A feisty, fun oving, fearless and spirited little terrier, the Jack Russel wins his way into the hearts of those who come in contact with him. He makes a wonderful house dog and is ideal with children. Those who know the breed regard the Jack Russell as a big dog in a little body. He comes in three coat types — smooth, broken and rough.

Origin

This particular type of terrier was evolved in Devon, England, by a hunting parson whose name the breed now bears — Reverend Jack Russell.

The Jack Russell was not intended to be a ‘ground covering’ dog. They were usually carried by a “bag man” on horseback, carriage or bike. When the hounds put the fox to ground, Jack Russells were released to go down into the earth and bolt the fox.

Many modern hunt clubs in England seal the earths before a meet and the hunt is conducted with hounds only — any fox that manages to go to earth is considered sacred and is left alone. The Jack Russell was officially recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1991 and is making its mark in show and obedience rings. He is also recognised as a breed in New Zealand but not in his country of origin.

General Appearance

A neat and attractive little dog, the Jack Russell is strong and active with a flexible body.

He has a flat skull that decreases in width to the eyes and tapers to a wide muzzle with strong jaws. His small dark eyes convey a keen expression and his button or dropped ears are of good texture and have great mobility.

The Jack Russell chest is deep rather than wide and his strong muscular hindquarters are balanced in proportion to the shoulders. They have round padded feet and a free and springy gait. White must predominate in the coat with black, tan or brown markings.

Temperament

Jack Russells are intelligent, lively and playful. They are excellent guard dogs and can be confidently recommended as family companions. Their small size makes them a convenient dog to have around.

Care and Grooming

The Jack Russell is a hardy breed and requires little maintenance. He has few health or genetic problems but bad “bites”, inguinal hernias and prick ears are known to occur. The first two conditions are usually obvious when the puppy is very young. Pricked ears often do not become apparent until six to 12 months of age.