A very popular breed in New Zealand & Australia is the Jack Russell Terrier

This active busy hilarious dog is a great favourite, and an ideal companion, for an active person with a good sense of humor who wants a lot of entertainment and mischief in one small dog.

He is often seen in the company of people who favour equestrian pursuits and also in the farming community. A funny and popular event at agricultural shows in New Zealand is the Jack Russell Terrier race, where it is not always certain if the participants will run in the right direction, get along with each other, or even bother to stop at the end of the race.

The Jack Russell Terrier was developed in 19th century England by a clergyman named John Russell. This feisty little terrier was used to hunt small game, particularly fox, by digging the quarry out of its den.

The Jack Russell Terrier;

• is a cheerful, merry, devoted and loving dog.
• It is spirited and obedient, yet completely fearless, sometimes to the detriment of his own safety. This is a dog that thrives on action and adventure and in the process, it often finds itself in the middle of trouble.
• It is a true hunter at heart and will explore, wander, chase and dig when it gets a chance. It is very playful and intelligent and gets along well with children and strangers. It does well with horses, but it may chase cats and is not good with rodents – which for many farmers is considered a bonus.

Like any other breed they are prone to a variety of health problems, with loss of joint mobility being one of them. We look after them, love them and it's very hard to see our beloved little friend being less mobile due to normal wear and tear or injury.

1. Prevent an overweight dog, as every kilo to many, is a kilo which has to be carried by his / her joints.
2. Exercise will help to maintain not only a healthy weight as well as a mentally happy dog, but is crucial to the mobility of the joints.
3. Provide a draft free and dry sleeping area and there is special orthopedic bedding designed for dogs on the market, which support sore joints.
4. Massage & Laser therapy or acupuncture , are non-invasive but are able to relief tension of the muscles, which are often tight to compensate for joints, which are either out of alignment or inflamed due to Arthritis. In NZ we are very lucky, as we have vet clinics who provide these services.

5. Hydrotherapy, getting your dog in the water will allow joints to move more freely! This is a great non-drug way to improve mobility and relieve pain. Depending on your dog’s preferences and specific problems, free swimming may work great, or you may get better results with water treadmill exercise. It can also be a great way to help your dog lose weight

6. Nutrition which supports healthy joints;

Naturally the dogs body uses inflammation as our healing process, as a defense against infections, bacteria or injuries. Healthy inflammation levels in the dog's body will help maintain mobility in joints and tendons.

Wear and Tear can affects one or more joints, and can effect dogs of any age, but is more commonly associated with older and aging dogs. It can result in changes to the cartilage, fluid, bones and capsule of the joint.

The joints most commonly to lose mobility are the hip, knee, elbow, shoulder, carpus and spinal column causes:

• normal wear and tear and / or damage to the joint cartilage.
• Traumatic injuries that result in joint instability
• Obesity - being overweight increases the forces acting on the joint
• Genetically weakened or unstable joints e.g. hip dysplasia
• Failure of proper bone development in young dogs

• Loss of Mobility

Your dog may become reluctant to do things that he previously could do with ease. You may notice he has become reluctant to jump in and out of the car, or walk up and down stairs.

• Tiredness

Your dog may tire more easily than normal. This may mean that walks become shorter and more painful for your dog. Your dog may also spend more time sleeping and/or resting than usual.

• Irritability

Where once they were placid and friendly, they may become anxious or aggressive when approached or handled, particularly if the petting or handling takes place in a manner that increases their pain.

Maintaining Healthy Joints

There are various supplements that can help your pet. The good news is, they are safe and natural.