Jackapoo dogs are a designer breed, mixing the Jack Russell Terrier and Toy or Miniature Poodle. Although Poodles and Jack Russells look very different, their ancestors are both hard working, hunting breeds. Jackapoo puppies are intelligent, active and loyal. They can excel at agility and advanced obedience training, and make pretty great family pets too. As long as you don’t mind a bit of grooming and a lot of exercise!
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A Working History
The Jackpoo has been being produced accidentally for decades, but has only recent taken off as a designer dog breed. Their history to now is really the origins of their ancestral breeds.
Jack Russell Terriers were bred in England in the mid-1800s. Bred to be used as hunting dogs, mostly for fox, rabbit and other small game. Quick enough to keep up with other hunting breeds, but small and sturdy enough to flush and capture small game.
The Poodle has a longer history, dating back over 400 years. The Standard Poodle originated in Germany, where it was bred to be a retrieving dog for duck hunters. The Poodle’s off-the-charts intelligence, strong swimming skills and eager to please temperament, made it a perfect retriever.
The Standard Poodle, a full-sized dog, was bred down to the companion Miniature Poodle. The first Toy Poodle, an even smaller version, was bred in America in the early 20th century.
What Do They Look Like?
Like any mixed-breed dog, there will be some variance in Jackapoo appearance from dog to dog. Your Jackapoo puppy could inherit more characteristics of the Poodle, or more of the Jack Russell Terrier.
This is typically a small dog, weighing around 12-25 lbs and measuring 10-15 inches. Their adult size will depend a little on whether it was bred from a Miniature Poodle or a Toy Poodle.
Their hair is typically short to mid-length, and can adopt the curly nature of the Poodle’s coat, or the coarse coat of the Jack Russell. Coat color is usually black, brown, tan or white, or a mix of multiple shades. Some longer tufts of hair around the face and snout are common.
Do Jackapoos Shed A Lot?
Did you know that the Jackapoo is often considered hypoallergenic? There’s no breed of dog whose skin is completely free of the proteins which trigger allergies. However, many allergy sufferers report being able to spend more time around low-shedding breeds, like the Jackapoo!
If they inherit their Poodle parent’s curly coat, then the loose shed fur gets caught up and is less likely to shred around the home. They will however need regular grooming and clipping to keep their fur coats tidy and mat-free! Remember to keep up with hygiene as well, by brushing your dog’s teeth, clipping nails, etc.
Temperament Traits
Generally speaking, the Jackapoo will inherit the intelligence and pride of the Poodle, and the active, hardworking nature of the Jack Russell. Some break the mould and bear a very strong resemblance to one parent over the other. But what results is always an active, high-energy crossbreed that loves to have a job to do.
Jackapoos require frequent exercise, and love to play outside. They can become destructive if they don’t get enough exercise, so keep that in mind when making your decision. They also can be big barkers, if not trained otherwise.
Are Jack Russell Poodle Mixes Aggressive?
Jackapoos are not typically aggressive, so long as they are trained and socialized from a young age. The Jack Russell Terrier can be somewhat stubborn or aggressive with other animals, so again, socialization is very important.
Is This Mix Good With Kids?
Your Jackapoo will typically get along well with children, as long as it’s been socialized well. They can be a bit noisy, but tend not to push or jump up. And are likely to be too small to knock over a kid too.
Training
The trainability of the Jackapoo depends on which parent breed comes through stronger. The Poodle is famous for its obedience and trainability, while the Jack Russell can have a bit more of a stubborn side.
Both parent breeds are extremely intelligent, so training usually goes well. Some Jackapoos can have a stubborn, prideful streak, which can sometimes complicate training plans. Patience might be required. Although, in the end, you’ll be able to train your Jackapoo to do just about anything!
Your Jackapoo should be trained frequently, using positive reinforcement training. If need be, you can hire a professional trainer – but most Jackapoos can be trained at home. The Jack Russell in your Jackapoo might cause the dog to bark frequently. This can usually be addressed through training, but nonetheless is something to keep in mind.
Socialization and Exercise
This is a very high energy dog! Your Jackapoo will need plenty of exercise every day. In addition to walks, you’ll want to schedule in some playtime to keep your Jackapoo engaged and happy!
Socialization is very important for all dogs, but particularly for the Jackapoo. If they are not exposed to plenty of other animals, dogs, children and strangers, the Jackapoo can become stubborn or even aggressive.
(paid link) Health
Fortunately, most of the common health concerns of the Jackapoo are mild. Dry skin, allergies, and ear infections are common in this breed, but easily treatable. Concerns like deafness, patellar luxation, arthritis, cataracts, thyroid disease and others are also possible be less frequently seen.
They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years.
Jackapoo Puppies
Although it’s not the most common designer dog breed, you will find Poodle Jack Russell Terrier mixes from time to time. Ask the breeder to show you health test certificates for both parents, and where possible meet them both too.
The puppies should be lively and alert, and the parents should be friendly and have an obvious strong bond with the breeder.
TV schedule says
I think this is a great mix! I have a Jack Russell and a Poodle mix and they are the best of friends.
javy says
i have a litter of 5 jackapoohs
Lori says
I could use some help with my year old Jackapoo Barking and lease training also dose not like to potty outside.
