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Papijack (Papillon & Jack Russell Terrier Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

Portrait of a papijack cross_collins photography uk_shutterstock

Height: 8–15 inches
Weight: 8–18 pounds
Lifespan: 12–14 years
Colors: Black, brown, white, fawn, blue, red
Suitable for: Houses with yards, companionship, families
Temperament: Intelligent, friendly, charming, and fun

The Papijack is a mixed breed created by mixing the Papillon with the Jack Russell Terrier. As such, they will take physical traits from both parents and may look more like one than the other. They are tiny dogs with small, slightly rounded heads. It will have a thin muzzle that tapers toward the end and dark round eyes. The ears will be rounded and drooping, or pointy and erect, and it will have a high-set tail. They will have long hair on the ears, chest, and back of the hind legs.

The Papijack is an intelligent dog that can also be stubborn and even mischievous if not properly trained at an early age. They tend to be overly protective and territorial, which can cause them to bark a lot in areas with high traffic, like an apartment building. It’s an extremely expressive dog breed known for their big personalities.

divider 10Papijack Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The parent breeds of the Papijack can be found at high prices. Since Papijack is a mixed dog, it should be more affordable than the parent breeds. When you’re looking for a Papijack, take your time to search for a reputable breeder who will put the puppy’s health as a priority. There are several tests your breeder may perform to make sure you get a healthy puppy without genetic defects, which can raise the price of your puppy considerably.

Finding a Papijack at a dog shelter might not be an easy task but you can always ask, and you might also find another mixed dog that resembles the Papijack. You’ll be bringing home a beautiful and loyal dog, and you can change a dog’s life at the same time.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Papijack

1. Despite their small size, the Jack Russel Terrier parent can jump more than five feet high.


2. The Jack Russel Terrier is often used in movies because it is intelligent and easily trained.


3. Papillon means butterfly in French.

Parent Breeds of the Papijack
Photo Credit: Jumpstory

Divider 3

Temperament & Intelligence of the Papijack 🧠

The Papijack is an energetic dog that enjoys playing and running outdoors. They enjoy playing games like fetch and will often find ways to entertain you as they play. You will need to train them early or they will try to dominate the household and can become high-strung and barky.

The Papijack is extremely intelligent and is capable of independent thought. They are very good at convincing their owners to let them have their way and can become quite stubborn and even spiteful. They are easy to train but often struggle with housebreaking, so it’s a better pet for an experienced owner. Papijacks are also extremely territorial, so they are not great apartment-building dogs, which will tend to cause them to bark excessively.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Papijack is an excellent dog for families if you socialize them very early and get them used to the idea of sharing the territory. If they are not socialized well when they are young, they can become quite territorial and will bark and can become aggressive, especially toward children.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Papijack does get along with other animals and can peacefully cohabitate with many other types of animals, including cats if properly socialized when they are young. Similar to the way you need to socialize them with children, the Papijack will need to spend lots of time with other pets as a puppy to accept them as an adult.

Portrait of tired a papijack_collins photography uk_shutterstock
Photo Credit: collins photography uk, Shutterstock

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Papijack

Let’s look at some of the biggest considerations you should think about before purchasing a Papijack, to make sure you and your dog enjoy spending time with each other.

Food and Diet Requirements 🦴

The Papijack is such a small dog that it isn’t going to eat very much, usually about one cup per day when fully grown. A high-quality dry kibble is usually the best choice because it provides your dog with a complete and balanced meal. The dry kibble also helps to clean your Papijack’s teeth while they eat, promoting healthier gums and teeth while reducing the chance of cavities and other health concerns. Look for a brand that has meat listed as its first ingredient and doesn’t contain any harmful preservatives like DHA. Each brand usually lists how much food you should provide, as well as when to feed on the package.

Daily Exercise Requirements 🐕

The Papijack can build up a lot of energy that it will need to expel or it will make a lot of noise and can even become destructive if trapped in the house. We recommend a house with a yard to allow plenty of room for running. Games of fetch, as well as frisbee, will help expel some of the extra energy. A short walk each day will also be required.

Training 🦮

The Papijack can be stubborn and even sassy at times, but they are also intelligent and able to pick up on commands very quickly. They respond well to positive reinforcement in the form of treats and extra praise when they perform correctly. It will also quickly pick up on your disappointment and will become disinterested in training exercises if it feels like you’re not happy.

While most owners feel that the Papijack is a quick learner, one area that seems to be especially difficult to train is housebreaking. Since even experienced trainers can experience this problem, we recommend a puppy school to help get them housebroken.

Portrait of a papijack_collins photography uk_shutterstock
Photo Credit: collins photography uk, Shutterstock

Grooming ✂️

The Papijack does require a moderate amount of grooming to keep the coat shiny, smooth, and tangle-free. You will need to brush the coat daily, and bathing will also be a regular occurrence. You will likely need to bath your pet about once a month, but it might be less if your pet spends most of the time indoors.

We highly recommend daily teeth brushing to stave off bad breath and help prevent gum disease. You will not be able to use human toothpaste when brushing your Papijack’s teeth, however, because many brands contain the artificial sweetener xylitol, which is deadly to dogs. We recommend using a dog toothbrush with a dog toothpaste to get the job done. You can often buy them both at once. Regular nail trimming will also be required to keep them walking comfortably. Shorter nails will also help minimize damage to furniture.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Like many other designer breeds, the Papijack usually has far fewer problems than their purebred parents. However, there are still some issues that you will want to be on the lookout for, and we will list a few of them in this section.

Minor Conditions
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Portosystemic Shunts
Serious Conditions
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Deafness

Divider 5Male vs Female

There is very little difference between male and female Papijacks. There is no difference in height or weight, and the temperament is the same as well, especially if your pup is neutered or spayed.

Divider 3Summary

The Papijack is a great choice for large homes with a yard, and it makes a great companion as well. It’s better suited to an experienced owner, but if you spend a lot of time socializing it as a puppy, it will enjoy playing with children and other pets. Doing so will often help them burn off the exec energy they are known to generate.

Obedience classes or puppy school can help reduce the time required to housetrain your pet, and you can expect many years of enjoyment from this healthy breed.

See Also:


Featured Image Credit: collins photography uk, Shutterstock

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