Dog Breeds Beginning With J

For many of us in the English-speaking world, the Jack Russell Terrier is the first dog breed that starts with J we might think of. Thanks to their long history as a working dog and a successful transition into a popular companion animal, they have become very popular.

Originally from the United Kingdom, they are characterized by their small size and white fur with black or tan markings. Its coat is short and can be either wiry or smooth. Their size also makes them very adaptable to many home environments, but their high-activity levels and playful character means they need plenty of exercise. They are known as a particularly good dog for children, but they need to be well socialized like any dog.

Also known as the German Hunting Terrier, this J-dog breed is indeed a hunting dog from Germany. Its main physical characteristic is a rough coat which has similar markings to other German dog breeds such as the Dachshund or Doberman Pinscher. In fact, this dog breed beginning with J looks somewhat like a cross between these breeds and a Jack Russell.

It is a medium-sized dog breed with an athletic build. They are also a very active dog that requires a high level of daily exercise, so they are not suitable for sedentary people. They can be a very affectionate dog with family, but wary of strangers. For this reason and as a way to temper their innate hunting instinct, proper socialization is imperative for this breed.

Originally from Sweden, this dog breed beginning with a J is equally imposing and loyal. Also known as the Swedish Elkhound, the Jämthund is a large dog with a robust and muscular body, a dense white or gray (or bicolor) coat, triangular ears and a bushy tail.

The Jämthund's physical features make it a beautiful dog that resembles a wolf, but it is its intelligence, loyalty and affectionate nature that has won the hearts of so many people. They are also a dog breed that requires a high level of daily exercise.

Its original name is the Jugoslovenski Ovčarski Pas–Šarplaninac, but it is more commonly known in the English speaking world as the Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog, Šarplaninac or Sharr Dog. For this reason, it enters our list of dog breeds beginning with J on a technicality. It originates from southeastern Yugoslavia, mainly from the Šar Mountains. It is this which gives them their name.

The Yugoslavian Shepherd is a very large dog that is very strongly built. It has a combination of longer hair on the tail, body and back of the limbs, but shorter hair on the head, ears and front of the legs. In terms of temperament, it is noble, calm and very protective of its family, so proper socialization is important.

A small white dog with fluffy hair, the Japanese Spitz is very recognizable. They look somewhat like a shrunken Samoyed, although they are not closely related breeds. This J-breed originated from crosses of other Spitz dogs such as the Russian and German Spitz.

Not only does the Japanese Spits stand out for their remarkable beauty, but they're also a very affectionate, sweet and family-oriented dog. They are calm and playful, but don't tolerate solitude well, so they need a family which can provide the attention they need to remain happy and healthy.

Also known as the Japanese Spaniel, the Japanese Chin is an ancient dog breed with historical evidence dating them to the Japanese court as far back as 732 CE. It is small in size and stands out primarily for its facial features, typical to other brachycephalic dog breeds. It also stands out for its beautiful, long, straight coat, which can be white with red or black markings.

Its natural elegance has made it a very popular dog in the East, but we mustn't forget that appearance isn't the most important thing when adopting a dog. We must consider whether their temperament and needs fit our lifestyle to ensure we are able to provide for them. The easy-going nature and relative low level of care means the Japanese Chin can fit into virtually any family.

Although it is not known exactly where in Korea the breed originated, it is certain that it has lived for thousands of years on Jindo Island. This is an island located southwest of the peninsula. The Korean Jindo is a medium-sized dog with a well-proportioned body, triangular ears and a triangular head. Its general appearance is similar to other Asian dog breeds, such as the Akita Inu.

The Korean Jindo was developed for hunting, which is why its strong hunting instinct is notable. This makes them a dog not well-suited to living with other animals unless they are well socialized from the time they are a puppy. Alert, energetic and bold, they are not particularly affectionate, but are extremely loyal and faithful. Once they choose their favorite guardian, they will stick to them like glue.

Another small dog breed beginning with K is the Japanese terrier, also known as the Mikado Terrier or Nihon Teria. It emerged from crosses between smooth fox terriers and small dogs native to Japan. The result was an elegant and compact, yet well-proportioned dog. They have short and smooth hair which can be tricolor (white, black and tan) or bicolor (black and white or white and tan).

As for their temperament, they are a lively, cheerful, and energetic dog. Due to their physical characteristics, they are very agile and enjoy playing and running outdoors.

Image: jp-pets.com

Our final purebred dog beginning with J is the Jonangi. This is an Indian dog breed which is not well known outside their native country. They were once near extinct, but a resurgence of breeding has led to its recovery. While they are not officially recognized by breed standard organizations, they are shown in some dog competitions and a breed standard may be set in the future.

They are a dog which can be quite nervous, sometimes only bonding with one person or a small family. They cannot live with other pets, but they are known to co-exist well with livestock animals such as sheep and goats. If properly socialized, they can fare well with children and become a great family companion.

Now that we have looked at the purebred dog breeds beginning with J, we can look at some of the crossbreed J-dogs you may find. The Jackapoo is a cross between a Jack Russell Terrier and a Miniature Poodle. One of the reasons for highlighting this dog is the fact that so many are in need, waiting in animal shelters for a loving family to adopt them.

The Jack-a-Poo is a small, adorable-looking dog. Since they are a mixed breed, there is no breed standard or fixed characteristics. They can inherit different traits from their parent breeds. Generally speaking, they are compact and muscular dogs with elongated muzzles. Their coats vary in length and can have wavy, curly or straight hair. They present in a variety of colors and patterns. They are intelligent, sociable and active.

Finally, we have another mixed-breed dog beginning with J, born from a cross between a Jack Russell terrier and a Pug. As in the previous case, dogs born from this cross can inherit a wide variety of traits. They are all small and short-coated, but some have smooth hair and others have a rough coat. Likewise, the color pattern can be like that of a Jack Russell or a Pug, as well as some combination of both.

As for their temperament, they tend to be very sociable. Some inherit the Pug's affectionate personality, while others are more playful and energetic like the Jack Russell. Since they inherit the genes of the Pug, we need to be very careful to observe for any of the common health conditions affecting Pugs.

Now that we have looked into the most common dog breeds that start with J, we share some others you may come across:

• Jack-Chi: Jack Russell Terrier and Chihuahua cross.
• Jack-A-Bee: Jack Russell Terrier and Beagle cross.
• Jack Tzu: Jack Russell Terrier and Shih Tzu cross.
• Jackshund: Jack Russell Terrier and Dachshund cross.
• Jackweiler: Jack Russell Terrier and Rotweiler cross.
• Ja-Chon: Japanese Chin and Bichon Frise cross.
• Japillon: Japanese Chin and Papillon cross.
• Jeju: a Korean breed found on the island of Jeju.

If you have enjoyed exploring these dog breeds beginning with J, you may want to take a look at our related guide sharing the different dog breeds starting with A.

If you want to read similar articles to Dog Breeds Beginning With J, we recommend you visit our Comparisons category.