Neither of them.

A Jack Russel is extremely independent. Both breeds are high energy and working dogs that need to be trained and socialized from the very first minute you get them. Both breeds actually require more than just being walked three times a day.

 

You've picked two breeds who are different in almost every single way except one..... neither fits your criteria one bit.

Steer clear of both.

 

How do neither fit my criteria one bit? I will be with the puppy from 6:00 am to 8:00 am.. He will be then crated from 8:00 am - 10-11 ish.. Walked from 11:30 till 12 ish.. Eat around 12:20-30 ish.. Be crated till 2:00 pm, left to roam in the backyard till 3 pm ish.. I will come home at around 3:15 and can be with the puppy till 11 pm. A walk fitting in from 5:30 till 6 PM ish.

How is that not enough time, attention and exercise for either breed?

 

I have 2 JRT, a 2 yr old female and a 6 month old male. One thing I have learned is to NEVER leave them to "roam" a backyard, you will regret it. They are diggers (mine are anyways), and when they really go at it, they can dig a hole under a fence within an hour. When we are at my parents house who do have a fenced in yard, we are constantly checking on them every 5-10 minutes. They both have a high prey drive and can never be off leash unless in a fenced in area and under constant supervision. My female can take 3 walks a day, plus play time, plus running after a ball at full speed for a good hour to 1.5 hrs....her energy is boundless. They also need constant attention, an owner who is NOT a push over, and set rules and guidelines (in essence you'll have a toddler on your hands constantly).

Neither breed is right for everyone and I personally don't recommend a JRT for a first time owner who cannot devote 90% or so of their time to them (I'm a stay at home mom right now with a 4 yr old and a baby due any day, then when I'm at work, I only work 2-3 hrs a day max...both dogs "fell" into our laps at 3 months of age). I would search for different breeds or even a mutt (maybe a lab, golden retriever, pug, etc) for a first dog. Then again this is just my opinion.

 

When things like "less exercise" "less attention" "Easier" are in your criteria, neither of these breeds should be considered. JRT's are maniacs, they need tons of exercise and can be very difficult dogs. GSD's are extremely social and require tons of attention. They can be bull-headed depending on the individual dog. Both of these are not dogs I would recommend for novices. As someone who ignored this exact advice about first time friendly breeds, I definitely think you should be looking at breeds that fit criteria like "less exercise" and "easier".

 

You do not want a German Shepherd.

I repeat. You DO NOT want a German Shepherd.

And you definitely do not want a JRT x.x

Here, here's more info!
The following is a highly useful resource for the GSD enthusiast and describes the breed in extreme detail
Illustrated GSD Standard by Linda Shaw: http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/Index_Page/Index_Page.htm

When people first start shopping for a dog the first thing they look at is, of course, what the dog itself looks like. This is completely normal, as humans are extremely visual and upon first glance one knows whether or not they appreciate what they are experiencing visually. The German Shepherd Dog is an extremely striking animal upon first glance.

Unfortunately many people purchase or adopt one of these dogs for the wrong reasons, from the way the dog looks, to their memories of the breed as a child (memories that are often false and exaggerated by a different perspective at the time).

So, here are some things to consider before you commit yourself to an unwavering friend for the next 10-14 years.

What kind of temperament are you looking for in a dog?
The German Shepherd Dog is a steadfast, noble, loyal companion. They love to be with their people and are highly social within their own family. However, they are also a breed that is quite aloof and intelligent, so if you want a dog that will fawn over everybody, it is best you look elsewhere. The breed standard itself states: The breed has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.

Please note that aloof does NOT mean "unfriendly". Aloof in its most base interpretation simply means "disinterested". The German Shepherd Dog will not immediately "take" to every person it meets in its life. If a certain person is around the dog long enough, the dog will accept that person as one of its own (to a certain degree) and will be met with a tail wag and perhaps even some licking, but otherwise this breed only tolerates strangers, and is not interested in forming any sort of friendship.

Please also note that this is the description of a fully matured (mentally and physically) animal. It is normal for puppies to want to run up and say hi to everybody, and this should be encouraged in a youngster. You will not ruin the "protective instinct" of this breed by socializing the dog properly. In fact, it is in the best interest of the owner, the puppy, and the breed for the puppy to be well socialized.

