The Jack Russell Terrier (JRT)
Origin : England
Country of development : Australia

Characteristics and Temperament
Jack Russell terrier Standard
History of the Jack Russell Terrier
Things You Should Know
Health Information
Jack Russell Breeder

 

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Jack Russell Terrier STANDARD

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

CLASSIFICATION FCI :
Group 3 : Terriers
Section 2 : Small Terriers
With working trial.

BRIEF 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.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :
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.

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.

HEAD                                                                                                                                          
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.

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

BODY :
General : Rectangular.                                                                                                 
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.

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.                                   
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.

HINDQUARTERS :
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.

FEET :
Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, turned neither in or 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.

COLOR :
White MUST predominate with black or tan markings. The tan markings can be from the lightest tan to the richest tan (chestnut).

SIZE 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.

Key words:
Small and quick
Athletic and agile
Sprightly and intelligent
Bold and confrontational
Independent
Crafty
Resilient
Sometimes testy
 

History of the Jack Russell Terrier

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.

 

Things You Should Know

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.

Health Information

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.

Jack Russell Breeder

Jack Beauty

The Jack Russell Terrier is a beautiful Dog they exist with smooth, broken coat and rough coat
You can find Puppies at a local Breeder sometimes Member of a JRT Club. Pups are often for Sale.
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.

Jack Russell Breeders in the USA

Jack Russel Züchter in Deutschland

Jack Russell Breeders in the UK

Jack Russell Fokkers in Nederland

Élévages de Jack Russell Terrier en France

Jack Russell criadores en España