Stereotypes...

[IrishPeter]

I was born one mile outside of God's Own County, and have had to put up with a certain number of "Northern Man" jokes ever since I started running into folk from darn sarf. So I am well familiar with the archetypal northern English male portrait as being a canny, tight-fisted, ale drinking individual owning a cloth cap, a muffler, a Jack Russell, and a ferret....

A few weeks ago Herself decided it was time to acquire another dog. Criteria - terrier mix, 25lbs or under, no puppies. OK thinks I, I can deal with this, especially as she has ruled out Jack Russells as too hyper. Various adopt-a-mutts go by with varying degrees of angst until last Wednesday when she spots one in a Vetinarian run adoption centre a couple of burgs over. Paperwork is done, and meet-the-mutt is arranged. So off we go on Friday to meet, and as it happens, adopt, one adorable little 14 week old PUPPY! Terrier of parentage uncertain.

Anyway, I hauls the puppy off to the vet today to make an appointment for his booster shots. Of course the girl in reception wants to see the puppy, so I hauls him up on to the counter to be admired. We do the paperwork and we decide he is a terrier mix... and then the vet walks around the corner and says "That's a nice broken coat Jack Russell you have got there!"

At that point I went home to apply for the ferret. I have the ale, the cloth cap, and the muffler already, and I have a reputation for being careful with me brass....

Peter in Va.

[LNR]

Still laughing Peter, good one. Guess you won't get called to judge the local dog show then.
Grant

[DG]

Peter

not a very tall tail but told in a true, tragic tradition......................terrific.

You have quite the gift of storytelling, thank you.

Dave

[Big Jim]

You think you have problems, I am a mix of English, Welsh and Scottish ancestory. This means I am stuck up, mean and sing loudly.

Do you still need to apply for the ferret by carrier pigeon?

[Peter Butler]

Destiny! Sometimes these things are just meant to be..... I'm sure you will all get along fine and your Jack Russell will learn to put up with you eventually.
All the Jack Russells I have known (never owned) have great character and are BIG dogs in small bodies. Not just for Christmas remember!

[peter holcombe]

Peter
Well i have two Jack Russells and they are great fun to have around,
and i live in Devon only fault is when out in the garden every time i plant
something the youngest one digs it back up and brings it to me.
Peter

[IrishPeter]

He threw me because I am not used to seeing Jack Russell puppies, and he does not have the usual markings being white except for a tiny bit of . He is actually an adorable little tyke, and is not as high energy as my wife thinks a Jack Russell should be. We take him for a couple of walks each day and keep him well supplied with knotted socks, and chew toys, and things to do so that he is either asleep or occupied.

Cheers,
Peter in Va

[GTB]

He is actually an adorable little tyke, and is not as high energy as my wife thinks a Jack Russell should be.

If he's a broken coat, then you may be lucky and he has inherited the temperament of his rough coated parent. All the rough coats I've known weren't as hyper as smooth coats. They are still extroverts though and if you socialise him properly he'll be a great companion.

Monty was rough coat and a railway dog of perspicacity and taste. On the paddock railway, he'd bark his head off at anything powered by an ic motor, but would happily jump up for a cab ride on a steam loco.

Graeme

[Lonsdaler]

Tha' just needs a whippet t' keep 'im compney...

[daan]

Great story, eventually you'll end up on the spot you need to be, with ferret included. No worries.. We also have a blend Jack Russel puppy at home since 2 days. Though not the usual white, she's completely chocolate brown. We had a jack for 15 years before we had to put him down last year due to hart failure, so now it's time for a new bag of surprises..
She has to share her life with a Keeshond, a chihuahua, a Podenco and a big black cat.. Guess why my layout is called "cat's and dogs railway"..

Nevertheless, a Jack Russel is a ton of fun and cheerfull moments in a very small body and they are absolutely great company!

[IrishPeter]

Our usual vet took a look at the new arrival yesterday when we took him in for his booster vaccines, and he is 98% certain he's three parts Jack Russell; one part Cairn, which may explain why he is not quite as hyper as a Jack Russell. Being a terrier man himself he was absolutely delighted with him. Not sure if it helps with the flat cap and ferret situation, though, as terriers of the uncertain parentage but definitely a "Jack Russell accident" were variety were very common when I wor a lad!

Peter in Va

[CVLR]

Well oim West Country so it's all cider and pasties. Not sure what dog I'm supposed to own though; is my Border Collie all right? And as for a hat.....

[FWLR]

Well Peter when I wor a lad, we had a Lancashire Heeler and what a little joy he was. I remember poking his ears and he didn’t bat an eyelid. Great family dogs in my opinion.

For those who don’t know what a Lancashire Heeler is,

DSCF4200 - Version 2.jpg (217.98 KiB) Viewed 6129 times

Males stand 11” at the shoulder and Females at 10”, they generally are Black and Tan, but you can get all Brown. They were used for herding cattle but not too much now. They are a endangered breed now and very hard to get one from a reputable breeder.

I would love to have another one, but Anne with having her COPD, her lung capacity is less the 30%, just for the reason of dog hairs, although they don’t moult that much.

[Big Jim]

Ahhh, I always wondered where the mother in law got her looks from, now I know

[bazzer42]

Ah, black and tan. Our old cocker spaniel was black and tan and as pretty as a Lancashire wheeler!

[JMORG]

One of my friends is from Lancashire. The definitive traditional North British bloke; often saying "ya southern softies" despite myself being from the Shire of Gloucester...

[FWLR]

Not had to say that myself about Southerner’s, but if the cap fits and all that. Seriously found all of the UK to be most friendly in every way! It is the differences that make us what we are.