Hi, I'm new.  And I have a question. I'm not sure this is the right forum... but I didn't think it fit into any of the others, and I did just rescue her...

I just adopted Sophia (or Sophie) who is five years old. I got her from an animal shelter. I picked out Sunday 7/6, and picked her up on Tuesday.  They'd labelled her a jack russell or rat terrier... I don't think she's a  "jack rat".  I haven't heard great things about jack russells, but Sophie wormed her way into my heart. I had visited her in one of the little rooms in the shelter and she was affection hungry, then I took her outside to this little fenced in yard they have.  She circled it twice, sniffing... then settled into my arms to be petted for ten minutes. Then when I took off at a run, she ran with me. (And a note to yogis mom who posted below on this forum about rats being labeled jacks in SC.. I'm in SC)

My aunt has a rat terrier, Cricket, who is adorable.  My aunt rescues dogs and has five of her own, and generally a foster or two.  We took pictures, but none of them is really good-- my avatar is one.  Sophie is all white except one tan ear and one ear with tan speckles.  Her nose is pink in the middle and black around the edges because she's so white.  She's obviously not a "show quality" dog of any breed, but who cares? (Technically a show quality rat can only be up to 90% white... and she's at least 95 or 97%) But because she's not I'm not, it makes it harder to compare her in pics. 

I have browsed your forum and hear about the differences in temperments in Jacks versus Rats.  Sophie sound a lot more like a rat.  She is "off switched" more often than "on switch".  We have a house and yard, but I think she used to live in an apartment because she doesn't try to push her boundaries and the large yard seems to overwhelm her.  She also hoards her toys, which I read rats tend to do.  She nuzzles me to death, though she is hand oriented and doesn't try to lick my face (and I wish she would, I think that's cute).  She gets really upset, even if I'm hugging her, if my hand is not on her in some way. 

I was a bit irritated when tore up her toy bone and then puked on my lap yesterday (And I found a little tag that said 100% cotton on it in there!).  But still, that's the worst thing she's done... everything else is just her not knowing the rules yet. And she loves her crate.

She fit seamlessly into our family.  I am in my early twenties, just graduating college, and too broke to live alone.  So I live with my parents.  And they have a ten year old german shepherd mix, the wonderful Radar, who typically is aggressive with other dogs until he gets to know them... but it took less than ten seconds for him to want to be friends with Sophie.  And my sister's cat, Cinnamon, AKA She-devil and Trained Attack Cat because she beats up every other animal (though not people) she meets... hasn't attacked Sophie once! Plus, I saw Sophie with kids at the shelter and since I plan on having kids in the next ten years that was important.

Everyone loves her!  Anyway, I was just wondering about your expert opinions on whether she's a rat or a jack russell or what. 

Pam.

Well hiya and welcome to the site! Sophia's personality certainly sounds rat terrier. I have owned dogs all my life but I have never owned one like my Yaz. I just love her. It's hard to tell from the pic if she "looks" rattie but who cares. Welcome!

Hi and welcome!  Your Sophia is a cutie-pie.  If you are patient those rattie kisses will come.  It was a good 4 weeks before I got a rattie kiss from my Marley.  Bless you for adopting this little girl.  She sounds as if she is a wonderful girl.

Hi Pamela! I must have missed her pics...????

 Paula of Ratbones Rescue has a "Am I a Rattie or Sumptin Else" list...it really is on target...ask her to email it to you (smilesforlife)

I was unsure about Yogi at first...dumb me since my friends have a Jack and they are Night and Day!

Yogi is the OPPOSITE of every Jack I have known...in a definite GOOD way!

He is responsive to me as his pack leader, easily trained, laid back, easy with other animals, and neutral.

I do like Jacks, BUT I also think Rescues and Shelters are doing the dogs a severe disservice by labeling them as Jacks...many people avoid Jacks because of their reputation of "off the wall and aggressive" until older....

I now make it my mission to email shelters and rescues that they are holding a RAT not a JACK...and to please change the label on the dog.

Yogi was called a  "Jack Russell" by his rescue. Ummm..Hello!? LOOK at him! Yet I was even doubting at first...even tho he did NOT resemble any Jack I had ever seen...except that he is a Teddy....small and ticked like a Jack.

It really is a shame that Rats and Jacks are so defined as the same...to this day EVERY person I have encountered has commented on what a cute Jack Russell he is!

When I correct them that he is a Rat...they get this "blank look"....