[Lara's mom]

I bought my Lara from a very responsible breeder. She only produces one litter per year and all the puppies live right in the home and are handled and loved. I have an ongoing relationship with her.

Lara isn't anything like what I understand a JRT should be. She's very timid. Unless Bailey is around, she's afraid of any dog who is bigger than she is. A friend of mine was babysitting for her a couple of days ago. He has a rabbit. I've always warned him not to take Lara to his apartment because I was afraid she'd go after the bunny. She laid down beside the bunny and fell asleep!!!

Our balconies are being replaced so, there are many baby pigeons that another friend has chosen to adopt and raise. Now, Bailey never even thinks of hurting anything. The odd time she's cornered a squirrel, she sits there staring at it, wondering why it won't run so she can chase it! However, Lara is pure terrier from six generations back. Karen is not afraid to have either one of my girls around the baby birds because they both maintain a respectful distance. I know where Bailey is coming from because she has a friend who happens to be a hamster and the two of them are having a love affair.

What I can't understand is Lara...Anybody have some ideas as to why she isn't displaying typical JRT behaviour?

[Yogi]

I think it is somewhat common in the terriers over the years that their instincts for which they were bred have diminished as in most cases they dog no longer performs or work as they were bred. In my case, the Miniature Pinscher is also a terrier and bred as a feral dog to work German farms in the same function as Parson John Russell's terriers. I know in my litters there are some that show no interest where others, the prey drive or desire is extremely strong. I believe it still comes down to the lack of using the dogs for what they were bred for and introducing them to the world of just being a pet.

[Lara's mom]

That would explain her not "having the bunny for lunch" or "hunting baby pigeon" but, I can't figure out why she's so timid. She has several "uncles" who love her dearly and play with her. Yet, she is afraid of strange men. She's afraid of any dog who is bigger than her unless Bailey is there to "protect her." Bailey is sometimes overprotective of her.

On the other hand, Lara digs like a fiend and is incredibly ball focused. However, just like Bailey, she will chase a squirrel until she corners it and then walk away in disgust!

I'm not complaining in that respect. I'm VERY happy that she doesn't kill things. It's just that I've always been told that JRT's are fearless and that doesn't describe my Lara at all. Could it be that between Bailey and me, we were too protective of her?

[lil mutt]

I see that would be good as she treat other animals not as prey. Do you think she needs to be more socialized?

[Lara's mom]

She's out several times a day either for walks or playing in the park. She gets loads of human interaction and plays well with small dogs.

[Lara's mom]

I spoke to Lara's breeder. We maintain fairly close email contact. She told me that she is just as puzzled as I am because all of her sisters and brothers are typical JRT's and wouldn't be safe with baby birds or rabbits or even cats!

Lara's absolute focus in life is her toys, particularly her dozen or so tennis balls. She will run right past a squirrel or flock of Karen's birds to grab her ball. BTW, I should mention that she isn't even two years old yet.

I have a cat that Lara is very fond of. She especially loves kittens. My vets office is on one of our walk routes and she will make a huge fuss to go into the clinic because my vet takes in kittens from a local cat rescue and displays them for adoption. She goes in there and lays by the cage and watches the kittens with her tail wagging. If one comes up to the bars of the cage she'll kiss it!

Please don't get me wrong. I'm VERY happy that she isn't predatory. It just seems really strange to me that the rest of the litter is so different from her. Could the fact that she is pet quality as opposed to show quality have anything to do with it? She has too much black to be show quality. JRT's have to be 51% white. I don't know if it means anything but, she was the smallest puppy of her litter...