What kind of personality are you looking for?
Personality is an extremely individual thing, but just like temperament, personality can be generalized to a degree. This breed can exhibit "silliness" within their family unit, but overall they are a very serious sort of dog. When it's time to work, the dog works, when it's time to play, the dog plays....but still with a business like air about it. Like any other breed, they can get the "zoomies" and act out of sorts, and they will make you laugh, but they do not exhibit near the antics like dogs from the sporting group, and will often give the impression that they are "above" an action being asked of them.

How much do you care about shedding/grooming?
The German Shepherd Dog has a thick double coat. That undercoat (which is feathery looking) generally sheds out twice a year (some dogs do what is called "rolling Coat" where undercoat perpetually rotates), but the topcoat (the hard, coarse hairs) sheds year round. This breed's nickname is the "German Shedder". If you do not like a lot of hair in your house, consider the fact that you will need to vacuum often.

The good news is that even with the double coat, this breed is basically "wash and wear". A good bath once a month or once every other month is enough to keep them from getting grungy, and taking a slicker brush and pin brush to them 2-3 times a week significantly cuts back on the hair in the house.

Recommended tools for grooming:
Pin Brush
Bristle Brush
Slicker Brush
Undercoat Rake
Shedding Blade
Scissors
Nail Clippers/Nail Grinder

How much exercise are you willing to give the dog?
This breed can be very demanding in their exercise requirements, as one of their jobs was to work all day long with a herd of sheep (upwards of 200 head) and keep them within a boundary. The dog was a living fence and would cover several miles while doing its job.

They are not only physically demanding, but mentally demanding as well. The mistake that many people make is that they jog the dog 6 or 7 miles next to a bike, but don't understand why the dog is bothering them 2 hours later to do something else. The answer is that the dog isn't tired. They were temporarily worn out physically, but jogging is a mindless activity. It is extremely easy for a dog to just zone out and go through the motions, as no thinking is necessary in order to maintain their gait.

They thrive on puzzle games, and love to learn (in fact, their learning often gets them in trouble). That brings up the next question!

What kind of training level are you looking for?
What does this mean? Well, do you want a dog that is easy to train, or a bit of a challenge? Overall this breed is very easy to work with because they are what many people like to call "eager to please". What that really means is that the dog is highly biddable. The dog wants to work with a person because they know that the person gives out the rewards, and that is highly reinforcing to the dog. The German Shepherd Dog is, as a general whole, an extremely quick learner, which makes house breaking and basic manners training a snap (this can also make them good for a first time owner).

While all dogs go through the adolescent stage of giving a person the "doggy finger", eventually the German Shepherd Dog comes back to wanting nothing more than to spend time with their person.

Are you looking for a velcro dog, or an independent dog?
The German Shepherd Dog is most DEFINITELY a velcro dog! In fact, the first couple years of living with a Shepherd can be highly frustrating because they want to be with you, near you, or ON you almost ALL of the time! The days of going to the bathroom alone are OVER!

The breed is also highly prone to separation anxiety, but when one takes a look at their history, it is not surprising. These dogs have been bred to do jobs that involve them working very closely with one person (which is another point...if one wants a family dog that loves everybody equally, look elsewhere, because that is not how a GSD works). They were born and bred to be loyal to one person throughout their entire lives, so while they tolerate others, and can be trained to obey the command of others, they make it very clear who "their person" is (and there is absolutely no mistaking it).

 

I also recommend neither. I do suggest you consider an older dog (your first dog?) from a shelter. Herding breeds and terriers are very very high energy and (typically) high drive breeds.

Sometimes there are older dogs that have plenty of life left that would work out perfectly with your schedule and your criteria.

BTW this is coming from a German Shepherd owner and someone with a bit of JRT experience.

 

May I ask what is it that my schedule does not permit to do exactly? On average, I would be spending 8-9 hours with the puppy daily - my mother and father spending 2-3 hours daily. Is that seriously not enough? :/

 

It's not the amount of time, it's what you do with it. You've only mentioned daily walks which, as others have stated, are not nearly enough for these breeds. Do you plan on taking the dogs running? Training? Dog sports? They need something besides walks and romps in the backyard. You could spend 24 hours with a dog, and it won't be enough if it doesn't involve a structured training regiment.

