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Jack Russell Price: How Much Do They Cost to Buy and Raise?

A Jack Russell Terrier costs $1050 on average. The lowest price for a Jack Russell is $600, but prices can reach up to $1500. Adopting a Jack Russell costs between $50 and $350, but some shelters ask for up to $600 for neutered dogs. In rare cases, you can adopt Jack Russells for free directly from their owners.

The essential annual costs for Jack Russell Terriers include many expenses:

  1. Initial supplies
  2. Food
  3. Medical care
  4. Spaying or neutering
  5. Pet Insurance
  6. Grooming
  7. Training
  8. Entertainment
  9. Traveling

And so on.

This article discusses the price of buying a Jack Russell Terrier, and how much you have to pay for their care. Some monthly, annual, and one-time expenses are essential, while others are optional.

You will also learn how to reduce your expenses, such as DIY training and grooming.

How Much Do Jack Russell Terriers Cost?

Jack Russell Terriers cost between $600 and $1500 if you buy them from breeders. Top-quality puppies cost between $1800 and $4500. The adoption fees range from $50 and $350 if you adopt them from shelters. Jack Russell Terriers can be adopted for free directly from their owners. 

Jack Russell Price from Breeders

Jack Russell Terriers purchased from breeders cost between $600 and $4500. Puppies of average quality range between $600 and $1500. Jack Russell puppies that come from families of champions can go up to $4500.

Many factors influence the price of Jack Russells from breeders:

  • Pureness (pure or mixed breed)
  • The breeder’s reputation
  • Bloodline (if they come from a family of champions)
  • Popularity of Jack Russells in the breeder’s area
  • Age
  • Medical expenses spent by the breeder
  • Training the dog has received from the breeder

Adoption Price from Shelters

Adoption fees for Jack Russells vary depending on the shelter you buy it from and the dog. These fees include what the shelter invests in dog medical care before adoption.  

If the Jack Russell you want to adopt was neutered while in the shelter, you can end up paying up to $600.

Adoption Price from Shelters

Adoption From Owners

Adopting a free Jack Russell Terrier directly from owners is difficult. They are not as popular as Golden Retrievers, making them more difficult to find. It is not impossible to find a free Jack Russell but you have to be persistent and patient.

Jack Russells Price vs Other Breeds

This table compares Jack Russell’s price to the costs of the most popular breeds in the United States. [1]

BreedPrice
Jack Russell Terrier$600 – $1500
Labrador Retriever$700 – $1500
French Bulldog$1500 – $3000
Golden Retriever$1000 – $3000
German Shepherd$1000 – $4000
Poodles$500 – $2000
Bulldogs$1000 – $6000
Beagles$300 – $1200
Rottweilers$1500 – $2500
German Shorthaired Pointers$600 – $1500
Dachshunds$500 – $4000

Jack Russell Price for Initial Supplies

The cost of the initial supplies you will need for your Jack Russell Terrier ranges from $120 to $650. The cost varies depending on the quality of the supplies you want to buy. 

The table below illustrates the supplies needed, their importance, and their costs. You can reduce the list according to their importance.

List of Initial Supplies for Jack Russell Terriers

SupplyImportanceCost
Food bowlHigh$5 – $40
Water bowlHigh$5 – $40
Collar or HarnessHigh$5 – $40
Leash High$5 – $30
ID tagMedium$5 – $20
BedHigh$15 – $110
ToysLow$15 – $100
First-aid kitHigh$15 – $50
Toothbrush and toothpasteHigh$5 – $15
Poop bagsHigh$15 – $110
Poop scooperHigh$10 – $30
House training padsAverage$15 – $45
Odor removal sprayAverage$5 – $20
TOTAL$120 – $650

Expenses for Food for Jack Russells

Jack Russell Terriers’ owners spend an average of $19.1 per month and $232.5 per year on dog food.

Jack Russell terriers are small dogs. They don’t need a lot of food. Keep this in mind when you are feeding your Jack Russell. 

Healthy Jack Russells weigh between 13 and 18 pounds, on average. The healthy amount of food for this weight is between 1 and 1.3 cups of dog food per day[2]. One cup of dog food weighs around 4 ounces.

This means Jack Russells eat around 4 and 5.2 ounces of food per day. The average cost of dog food per pound in the US is $2.22.[3]

Expenses for Food for Jack Russells

This table lists the average food costs for Jack Russell Terriers.

TimeframeFood AmountPrice
Daily4 – 5.2 oz$0.55 – $0.7
Weekly1.75 – 2.275 lbs $3.85 – $5.05
Monthly7.5 – 9 lbs$16.6 – $21.6
Yearly91.2 – 118.6 lbs$202 – $263

Jack Russell Medical Care Costs

Vet visits for annual procedures cost $527 on average in the first year and $576.5 from the second year on. The yearly average is $551.75.

