Jack Russell Story

Story Name: My Baby Bennie
From: Lou Symonds

My Jack Russell Story:

Hi, my name is Lou Symonds(short for Louise). My beautiful baby is “Bennie”. He is two in November. I travelled some 200 kms or more to buy Bennie - I was in desperate company of a dog and chose a Jack Russell. He has been the answer to all my dreams. - although I had thought intensely about getting one for more than 12 months after seeing another JR after a house boat trip 2 years before hand. (This was before I read anything about JR's. It still doesn't change my views, even though Bennie is a handful at times.

Although I had some “trialing periods” with him when he was a baby, it has not thrown me from loving him. Some examples are:

.. chewing everything left on the coffee table, biros, bills, anything
.. falling into the pool when he was a puppy and almost drowning on the first weekend
.. chewing up my “pill” from my bedroom if i leave the hallway doorway open
.. digging holes in the garden (he has now refrained from doing that - just small digs to bury a bone or biscuit)
.. chewing up mats, peeing on my curtains (even though he is house trained and has his own doggy door)
.. demanding new balls to chew up when I return from shopping
.. demanding my full attention when I am home from work (even now he is demanding me to throw his ball)
.. putting up with the ever existence of him losing hairs all over my velvet lounge suite
.. tugging madly on his leash when walking him - he loves to run.
.. jumping on dinner tables and licking plates(even when we have guests for dinner)
.. jumping on guests when they arrive for at least 5 minutes - biting kids in the face (through excitement) - not serious luckily
.. chasing ducks that land in the pool at the end of each winter and eating their poo - unbelievable!!
.. There are probably more things that he did as a pup, but isn’t doing them anymore.
.. when I change the sheets on my bed or sort the washing, Bennie tends to grow, bark and think it is a game. He also “attacks” the vacuum cleaner each week when I vacuum. I end up having to put him outside now when I am vacuuming.
.. has to follow me everywhere - even the toilet - and tends to bark and be a “pain” when making love with my boyfriend - by barking, etc.

Since having Bennie desexed, he has become very aggressive toward my boyfriend’s dog over his food and toys. I have scolded him when he has fought with the other dog and put him outside for a period of time. Although recently, he has refrained from this behaviour.

I do run him 4kms every morning and walk him for 20 minutes every night. What more can a mummy do!!!!

I recently had him desexed - this was last resort (pressures from family and friends in relation to his peeing inside and bonking anything and everything). I cried when I brought him home from the Vet (he was zonked out and ignored me- I was feeling guilty). I don’t believe in castration - it was a last resort). I thought that maybe the vet could just do a “nip and tuck” just like humans - but not so.

He has since stopped “bonking” my boyfriend’s dog but is still “cocking his leg” on my velvet curtains. I told that if I can take the scent away (using vinegar) he should refrain from this habit soon. Unfortunately I was not able to air the house out (because it is too cold) because of winter and Bennie will only go outside if he has to- too cold for him, even though he is housetrained. Anyway, it is now spring and I believe that the vinegar and the warmer weather should do the trick.

I am a computer person by trade and hope to import some pictures of my baby for you to see in the near future. If you don’t have that expertise, I would be happy to receive a letter and photos from you - I will do the same in return, either via the net or in a letter.

Look forward to communicating with you again, hopefully you have the technology of sending me some pictures of your “baby”.

Best Regards
Lou Symonds and “my baby” Bennie
Morphett Vale,
South Australia
AUSTRALIA

Return to List of Jack Russell Stories