JACK RUSSELL TERRIER Breed Standards
The Jack Russell Terrier (and Parson Russell Terrier) can trace its roots rather precisely back to a dog named Trump, who lived during the early 19th century and was owned by Reverend John “Jack” Russell of Devonshire, England. Trump, in turn, was likely descended from an Old English White Terrier (now extinct) and a Black and Tan Terrier or Manchester, though this is debatable. Reverend Russell was a parson and an avid hunter, and it was his desire to create a line of terriers capable of keeping up with horses and bolting fox without doing them harm; for this, he needed a terrier of exceptional agility and speed, but without the aggressive tendencies that might lead other terriers to dispatch the fox before the hunters arrived. Trump’s descendants proved very capable of this task, and the Jack Russell Terrier’s popularity took off immediately.
The recognition of the Jack Russell Terrier as a breed has been marked by intense debate and controversy, in which owners of working Jacks have been vehemently against AKC recognition. The American Kennel Club nevertheless recognized the Jack Russell Terrier in 1997, and changed the name to Parson Russell Terrier in 2003. Today, Jack Russell Terriers used in the field are rarely registered with the AKC or similar foreign organizations; rather, they are registered with Jack Russell Terrier clubs or not registered at all.
The 1990s witnessed a dramatic spike in the popularity of the Jack Russell Terrier, due largely to the breed’s ubiquitous use as a television and movie dog; the late Moose, who played Eddie on the popular sitcom Frasier, was particularly instrumental in the breed’s rise to stardom. High demand for Jack Russell Terriers has led to widespread irresponsible breeding, and these dogs are among the most likely to be targeted by so-called “puppy farms.”
SKILLS: Jack Russell is a versatile terrier to a variety of quarry including red and grey fox, raccoon and woodchuck.
SIZE: A sturdy, tough terrier, very much on its toes all the time, measuring between 10" and 15" at the withers. The body length must be in proportion to the height, and it should present a compact, balanced image, always being in solid, hard condition.
COAT: Smooth, without being so sparse as not to provide a certain amount of protection from the elements and undergrowth. Rough or broken coated, without being woolly. Color - White should predominate (i.e., must be more than 51% white) with tan, black, or brown markings. Brindle markings are unacceptable.
CARE REQUIRED: All coat types are easy to groom. Comb and brush regularly with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. To show, owners must strip the coat. Like the rough coat, the broken coated Jack needs to be stripped out also.
CHARACTER: The terrier must present a lively, active and alert appearance. It should impress with its fearless and happy disposition. It should be remembered that the Jack Russell is a working terrier and should retain these instincts. Nervousness, cowardice or over-aggressiveness should be discouraged and it should always appear confident.
EXERCISE: The Jack Russell terrier is very adaptable and will exercise itself in a small yard, but it will be in its glory with space to run, hunt and play.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: The Jack Russell Terrier will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are very active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. If the Jack is kept in an apartment, the dog should have a person home with it during the day unless the dog is crate trained. Even then, the owner better expect to get some exercise or be pestered to death for belly rubs and tug of war games when he/she gets home.
TRAINING: They can be slightly difficult to train and need a firm, experienced trainer. The Jack Russell can be aggressive with other dogs if not well trained and socialized. Some have killed or been killed in dog fights. Early socialization can help substantially moderate this trait.