Jack Russell Terriers need several visits to the vet during the first year to get all their shots. If your dog is healthy, and Jack Russells usually are, you will still have to get them to the vet for annual checkups.

What Affects the Lifespan of Jack Russells

The costs of vaccination and prevention procedures are detailed in the following table.

InspectionFirst-year CostsAnnual Costs
Routine care and vaccines$100 – $350$80 – $250
Rabies vaccination$15 – $50– 
Distemper vaccination $20 – $30$40 – $60
Deworming $20 – $50$80 – $200
Flea and tick prevention$40 – $200$40 – $200
Heartworm tests$0 – $35$0 – $35
Heartworm prevention$24 – $120$36 – $132
TOTAL$219 – $835$276 – $877
Average$527$576.5

Treatment Costs of Various Health Conditions

Jack Russell Terriers are generally healthy, but there are some health issues that can affect them. These issues are common to other dogs, not specific to their breed.

Read about the cost of general health issues that affect Jack Russells in the table below.

Common Dog Health IssuesCosts (Low to High)
Eye infection$115.45
Ear infection$149.30
Skin infection$175.97
Diarrhoea$203.14
Allergies$234.84
Arthritis$255.75
Sprains $267.17
Upset stomach$385.46
Bladder issues$617.17

Jack Russells are affected by several health issues specific to their breed. These conditions and their costs are listed in the table below.

Jack Russell Specific Health IssuesCosts
Patellar Luxation$300 – $2000
Cataracts$1500 – $3000
Lens Luxation$500 – $3000
Ichthyosis$200 – $1000
Congenital Deafness$100 – $300
Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis$500 – $3000
Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis$150 – $300 (monthly treatment)
Von Willebrand’s disease$800 – $1500
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease$1000 – $3000
Cushing’s disease $600 – $2500

Spaying or Neutering Jack Russell Terriers

The neutering price for male Jack Russells varies between $75 and $250, depending on the clinic. Spaying female Jack Russells is more expensive and costs between $200 and $400. This procedure starts from $40 in low-cost clinics for small dogs.

Neutering is not essential but it can extend your Jack Russell’s lifespan. This procedure reduces aggressivity and is highly recommended by vets.

Jack Russell Pet Insurance Cost

The average cost of pet insurance for Jack Russells ranges between $30 and $50 per month. This results in an average of $480 per year.

The number of annual pet insurance policies for pets in the US in 2018 was 2,156,488. This number has almost doubled in 2021[4]. This data suggests pet owners find pet insurance more affordable than previously compare to paying for treatments every time their dog is sick.

Providing pet insurance for your Jack Russell Terrier is a longtime investment. This type of insurance will reduce your overall expenses.

The factors that influence the cost of pet insurance are age, period, and coverage. The more benefits you have, the more expensive the insurance policy is.

Jack Russell Pet Insurance Cost

The more expensive pet insurance policies for Jack Russells cover:

  • Vet costs
  • Loss or theft
  • Behavior issues training
  • Death by illness or injury
  • Liability cover
  • Cattery and kennel fees

Types of Pet Insurance

Pet insurance policies are categorized depending on the period:

  • Lifetime policies
  • Annual policies
  • Accident-only Policies
  • Maximum benefits or ‘per condition’ policies
Lifetime Policies

This type of pet insurance covers a Jack Russell’s medical care throughout their life. You will pay yearly premiums which do not change regardless of your dog’s health issues. Some lifetime pet insurance policies increase premiums when dogs are seniors.

Annual Policies

Annual pet insurance policies are limited insurance policies. They require monthly payments for the duration of one year. Annual policies are flexible and allow you to add or remove additional coverage every year. This type of insurance policy is appropriate if your dog rarely gets sick.

Accident-only Policies

This type of insurance covers costs related to accidents. It is among the most affordable types of pet health insurance policies.

Maximum Benefits or ‘per Condition’ Policies

You can get this type of insurance for specific Jack Russell health issues. It covers the entire treatment of certain health conditions. 

The prices for this type of insurance policy differ among health issues. Some medical problems need more expensive treatments, resulting in more expensive insurance policies.

The following table illustrates the average premiums in the US during 2021.[5]

Type of Insurance PolicyCost per Month
Annual – accident and illness$48.66
Accident-Only$19.83

Jack Russell Terriers Grooming Costs

Grooming costs for Jack Russells average between $210 and $270 per year. This breed needs grooming once every two months. If you want to do it yourself, the costs vary between $35 and $495, depending on the quality of supplies you buy.

