, but owners will need to keep an eye on this little escape artist since it tends to dig under or jump over fences.

Puppies

Jackabee puppies need to begin obedience training and socialization within the first few months of their lives. These dogs should be relatively easy to housebreak, but if you’re struggling at all in this regard, then you might want to buy a crate since puppies will rarely soil their sleeping area. A crate can also calm a dog’s anxiety and provide a safe space for it to retreat into. But owners should never treat the crate as a prison to mistreat the dog.

Jackabees and Children

The affectionate and playful Jackabee should be a great friend and companion to children of all ages. However, it is important to teach smaller kids the proper etiquette with these types of dogs to prevent bad interactions. While the Jackabee may have a high tolerance for roughhousing, it still needs to be treated with kindness and respect.

Dogs Similar to the Jackabee

If you’re interested in a Jackabee, Beagle, or Russell Terrier, then you might consider these closely related hounds or terriers. Here’s some information about them:

• American Foxhound: Intelligent, independent-minded, easy-going, and very affectionate, the American Foxhound excels at that distinctly British pastime, fox hunting. They are very well-known for their speed, agility, endurance, and hard-working personality.
• Smooth Fox Terrier: The Smooth Fox Terrier (along with its more wiry-haired cousin, the Wire Fox Terrier) is a lively and affectionate fox hunter that originated in England in the 18th century. It is characterized by a somewhat small body, a flat and narrow head, and a flat, dense white coat with black or tan markings.
• Australian Terrier: Originally bred from several British terriers, this is an affectionate, spirited, self-confident, and brave little dog with a long, harsh coat and distinctive furnishings around the neck and forequarters. It makes for a great friend and companion.