jack russels and other dogs

Question
hi carol,
i have a very playful and outgoing jack Russell. He is a nine year old male who is
neutered. I have been very interested in getting a chi poo (Chihuahua and a
poodle) but my parents are convinced that the dogs will not get alone. I was
wondering if you knew if Jack Russells get alone with other dogs and in
particularly, that mix.

Answer
Hi Sam,
As with ANY breed, of course Jack Russells get along with Chi-Poos.... but there are many things to consider.
Your Jack has been "top dog" in the house for 9 years. He definitely will go through some anxiety when you bring in a new puppy, no matter what breed it is.
When you say "outgoing", if that means "aggressive" then perhaps you should reconsider a puppy right now.
It's very hard to say if they will get along because no one knows the personality of the Chi-poo yet either. If you happen to get an aggressive Chi-poo, the two aggressive dogs might not co-exist greatly together. Then again, they might get along great. It's really a 50/50 chance.
If you do get a puppy - there are some things you can do to make the transition a little smoother.
Bring the jack and the chipoo outside in neutral territory to meet eachother. You don't want the Jack to think he is being replaced. Make sure they have seperate everything. Seperate beds, seperate toys, seperate chews, etc.
Make sure you have a lockable crate to keep the puppy in when you are not at home. Shower your jack with extra affection and attention to reassure him that he isn't going to replaced. Give your jack some special alone time just with you. Correct any signs of aggression IMMEDIATELY with a sharp command noise (like a loud PSSST) and a squeeze to the dogs shoulder (which simulates how a mother dog corrects her dogs). This is the tried and true version of Cesar Milans method. Remember there are no guarantees, but many many dogs of different breeds do fine together.
Best of luck with whatever you do!
Write anytime
C