05/20/2026
😈Dennis The Menace😈
Dennis is a 17lb, 2yo recently neutered male Jack Russell terrier (working type-tall and HIGH energy).
Let’s talk about Dennis’ #1 issue: he is aggressive with strange dogs that are larger than him. As in, he wants to bite them and fight them and he will ask questions later. If they are male, he hates them more, and could easily be classified as same s*x aggressive. He does not want to share his house with other young punk males. “Oh but my male is so calm and friendly.” Dennis doesn’t care, he hates them for existing.
He’s a k**b on leash, but it’s not just plain old barrier aggression. He legitimately does not like strange large dogs, and hates strange large male dogs.
Have I lost you yet?
That being said, he currently is peacefully living with 4 large dogs (and 1 small) who were strange to him 2 months ago LOL one of which is an elderly grumpy male. BUT, I make no promises that can happen again! Part of the reason we have hung onto him so long is wondering if this is something that can be worked through, and my guess is with the right situation and trainer, maybe!
But, IMO he is also exactly everything a male JRT is supposed to be. He is a hoot and a half, main character energy, arrogant little bastard who just wants to play all day long! He is brimming with energy, so condo and leash walks are going to be a HARD NO unless you hate your neighbours and yourself. He needs to be off leash and running/playing every day.
Like most terriers he has a hard mouth. Decent for handling for a terrier, I’ve put meds in his ears and eyes, clipped his nails and touched him all over. But he is mouthy.
Oh my god and the jumping. This tiny dog can jump 5 feet in the air from a stand still, and will do it over and over again like he’s on a pogo stick beside you.
Two outdoor cats live on the farm he is currently on, one runs and he chases. The other stays still and he leaves her alone. So, terrier savvy cats only?
He’s house trained, crate trained, super food and toy motivated. We’ve been teaching him to rat and he loves it.
He loves people. Large and small. He just sucks at meeting new people, as he thinks jumping on them and mouthing their hands is how everyone ought to greet. He is currently living with a 6yo dog trainer child, and is lovely with her. But this is also a kid who lives with 5dogs, so she’s a bit different than an average kid. So ideally, no kids or farm kids only.
Dennis needs an experienced terrier owner, who loves and respects who he is and isn’t going to try and turn him into a docile shihtzu. Cause he sure ain’t one. I think he would be a nightmare in the city, so unless you are as nuts as him, and want to run 10-20km a day with him, I wouldn’t recommend him as a urban house pet. That being said, after a full day on the farm and quadruple your daily step count, he settles in to watch TV on your lap.
What I want for Dennis: a terrier person, who lives rural and won’t ask Dennis to be a leashed city boy. Ideally you have rodents to dispatch, and either a XL fenced yard/acreage/backwoods access or heavy experience training these nut bars. A great sense of humour would also be beneficial.
I would keep him. Honestly, I love him and he is hilarious. But when you already have five dogs, he’s not exactly 6th dog material. Like I said, he has main character energy. That being said we are looking for the most perfect home for this terrific (and sometimes terrible) terrier.
Please fill out an application at: http://www.thefarmrescue.net/adopt/application/