You can reduce the price of grooming by doing it yourself. But beware that this isn’t as easy as it sounds. This also requires you to buy the necessary supplies when needed.

 

Jack Russells Proper Grooming

The costs of Jack Russell’s DIY grooming are listed below.

SupplyCosts
Brush or comb$5 – $45
Toenail clippers$5 – $30
Shampoo$5 – $20
Dog hair dryer$20 – $400
TOTAL$35 – $495

Jack Russells Training Price

Jack Russell’s training costs vary from $1050 to $1400, depending on the type of training you decide to buy. If you decide to train your dog yourself, the costs are diminished to an average of $396.

Depending on how quickly they learn, Jack Russells need between 7 and 9 private sessions or around 5 group sessions.

It’s important to train your Jack Russell, as they are high-energy dogs. Most people choose to have their dogs trained by a professional.

DIY Training Supplies and Their Costs

If you decide to train your Jack Russell by yourself, you need to invest in training supplies. This investment comes with no additional costs. 

The table below lists the supplies you need and their prices.

Training SuppliesAverage Cost
Treat Pouch$36
Soft Collar$50
Harness$25
Two-meter training lead$20
Soft mat$30
Two toys$20
Soft grooming Brush$25
Crate$90
Playpen$100
TOTAL$396

Entertainment Costs for Jack Russells

The entertainment costs for Jack Russells start at $6 and go up to $75 per day. This adds up to $180 to $2250 per month, depending on your needs and availability.

Jack Russell Terriers are energetic dogs. They need a lot of attention and physical activity to stay healthy. The entertainment costs for these dogs can be $0 if you spend the time and energy to play with them.

If your Jack Russell spends a lot of time alone because you are busy, you will have to pay for extra services. Some investments are needed, such as dog walkers, dog sitters, or doggie daycare:

  • Dog walkers charge between $19 and $29 for a 30-minute walk. 
  • Dog sitters’ rates vary between $20 and $30 per day and $45 to $75 per night.
  • For a full day of daycare, you have to pay between $12 and $38. 

Doggie daycares also have the option of caring for your dog for half a day. Most establishments charge between $6 and $25 for this.

Entertainment Costs for Jack Russells

Jack Russell Terriers Traveling Costs 

Plane travel fees for Jack Russells are around $125. Traveling by car is free if you don’t need a carrier. Carriers cost between $27 and $150. 

Traveling with Jack Russells involves extra costs for accommodation. They do not differ a lot from the costs for other breeds. There are differences between the types of accommodation you choose, such as premium or low-cost.

Total Jack Russell Price

After you buy a Jack Russell Terrier you will have to make essential and optional expenses.

When you purchase a Jack Russell, you will have both one-time expenses and periodical expenses. The one-time costs include the initial supplies, neutering or spaying, and training.

The monthly and annual costs include food, medical care, grooming, entertainment, and pet insurance.

The following table illustrates the essential expenses for a Jack Russell Terrier, as well as their prices.

Essential PurchaseAverage One-time CostAverage Costs per MonthAverage Costs per Year
Adoption fees$200– – 
Initial supplies$385– – 
Food– $19.1$232.5
Medical assistance– – $551.75
Grooming– $20$240
TOTAL$585$39.1$1024.25

The optional purchases for a Jack Russell Terrier and their costs are listed in the table below.

Optional PurchaseAverage One-time CostAverage Costs per MonthAverage Costs per Year
Buying costs$1050– – 
Neutering $237.5– – 
Training$1225– – 
Entertainment – $1215$14,580
Pet insurance– $40$480
TOTAL$2512$1255$1560

How To Reduce Costs for Jack Russell Terriers

The best way to reduce the costs of Jack Russells’ care is to choose cheaper alternatives for grooming and training or to do it yourself.

Spend a lot of time with your Jack Russell and make sure they get enough exercise to keep them healthy and happy. This will reduce the number of visits to the vet, reducing your medical expenses.

Invest in a health insurance policy if your dog has chronic health conditions. The treatment and medical care for these conditions are expensive. A pet insurance policy will reduce your expenses.

Final Thoughts

Jack Russell Terriers are not expensive compared to other popular breeds. A Jack Russell costs between $600 and $1500.

The annual expenses that follow after you buy a Jack Russell terrier are not as high as with larger breeds. The essential purchases go up to around $1024, including medical care and food.

Jack Russell Terriers are healthy dogs that have a high life expectancy. Jack Russell owners have relatively low expenses on their dog’s medical care. They make great partners and are highly affordable.

About Dennis Stapleton

Dennis Stapleton has a passion for animals, especially dogs, and their relatives. He’s intrigued by their social structure and loves to write and teach about the world's most popular pet animal.

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