Today we will talk about the Jack-A-Bee, a sweet and intelligent dog. It is a perfect blend of two active dogs, the Jack Russell Terrier, and the Beagle. This hybrid dog comes from a line of hunters and working dogs. The Jack Russell Beagle mix is highly active and will never turn down an opportunity to play and exercise.
In the canine world, the Beagle Jack Russell mix is a relatively new breed. As with other designer dog breeds, it is not recognized by The American Kennel Club. But its popularity is growing thanks to the many benefits of owning a hybrid dog.
While it is a relatively new dog breed, its parents have been around for a while. Terriers have been used for vermin and ratting control for centuries. Beagles, on the other hand, have been used for hunting. Nowadays, neither of the parents is used for their original purpose. But they have retained their instincts, including the strong hunting instinct.
Meet The Breed
The Jack Russell Beagle mix is known as the Jackabee, a cute pup that makes a great companion. While its parents have been used for hunting in the past, nowadays, they are amazing family pets. They are relatively easy to care for and will up with your active lifestyle.
Do you consider getting one? Well, we have to tell you some of the good and the bad things about this puppy.
As with most designer breeds like the Jackabee puppy, they are relatively hard to find, especially if they are rare and new. You can always try shelters and see whether you can adopt one.
Bringing home this pup will make the adventure of a lifetime. These loving dogs have plenty of energy and love spending it with you.
Meet The Parents
Given that there is no breed standard set by The American Kennel Club, if you want to know more about your puppy, you have to understand the parents first. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about the Jacks and Beagles.
Jack Russell Terrier
As one of the most feisty dogs, the Jack Russell is part of the terrier group. And he has some of the strongest personality traits and instincts of all terriers. A true terrier, he exhibits all of the good and the bad of the terrier.
Some Jacks might exhibit various degrees of personality traits. But with proper training and socialization, you can shape their behavior and improve the bad behavior traits, and then emphasize the good ones.
Here are some common personality traits of Jack Russell terriers:
- As athletic and active dogs, have boundless energy levels, able to run and roam the whole day
- Fearless and bold, they are confident dogs that belie their small size. Jacks will take on larger dogs without backing down
- Extremely intelligent, they are among the smartest dog breeds, but their terrier instinct prevents them from excelling
- While they are intelligent, Jacks are stubborn and independent. Their strong will means they will have their own ideas about what they want to do. It is a constant battle between their intelligence and stubbornness
- Alert, they have retained a strong hunting instinct and will pay attention to anything that moves. Jacks are amazing guardians
- Quick to learn, they are amazing at problem-solving
- They have playful and lively nature, engaging in games with enthusiasm
- A strong prey drive because of their hunting heritage
- Vocal dogs that express themselves through barking, but with proper training and socialization, it can be solved
- They have a natural instinct to dig because of their hunting background
Beagle
Beagles are part of the hunting group, but they have adapted to amazing family pets lately. Their hunting background remains, but they are rarely used for that nowadays.
As medium-sized dogs, they are ideal for different situations. Beagles are among the most adaptable dogs, able to live in a house with a yard or an apartment. Of course, if you provide enough exercise and mental stimulation.
These are some of the common personality traits to expect from a Beagle:
- Famous for their friendly and sociable nature, they are outgoing and enjoy the company of both animals and humans
- They have a keen sense of smell and are naturally curious
- Enjoy engaging in activities that challenge both their physical and mental abilities
- Enthusiastic and active, they love to explore
- Intelligent dogs that can be easily trained to perform a variety of tasks
- They have a strong sense of independence and might exhibit stubborn behavior. In most cases, they are determined and have a mind of their own
- Affectionate dogs that enjoy the company of humans
- Famous for their love of food, making them easy to train if you use food
- Vocal, but they communicate with howling, not barking
Appearance
This small to medium-sized dog has a compact and athletic body. Its physical appearance may vary, given that it is a designer breed. Generally speaking, he takes on most of the facial features of the Beagle parent breed, and the muscular body of the Jack Russell terrier. He can have either short and erect or wide and floppy, while the tail is moderately high and long.