 

Noone has commented on your time commitment. Trust me, time is NOT the most important thing. In fact, with high drive breeds, alot of the time it is least important. You need to be knowledgable and have a specific job that the dog is doing every day.

For example, the head of the rescue I volunteer for has 11 permanent resident dogs. All of them are high drive, she has border collies, malinois, field labs, etc etc. Both she and her fiance have full time jobs in addition to the rescue. They come home and spend the rest of the day with dogs, but with 11, each one only gets an hour of work, maybe. The difference is that it is an hour of WORK.

Read the posts again, and digest them fully. This isn't an issue of time, it's an issue of you not wanting a high maintenance dog.

 

Can't run with a large breed until at least 18 months of age and a small breed around 1 year old. Basically you need to wait for structured on-leash runs until the dog has reached physical maturity (so those ages are estimates but reasonable).

Sounds like you are in middle or high school (still living at home), can you truly commit to the time and effort for training and exercise every single day. Your schedule sounds like a lot of time with the dog, but what happens when you have finals coming up or your friends invite you to the beach for the weekend? Etc. Rain or shine, when you are sick, tired or busy, you still need to be giving the dog structure attention and unstructured fun time. "Left to roam" in the backyard usually leads to a dog digging under the fence, jumping the fence or just sitting there and doing nothing until you return. Some will spend the time barking their heads off at every cat, bird and passerby.

A puppy is a massive amount of work and would require the whole family to be on board for potty training (outside every 30 minutes, after meals, after playtime, after waking up, and before sleeping). They can't go to classes or on walks till all their shots are complete.

A slightly older (2-3 years old) dog from a shelter or rescue that has gotten past his nutty/wild puppy phase and is physically mature enough to run with, and is either housetrained/crate trained or at minimum at least old enough to hold it for several hours, will make your life so much easier compared to an 8-week old GSD or JRT.

 

I am 17, going into Grade 12. and will not be the only taking care of this puppy. My entire family is willing to put in work. This includes me, my sister (who is 16), my father and my mother. The responsiblity will not soely rest on my shoulders.

If I am busy then my sister will be taking care of the puppy. If not her, my father and mother.

 

It's good that you have a lot of time to give a dog. Both breeds you mention need an awful lot of training and socialization if serious behavior issues are to be avoided. How you train and socialize a pup are critical factors. Both breeds can become human-aggressive and/or dog-aggressive if that is not done properly. They can even become handler aggressive if you don't go at it with your head on straight. Neither breed is particularly forgiving of rookie mistakes. We won't even discuss the amount of property damage a bored GSD or JRT pup can do. You probably wouldn't believe me if you haven't seen it with your own eyes.

 

What happens to the dog when you go to college?

 

Well, I have my heart set out for a University that just so happens to be very close to where I live right now. So once again, time isn't a problem.

Also, once again, I am NOT the ONLY one who will take care of this dog.

 

If you get a GSD be prepared to comb it every day if you don't want to live in fur. I comb my dog in morning and in the afternoon and I still have clumps of hair wafting around in my house. If he sleep on the bed with me I wake up in a blanket of fur. I guess the amount of shedding depends on where you live but here it seems he sheds (and the other local shepherds I know also seem to) heavily through the entire summer.

They're a LOT of work. I was a novice owner and it was definitely not as easy as I originally thought it would be. Especially the shedding- I never expected so much shedding. I combed him once every two weeks for the first two months- I ended up with trash-bags full of hair before I figured out I really needed to comb him more often. Also he requires a lot of walking time and a lot of mental stimulation such as puzzle toys to keep him out of trouble. Not easy but it can be rewarding if you HAVE the time and ability to put in the WORK. I'm still working with him on some issues probably caused due to my lack of understanding when I got him

 

If you're going to be a university student I'd honestly recommend adopting an older dog unless you plan to do this over the summer- puppies can be very...whiny- especially at night- when you need sleep before that big exam day.

