The Jack Russell Terrier (JRT)
Origin : England
Country of development : Australia
Characteristics and Temperament
Jack Russell terrier Standard
History of the Jack Russell
Things You Should Know
Jack Russell Breeder
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Jack Russell Terrier STANDARD
A good working terrier with ability to go to ground. An excellent
CLASSIFICATION FCI :
Group 3 : Terriers
Section 2 : Small Terriers
With working trial.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY :
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.
A strong, active, little 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.
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.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : The skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually
decreasing in width to the eye and tapering to a wide muzzle.
Stop : Well defined but not over pronounced.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black
Muzzle : The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter
than from the stop to the occiput..
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.
Strong and clean allowing head to be carried with poise.
Back : Level. The length from the withers 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 to 43 cm.
Sternum : Point of sternum clearly in front of the point of shoulder.
May droop at rest. When moving should be erect and if docked the tip
should be on the same level as ears.
Shoulders : Well sloped back and not heavily loaded with
Upper arm : Of sufficient length and angulations to ensure elbows
are set under the body.
Forelegs : Straight in bone from the elbows to the toes whether
viewed from the front or the side.
Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder.
Stifles : Well angulated.
Hock joints : Low set.
Rear pastern (Metatarsus) : Parallel when viewed from behind
while in free standing position.
Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, turned neither
in or out.
True, free and springy.
Hair : May be smooth, broken or rough. Must be weatherproof. Coats
should not be altered (stripped out) to appear smooth or broken.
White MUST predominate with black or tan markings. The tan markings can
be from the lightest tan to the richest tan (chestnut).
AND WEIGHT :
Ideal Height : 25 cm (10 ins) tot 30 cm (12 ins).
Weight : Being the equivalent of 1 kg to each 5 cm in height,
i.e. a 25 cm high dog should weigh approximately 5 kg and a 30 cm high
dog should weigh 6 kg.
Characteristics and Temperament
A lively, alert and active Terrier with a keen, intelligent expression.
Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident.
Small and quick
Athletic and agile
Sprightly and intelligent
Bold and confrontational
History of the Jack Russell
Jack Russell Terriers are a type, or strain, of working terrier; they are
not purebred in the sense that they have a broad genetic make-up, a broad
standard, and do not breed true to type. You will see different "types" of
Jack Russell Terriers, from long-bodied, short, crooked legs to a more
proportioned length of body and longer legs. This is a result of having
been bred strictly for hunting since their beginning in the early 1800's,
and their preservation as a working breed since.
The Jack Russell takes its name from the Reverend John Russell who bred
one of the finest strains of terriers for working fox in Devonshire,
England in the mid-to-late 1800's. Rev. Russell (1795-1883), apart from
his church activities, had a passion for fox hunting and the breeding of
fox hunting dogs; he is also said to be a rather flamboyant character,
probably accounting for his strain of terrier's notability and the name of
our terrier today.
Jack Russell Terriers have a fierce, headstrong independence and need
special attention to maintain an even keel. For this reason, some experts
recommend that only experienced dog handlers should have one. Animal
shelters around the country have plenty of unmanageable Jack Russells
whose owners let raised them untrained and unchecked.
Apartments are okay for Jack Russells, but a fenced-in yard is ideal they
love to bark and dig and chase small animals. However, a fenced-in yard
will often not be enough for these dogs. Though small, they can leap very
high and have been known to jump fences when they get bored and restless.
On a walk, always keep them on a leash. They are incredibly fast, plus
they have an intense curiosity and a fearlessness that could get them into
trouble with bigger dogs.
Jack Russell Terriers get along fine with the whole family, but young
children should be taught not to tease or hurt them.
A healthy Jack Russell can live as long as 15 years. Common health issues
include cataracts and joint problems, but this is a solid breed with
relatively few health issues.
Despite the fact that the FCI will not register any
dogs until they are one year old and have passed a structured veterinary
examination, hereditary defects do occur in the breed. Some occur because
they are late onset, others because the genetic nature is recessive or
polygenic which means the parents may be perfectly normal upon examination
and yet produce affected litters.
According to the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, Jack Russell Terriers
are afflicted with lens luxation. This is a displacement of the lens from
its normal site behind the pupil and may result in elevated intraocular
pressure (glaucoma) causing vision impairment or blindness. Lens luxation
not associated with trauma or inflammation is presumed to be inherited.
Legg-Perthes Disease also affects this breed, as it does many small
breeds. It is very similar to hip dysplasia, however, instead of the
acetabulum being shallow, necrosis is of the femoral head. This disease
may be a simple autosomal recessive or polygenic (more than one gene
involved) and results in painful hips.
While those are the two most common diseases, the breed can also be
afflicted with epilepsy, skin conditions (including allergies), and
genetic deafness. The latter is associated with white coats: Dalmatians
and some other white dogs have the same problem. A BAER test is necessary
to rule out the condition. One may know that a dog can hear, but only the
BAER test can prove whether the hearing is in both or only one ear.
As in all breeds, there are good and poor breeders. Purchase a pup from
someone who has completed BAER tests, eye examinations and hip evaluations
on their breeding stock. This will improve your chances of a healthy pup.
The Jack Russell Terrier is a
beautiful Dog they exist with
smooth, broken coat and
You can find Puppies at a local
Breeder sometimes Member of
a JRT Club. Pups are often for
The Health of your dog is very important and
Breeding is a nice hobby.
Parson Russell is different from the
Short legged Jack Russell.
Go to a Show
sometimes and who knows your dog is a Winner
Jacks are the best dogs fo fox Hunt a real
Sport at the countryside.
Russell Breeders in the USA
Russel ZŘchter in Deutschland
Russell Breeders in the UK
Russell Fokkers in Nederland
╔lÚvages de Jack Russell Terrier en France
Russell criadores en Espa˝a