JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

SOMETHING FROM THE HISTORY OF JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

A Jack Russell Terrier shares history with a Parson Russell Terrier, for that reason the breeds are very similar in their characters, and even the breeds are usually judged in one dog show ring. Both breeds are very vigorous, active, cheerful and funny. The breeds are still successfully used in hunting but at the same time they are suitable for almost any sport. They behave wonderfully educated in a ring but if they have a chance to show their temper they are unbeatable. And above all they enjoy everything. The breeds are very fixated on their leader, which is very important for hunting because they do not have a habit of wandering somewhere alone, though they love hunting, but also for all sports. They do not suit very much for indolent people even if it does not mean they do not like lying on a couch but if they will be doing just this for all day long they would find some other fun that you probably wouldn't like very much ...

Both breeds have a common origin country which is the United Kingdom. A pastor (formerly "parson"), John (Jack was his nickname) Russell, born in 1795, was at their birth. He did not like that the appearance of the hunting dogs was more important than their hunting abilities for their owners. During sixty years of his breeding activities the Reverend Russell tried to create a type of hard dogs for hunting needs, who were able to bolt foxes out of their burrows but they should not kill them. At the same time the dogs should be able to run for a few hours with hunters on horseback. A dominant white colour was also important for him so that dogs can be easily distinguished from the game. However the Reverend avoided the show rings. Another important person in the breeding of the short-legged Jack Russell Terrier was the Reverend John Peel, born in 1776. Later this type of the short-legged terrier got the name Jack.

Trump bitch - an ideal bitch for Rev. Russell

Although the breeds can boast about a long history, it took a long time before the cynology started to occupy with them because breeders were opposed to the recognition of these dogs as a breed from the start because a recognition would mean that the dogs would get into the show rings and that would lead to refining the exterior and thus to the gradual suppression of the original working abilities.

The main development of the Jack Russell Terrier took place in Australia, for that reason Australia is stated as the country's development in the standard. Today no one knows when and how a Jack Russell Terrier got to Australia. The important thing is that a group of Australian breeders started to be interested in breeding a purebred and registered Jack Russell Terrier in 1960. In 1972 the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia was founded, and it began to pursue its goals. The first draft of the breed standard was prepared, and the club aimed for an official recognition of the breed since 1989.

Nowadays, both breeds are recognized by the FCI. First Parson Jack Russell Terrier was provisionally recognized from July 2, 1990. But then there was a breed division and the Jack Russell Terrier was provisionally recognized from December 14, 2000 (Standard No. 345), and consequently and finally the Parson Russell Terrier from June 4, 2001 (Standard No. 339). There are more differences between these breeds but the major difference visible at first sight is a difference in their heights and formats. The Parson Russell Terrier has a square frame and the ideal height of males at the shoulder is 36 cm and the ideal height of females is 33 cm. The Jack Russell Terrier shall have a height of 25-30 cm and has a rectangular frame. Both breeds have 3 types of hair - rough, broken and smooth.

JACK RUSSELL TERRIER'S STANDARD

Classification FCI: Group 3 - Terriers, Section 2 - Small Terriers, With working trial, Standard n. 345

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
COUNTRY OF DEVELOPMENT: AUSTRALIA

UTILIZATION:
A good working Terrier with ability to go to ground. An excellent companion dog.


SHORT HISTORIC OVERVIEW:
The Jack Russell Terrier originated in England in the 1800’s due to the efforts of the Reverend John Russell. He developed a strain of Fox Terriers to suit his needs for a dog to run with his foxhounds and go to ground to bolt the fox and other quarry from their dens. Two varieties evolved with basically similar Standards except for differences, mainly in height and proportions. The taller, more squarely built dog is now known as the Parson Russell Terrier and the shorter, slightly longer proportioned dog, is known as the Jack Russell Terrier.


GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A strong, active, lithe working Terrier of great character with flexible body of medium length. His smart movement matches his keen expression. Tail docking is optional and the coat may be smooth, rough or broken.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The overall dog is longer than high. The depth of the body from the withers to the brisket should equal the length of foreleg from elbows to the ground - The girth behind the elbows should be about 40 to 43 cm.

BEHAVIOUR - TEMPERAMENT:
A lively, alert and active Terrier with a keen, intelligent expression. Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident.


HEAD:

Skull: The skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually decreasing in width to the eyes and tapering to a wide muzzle.
Stop: Well defined but not over pronounced. The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter than from the stop to the occiput.
Nose: Black Muzzle
Lips: Tight-fitting and pigmented black.
Jaws/Teeth: Very strong, deep, wide and powerful. Strong teeth closing to a scissor bite.
Eyes: Small dark and with keen expression. MUST not be prominent and eyelids should fit closely. The eyelid rims should be pigmented black. Almond shape.
Ears: Button or dropped of good texture and great mobility.
Cheeks: The cheek muscles should be well developed.


NECK:
Strong and clean allowing head to be carried with poise.


BODY:
GENERAL: RECTANGULAR
Back: Level. The length from the winthers to the root of tail slightly greater than the height from the withers to the ground.
Loin: The loins should be short, strong and deeply muscled.
Chest: Chest deep rather than wide, with good clearance from the ground, enabling the brisket to be located at the height mid-way between the ground and the withers. Ribs should be well sprung from the spine, flattening on the sides so that the girth behind the elbows can be spanned by two hands - about 40 cms to 43 cms.
Sternum: Point of sternum clearly in front of the point of shoulder.


TAIL: May droop at rest. When moving should be erect and if docked the tip should be on the same level as ears.


LIMBS:
FOREQUARTERS SHOULDERS: Well sloped back and not heavily loaded with muscle.
Forelegs: Straight in bone from the shoulder to the toes whether viewed from the front or the side.
Upper arm: Of sufficient length and angulation ensure elbows are set under the body.
HINDQUARTERS: Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder.
Stifles: Well angulated.
Rear pastern (Metatarsus): Parallel when viewed from behind while in free standing position.
Hock joints: Low set.
Feet: Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, turned neither in nor out.


GAIT/MOVEMENT: True, free and springy.

COAT:

Hair: May be smooth, broken or rough. Must be weatherproof. Coats should not be altered (stripped out) to appear smooth or broken.

COLOUR: White MUST predominate with black or tan markings.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Ideal Height: 25 cms (10 ins) to 30 cms (12 ins). Weight: Being the equivalent of 1 kg to each 5 cms in height, i.e. a 25 cm high dog should weigh approximately 5 kg and a 30 cm high dog should weigh 6 kg.

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
However, the following weaknesses should be particularly penalised:

- Lack of true Terrier characteristics
- Lack of balance, i.e. over exaggeration of any points
- Sluggish or unsound movement
- Faulty mouth

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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