 

While I think university students can own dogs fine, especially with the assistance of family members and with dogs that are fully trained before they leave for school; regardless of the breed of dog, I say think really long and hard about getting a dog in the last year of high school or the first year of college. It sounds like you don't know for sure you will even be attending that university (like, having been accepted and paid your deposit).

First year of college tends to be far more time consuming than you expect it will be AND presents a lot of social and learning opportunities that a "needy" dog gets in the way of taking advantage of. Your schedule will not be as regular as in high school either.

If the dog you get becomes most attached to you (and GSDs tend to be "velcro dogs") then he could have separation anxiety when left with your family members. On the other hand, if this is really more of a family dog, are you willing to leave the dog with your parents for good when you move on to college or post-college jobs?

Again, I am NOT saying you should not get a dog. Just that those two breeds, and especially those breeds as puppies, do not sound right for your interests, expectations and abilities (time commitments etc)

 

Why were you thinking of those 2 breeds? Have you thought about what you (and your family) are looking for in a dog? If you google "dog breed selector" you should be able to come up with a few websites that ask you questions (that you should be considering already) and will make a list of dogs that match your responses.

 

Lol, well I used the Animal Planet one and I got German Shepherd as 95% compatible and Jack Russell as 94%... I dont know, I just love these two breeds (leaning more towards German Shepherd) and feel that I can provide enough love and affection to keep either one happy.

 

A smaller dog might be more for you fitting than a GSD.A JRT is very,very hyper.A Pug,or Beagle might be good for your first dog.Or maybe a shelter dog. I got a Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix,very big and mellow dog.But it took a lot of training and age before she got this way.A large unmanageable dog can cause a lot of problems.Take a look at shelters first,you might something you like,even if it isn't your first choices.Sometimes a dog will get your attention and you just can't help but fall in love with it.

 

Sounds familiar. I'm a German Shepherd owner, and just turned 17 years old. I'll be a Senior (12th Grade) this Fall. I'm a German Shepherd owner.

Frankly, the compatibility breed tests don't work out too well for me. I got told by one (might have been the Animal Planet one, actually) that a Belgian Malinois was among the best breeds for me. I was also told Chow Chows and Spaniels were the best breeds of choice for me, too. While those tests are fun to take, if that's the motivating factor behind you wanting a German Shepherd and a Jack Russell Terrier, I'd strongly suggest you reconsider.

Have you owned dogs before? What's your prior experience with German Shepherds, JRTs, and working type dogs in general? High drive dog? High energy dog? Dogs take a lot of effort, especially German Shepherds or JRTs... and not to mention as puppies.

If you came on here and said "I am looking for a high energy drivey breed to compete in agility (or Schutzhund or canine freestyle or frisbee etc.) with, and I like a dog that is very pushy and in my face with a strong and possibly dominating personality. I will be happy to provide 3-5 hours of exercise a day without including training and mental stimulation, and will take sole responsibility for this dog no matter what. I also LOVE the idea of getting my sleeves and pant legs shredded by sharp, eager puppy teeth." then I'd tell you to consider a German Shepherd. Reactivity, nerviness, drive, energy, temperament are all things to be considered.

But instead, your questions include "what breed is EASIER" "which breed is LESS WORK" "which one is LESS ENERGY", you imply that you want to do limited work with this dog. And that does NOT encourage anyone to recommend a GSD or JRT and much less a puppy.

I'm not saying it's not doable, because it is. I'm doing it right now. Got my first dog, a working line German Shepherd when I was 15 years old. I arranged everything myself from the start. Found a breeder, got in contact with him. Arranged a meeting, paid for the pup in part with the money I make from my job. Joined the message board before that, did my homework.

I still wasn't nearly prepared enough... but I put a lot of work into it, and made a great deal of compromises, though those compromises changed me for the better. 4, 5 hours of exercise with the puppy, and not jogging or running on concrete - playing chase in the fields, building ball drive, creating obstacle courses and playing on the school play ground when it was empty, arranging play dates with dogs I knew to be healthy and vaccinated and good with dogs. Took him out to socialize him every chance I got - even now, he walks by elementary schools to get used to children, walks by playgrounds and parks, sits in front of libraries, goes into supply stores and video stores, tags along for car rides so we can wait outside of a grocery store to practice focus and get him socialized. We drove a 4 hour commute for puppy classes and novice obedience. Every week, on a weekday. We drive a 4 hour commute once or twice a month to the beach because he loves it there so much.

