History

Originally bred by Parson John Russell of England in the early 1800's. The Parson was a devout fox hunter. He breed small predominately white terriers to assist with The Fox Hunt. It was necessary for the terrier to have speed and stamina in order to keep up with the horses and the Foxhounds. The terriers job was to flush the fox from the ground so the hunt could continue. Therefore the terrier had to be of small size to be able to go to ground, courageous and tenacious. The terrier was to go to ground and nip and tease the fox, they were not to engage, cripple or kill the fox.

Physical Description & Size:
Height: 10-15 inches (25-34 cm)
Weight: 12-18 pounds (5-8 kg)

Temperament:
The Jack Russell Terrier is a perky, merry, devoted, and loving dog. Spirited and obedient, yet absolutely fearless. Careful and amusing, he enjoys games and playing with toys. Friendly and generally kind to children who have been taught not to tease or strike the dog. They are intelligent, yet willful and determined. 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. They have strong hunting instincts (stronger than your average terrier) and should not be trusted with other small animals. They like to chase and explore. Be careful not to let them off the lead unless they are very well-trained. Jack Russells like to bark and dig. They tend to get restless and destructive if not kept fruitfully occupied and well exercised. Jack Russells climb, which means they can climb over a fence, they also jump. A Jack that stands 12 inches high can easily jump five feet. JRTs are not the breed for a inexperienced dog owner. This is a BIG dog in a little dogs body. The owner needs to be as strong-willed as they are, or this little guy will take over. With the right owner this little dog can really excel, but is not recommended for those who have not had prior experience with terriers.

Needs: (exercise, grooming, living conditions, diet):
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. As the saying goes "A tired terrier is a good terrier." A walk around the block is not enough exercise for a Jack Russell. They need hours of exercise a day, running, jumping, swimming, ball fetching, frisbee catching are a few of the activities a Jack Russell enjoys. They are intelligent little dogs and make wonderful athletes, they excel in dog sports such as - agility, flyball, dock dogs, disc dogs etc. There are also specialized events for terriers that include go to ground, tracking, russell racing and more.

Grooming a Jack Russell varies depending on its coat type. The Jack Russell comes in three coat types, smooth, broken, and rough. The smooth coat only requires a weekly brushing, while the broken and rough coat require hand stripping to maintain the necessary coat of working terrier. All three coat types shed, with the smooth coat shedding the most. Nails of a terrier should be kept well trimmed.

Health Issues, Life Expectancy:
Some are prone to dislocation of the kneecaps, inherited eye diseases, deafness, Legg Perthes-a disease of the hip joints of small breeds of dogs. They can live in excess of 15 years

Dog Group:
Terrier

Additional Resources:
Jack Russell Terrier Club of America
Your Online Community for Purebred Dogs!