We have to stress, knowing the appearance of the parents doesn’t guarantee your puppy will look a certain way. Coat colors vary between white, blue belton, white and chestnut, orange, white, lemon, chocolate, red, and brown.
Now let’s talk about size. They grow between 15 and 30 pounds, while their height grows to a maximum of 15 inches.
One thing is certain. Your Jackabee puppy will have a short coat.
Temperament
As we said before, your Jack Russell Beagle mix is a high-energy dog. Friendly and outgoing, he loves to play with everyone. If there is someone to provide playtime and mental stimulation, this dog will play the whole day.
This makes them a fantastic choice for a family pet. A household that is active and has children will love this companion and addition to their family. Their smaller size makes it a perfect addition to a small house. These dogs love children and love to participate in all activities.
But we have to stress their stubborn and independent nature as well. Both parents can be stubborn, so expect it. This means that they want to have their alone time as well as play.
When they are around strangers, they can be a bit shy but will warm up quickly. The biggest challenge is turning their stubbornness into motivation for work and play. But we will talk about training later on.
You also have to consider their high prey drive. They are known to chase small animals. Last, but not least, the irony is that these dogs can be a bit prone to separation anxiety. On one hand, they love spending time with their family. On the other, they are independent and need alone time. Striking the perfect balance between the two is the challenge.
When properly socialized, they get along perfectly with other dogs and even cats. Socialization is a must to prevent the tendency of the puppy to nip and chase.
Training
As we said before, training can be a bit challenging because these dogs have a stubborn and independent streak. The goal is to turn that stubbornness into an eagerness to work with you. And you can do that by playing to your dog’s strengths.
What does that mean? Well, it means that you are dealing with a hunting and hound breed, one that loves to sniff and chase. So, play games that will stimulate those instincts. For example, a flirt pole will help you do wonders with your Jack Russell.
And at home, you can teach manners by making sniffing part of the dinner and reward. For example, a sniffle mat can help you serve dinner and have your puppy motivated to work for it.
Positive reinforcement training is the best option. You just have to find out what motivates your puppy. Beagles and Jacks are extremely food-driven, with Jacks also loving toys. But not all toys. Jacks love to play tug, and that can help you achieve so much.
One thing you have to work on is the dominant personality of the Jack. Yes, your puppy will inherit some of the submissive and playful genes of the Beagle. But there will always be a bit of Jack inside.
This mixed dog needs plenty of exercise. You have an offspring of extremely active dogs. As the child of hardworking dogs, the Beagle Jack Russell terrier mix needs between 60 and 90 minutes of physical exercise per day.
They can walk or run more than 10 miles per week. That is a tremendous amount of exercise, and if you cannot provide it, there might be trouble.
But do not forget mental stimulation. You are dealing with an intelligent dog here with a bit of a stubborn streak. The more you motivate their brain, the less stubborn they will be.
These dogs love having a job to do.
Health
When it comes to small dog breeds, they are generally healthier. And Jacks are among the healthiest dogs.
The most common health concern for Jack Russell Beagle mix is obesity. These puppies love to eat. They can eat the whole day long. It is up to you to be careful and not overfeed your puppy. You should also provide plenty of exercise so that your pet doesn’t get overweight.
As for their life expectancy, they live between 12 and 15 years.
Grooming
The good news is that both the Beagle parent and Jack parent have a short coat. But the bad news is that even though they have a short coat, they are known to shed. For example, Jacks shed all day long.
You do not need to brush them every day, but once per week is recommended. They also might have floppy ears because of their Beagle genes, so make sure to clean them and check for any infections.
Are Jackabees Hypoallergenic?
Both parent breeds are moderate shedders. That means your puppy will be a moderate shedder as well. While some designer dog breeds are hypoallergenic, that is not the case with the Jack Beagle mix.
Why Shouldn’t You Get One?
- They need plenty of exercise, and if you do not provide it, they might resort to destructive behavior
- They are moderate shedders, and you might clean more than you want to
- Can be quite vocal
Why Should You Get One?
- Excellent companion for active families
- Great with children and friendly with other people
- Their small size provides versatility and adaptability in terms of living arrangements