I spend a LOT less time with friends now. I pass on parties and celebrations and even dances to watch my dog, or attend training classes. My family went to Las Vegas on vacation this summer. I didn't go, because my dog couldn't have gone with me, so I stayed home by myself to watch him. My friends called me to hang out this summer, go shopping, movies, parties, etc. Couldn't - have to watch the dog. He needs his walks, runs, and training sessions.

College? Yes, I'm going next year, and out of state. He'll stay with my family for a year, and the first year only, because that's best for both of us. But during my first year I'll be finding a pet friendly place to stay for our following years, and he'll come on the plane with me my sophomore year of college to live with me. It's going to be a lot of work, especially with my intended major, but that's the commitment I made and I'm keeping it. He's NOT going to be dumped on my mom, or my 15 year old sister. He's a German Shepherd with a strong personality and he'll walk all over them. It's going to cost a lot of time, effort, and money, but that's dog ownership. Wouldn't trade it myself for the world, but you better know what you're getting into.

Love and affection is important, of course... but unfortunately, that's not enough.

 

Also GSDs are super hard to rent with especially in college towns. If you move out then what? Are you prepared to spend the time and money to find that one apartment that accepts 'dangerous breeds'? You need to think about this more. What EXACTLY are the plans for this dog?

I'm in my last semester of college and I can tell you first hand that dogs and college are hard work. And my dogs are small (though one is incredibly high drive). This needs to be a well thought out process. You are in a very changing time in your life. No telling where life will take you. It's a HUGE commitment.

 

And you read the rest of my post regarding commitment and responsibilities?

Even if you do want a German Shepherd, are you prepared to meet the requirements the dog has for you? Will you consider adopting an adult? There are plenty of German Shepherds in rescues.

Once again

Have you owned dogs before? What's your prior experience with German Shepherds, JRTs, and working type dogs in general? High drive dog? High energy dog?

Laurelin also brings up a good point with rent. There are often weight restrictions, and more commonly, breed restrictions. What are the laws in your area? Have you begun to search for GSD friendly and affordable housing in the college/university area?

 

hello,

I am going to lend my .03 cents here.

I am a recent college graduate and am now pursuing my masters. I got my Aussie when I was in my senior year of college. let me start off by saying....the work in college is difficult, much different then highscool. It seem that you are only thinking about NOW, but what about upper level classes? Those are not easy. Junior year sucks. There is a lot of grunt work as you work towards your degree. Think about the time commitment.

You can also kiss goodbye to having social life. That's not a bad thing, however. My GPA went UP after I got my dog. But I didn't have this "super, awesome, great" senior year that must people want. I was okay with it though, because my Aussie loved me unconditionally. Even now, most of the time I go out, I just want to go home to see my dog and play frisbee.

In the same right, nothing can prepare you for a puppy either. I am a pretty active person, and I love my Aussie. But...it did take time and effort to find activities to channel his high drive tendancies, but in the end, it was worth it.

Also, think about costs such as food, vet bills, etc. Its not cheap.

 

I know you came here looking for a rather easy answer of which dog is harder/easier to take care of. Instead of that, you are getting a lot of people telling you not to get a dog just yet. I know that can be frustrating but everyone here is looking out for you and for your future dog. I would like to add a couple points though, if I may.

I am now a Sophomore in college and currently dog-less. I adopted a 4 year old Siberian Husky mix as my own personal - first ever dog- in my junior year of high school. It was a lot of work and she was clearly my responsibility to take care of and finance (shots, flea treatment, food, toys, etc.). It was great. She could be at the house alone (though she hardly was), didn't chew, didn't bark, yet had all the energy in the world to play and go on walks and was plenty sturdy. BUT, if we missed a walk she didn't go stir crazy and eat the house. (To give you a sense of her abilities, she went on a week long backpacking trip carrying nearly 1/3 her body weight in her own backpack, ran with my Dad in the mornings 3-4 miles and again with me about a mile, she dryland dog sled 2.5 miles up a hill and 2.5 miles down a hill, with nearly no help, during a training run with a musher and his 6 dog team, and she is smart as a whip).