Janice Tillman says
Deeohgee will be 1year old in March he adopted us when he was 6 months old . He is very high energy ,very intelligent and very loving. He does shred his toys and can escape harnesses.He loves walks but not car rides as he gets car sick
Sherri says
Our girl Speck is 9 months old we have had her since she was 7 weeks old.she is more jack then poodle. Barks her head off if the wind blows.and shreds all her toys.we love her to death she is a great lover with the best heart.she doesn’t chew shoes or things that are not hers .but digs all over the yard if she thinks she can get away with it she is worth all the little inconveniences she makes all our days happy with her plain old love of life
Wizard says
My sweet baby Emma is now around 18 months old and we have had her since she was 5 weeks old. She’s extremely intelligent and energetic. Thankfully we have a large fenced in yard which allows her to run around like a complete maniac on speed. Even with tons of space she demands that we play and run around with her. Thankfully I have 2 young boys that have the energy to run around and keep her busy. She hates the rain and if she doesn’t get to run outside she’s a handful. She will grab anything and everything in her reach and rip it apart. We’ve had to make our house “child-proof” and even hide our shoes in bins for the days when she doesn’t get her required exercise. She’s very high energy but the most loving companion.
Nina says
My jackapoo is the color beige (getting a bit gray!) and male, he’s between 11-13 y/o. I wish he could stay with us longer, but his time his coming. Although he’s getting old, he still has the energy of a puppy, and keeps his nose to the ground! He’ll spot whatever moves (especially squirrels) otherwise he doesn’t notice it as though he’s blind. He definitely needs plenty of attention and loves to be outside. Barks at anything that moves and takes any opportunity to run. He’s very whiny (professional at puppy eyes) whenever he wants to go out (24/7), he also needs plenty of love and play! He likes his space so when he’s done playing, he’ll go in a cozy corner away from everyone. Whenever there’s something that scares him (fireworks, house noises, thunderstorms) he tries to get everyone in the house to where he wants to go. Sometimes dog soothing music helps. It’s usually in the middle of the night so it doesn’t work very well, so if you can’t camp it out in the basement, plan for a night full of crying and occasional bark for attention. He sheds a lot, and his fur gets knotted quickly, probably from the pets, rubbing his head & body on anything whenever he’s excited (like my legs and the couch), and napping on the floor.
We haven’t been able to train him (he’s extremely stubborn about where he wants to go and VERY picky about what he eats, he doesn’t like any kind of treat we get him!) so he’s aggressive towards other animals, also picky about who he likes (animal and person wise). He’s more dominant and prefers dogs that don’t stand out. It makes things difficult, so if you can, definitely find a way to train your jackapoo to be more comfortable around other animals! They’re quite the explorer, so if you don’t have a fence, it’ll be difficult to keep them in the yard. He pulls on the leash a lot, so a good solid harness (not the flimsy, loose ones) really does matter.
Andrea Harmon says
my guy is so stubborn he’s 13 i can carry him around in a bag but he has never liked kids doesn’t bark much loves to suckle on his blanket after eating
Bonnie says
I’m a senior citizen and I had Patterdales before …I loved their size very smart…oh some of the stories…I want a puppy that I can take with me when I drive …basically any where I go… would this work…
Andrea Harmon says
my jack a poo would rather wait in the car than be left at home when i get back in the car he is always on the driver side floor
Max says
Our jackapoo is a wonderful bundle of energy. He requires frequent walks and lives long sprints off the lead so that bit is accurate. He also chases anything that moves but is very friendly with people and other dogs is very trusting and very very clever he will do almost any trick that my daughter has taught him.
KPflum says
We have had our wonderful, loving, adorable girl since she was just a small puppy. She does not bark unless a guest has arrived or an animal is in our yard.
She also sleeps most of the time!!!
She strives to please us but can occasionally pout 😂 but only for a minute or two. She has a heart of gold and will be turning 7 in March.
She does shed more than we’d like but she is sooo worth it!!
*I’ve left a few comments and hope this is the only one that shows up!
My phone kept autocorrecting words and it was correct – regardless you now have the whole story of our situation with our wonderful girl! She truly is priceless!! ❤️
KPflum says
We have had our wonderful, loving, adorable girl since she was just a small puppy. She does not bark unless a guest has arrived or an animal is in our yard.
She also sleeps most of the time!!!
She strives to please us but can occasionally pout 😂 but only for a minute or two. She has a heart of hold and will be turning 7 in March.
She does she’s more than we’d like but she is sooo worth it!!
KPflum says
*excuse the misspelled words…that would be my phone. Our sweet girl is very intelligent and loving are the words that were misspelled.
We have had her since she was a puppy and she is now almost 7 years old…obviously not all these breeds bark a lot and are high energy.
KPflum says
We have a female Jackapoo. She is not high energy what so ever and only barks when a guest arrives or there is an animal in our yard!
I don’t agree with this most information!!!
We have had her since she was a puppy. She is very living and loves to please! Also, very intelyehich was mentioned above.
Pam Meyer says
Looking for a miniature Jack a poo in Washington State area
Sue says
How much would you expect to pay for a puppy Jackapoo/jackadoodle in Australia?
Neil Goddard says
Looking for a male Jackapoo puppy. We are in the East Midlands. Can anyone help?