I will implore you. If you need a dog, get a shelter dog that is already 3-4 years old. There are wonderful German Shepherd rescues and they can give you the perfect match. My parents are taking care of my dog now and I will be moving her up here next year. Having her here my first year would have been a mistake. You don't make friends in college by going home every day after school and playing with a puppy. You need to have the ability to go out and do well in your classes and make friends because a lot of the people you meet in college will be your friends for a long, long time.

You have nearly 60 more years to own dogs and do sports and everything else you want to do. Spend your time now learning. After class read dog books. Go to shows. Go to breeders. Email people. Join lists. Join breed clubs. You'll not only learn more but when you do want to get that perfect Shepherd, why, you have trainers you like lined up, a foot in the door of whatever sport you want to try, and plenty of dog friends that can help you choose the perfect dog.

I feel that right now you need to think very hard. Read books. Talk to people. Keep an open mind and really pour yourself into into decision and do research upon research.

 

I also do not think a GSD is right for you. I own a now 12 month old GSD and I got him as a senior in high school. I'm 18 and am starting my first year of college in a week.

You haven't specified anything you'd do with them that could exercise them mentally and fully before they're 1-2 years old. You can't jog, do agility, play frisbee hardcore, rollerblade, or anything else you listed before a GSD is a year old. What would you do before that?

GSD are also velcro dogs, so you can at least expect to have some SA issues with him being left in the backyard, and I would presume he would escape, dig, or hurt himself. You should not EVER leave a dog unattended of ANY breed in a backyard unsupervised.

With a puppy, you won't have much social life, as many said. You won't have much money, either. We spend about 150$ every two months for food for our two dogs, there's the price of a large crate, all the training treats and training class costs, and so on. I paid $350 for a pet deposit to be able to bring my GSD with me. You might plan on leaving your GSD at home with your parents, but will they know how to care for him properly?

Are you willing to spend upwards of $1,000 on a well-bred dog, or take care of any issues a shelter dog may have?

 

GSD are also velcro dogs, so you can at least expect to have some SA issues with him being left in the backyard, and I would presume he would escape, dig, or hurt himself. You should not EVER leave a dog unattended of ANY breed in a backyard unsupervised.

I disagree. Mine are as hardcore velcro as a GSD can get but they don't dig themselves through the fence or actually suffer from SA and go all crazy when I put them in the dog run and leave the unsupervised. I am around the property but I don't watch them all the time when they are in the dog run. I expect from a dog that I can actually leave him alone without having to supervise them 24/7 and you can train that.

However, I do seperate them. Yukon and Zenzy are together while Indra is alone next to Yukons and Zenzys run.

 

I know that it is not always so, but I believe you should prepare for the worst.

And I am personally very against leaving any dog in my backyard without watching after hearing so many stories about dogs being stolen or killed, especially living in a busy city like I do.

 

You might consider a Border Terrier over the Jack. A BT can do all the things that a JRT can do, but they are more amenable to training. They also tend to tolerate children better. I know you are not thinking about being a parent yet, but what are you going to be doing in 10 years?

A BT is about the same size as the JRT (quite portable), and they are sturdily built. You won't go out for a run and have to carry a Border Terrier for the last mile or two. They can keep up quite nicely. A BT will do agility, obedience, flyball, or earthdog trialing. They are not quite as common as Jack Russels, so they will be the more expensive pup. Still cheaper than the GSD, though.

 

Add me to the awesome rare owners club
I have been living out of home since I was 15
I got Jemma at the end of last year, and Cash at the start of this year I just turned 18 last month.
And I am proud to say that I am an awesome dog mummy
It is a lot of work, esp going to Uni at the same time. But I make it work and would do anything for my dogs.
I don't have a social life, I don't get to stay up, I don't get to party, I have to get up early, I work very very very hard.

We are truly a rare breed
It is too much work for most people, its like having a baby, most people can't do it while they are still young.