Jack Russell Terrier

Overview of Jack Russell Terriers

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small, principally white-bodied, smooth or rough-coated terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. The name "Jack Russell" has been used over the years to describe a wide array of small white terriers, but now after a drawn out legal battle the JRTCA (Jack Russell Terrier Club of America) and its affiliates have won the exclusive rights to use the name Jack Russell Terrier to describe their particular variant of the dog. Commonly confused with the Parson Russell Terrier, the AKC and affiliate variant, and the Russell Terrier, a shorter legged, stockier variety, the working Jack Russell Terrier is a unique terrier which has been preserved in working ability as well as appearance much as it existed over 200 years ago.

Description

Jack Russells are sturdy and tough, measuring between 10" and 15" at the shoulder. The body length must be in proportion to the height, and the dog should present a compact, balanced image. Predominantly white in coloration (more than 51%) with black and/or tan markings, they exhibit a smooth, broken or rough coat. The skin can sometimes show a pattern of small black or brown spots, referred to as "ticking", that do not carry through to the outer coat. All coat types should be dense double coats that are neither silky (in the case of smooth coats) nor woolly (in the case of rough coats). The head should be of moderate width at the ears, narrowing to the eyes, and slightly flat between the ears. There should be a defined stop at the end of the muzzle where it meets the head but not overpronounced, with a black nose. The jaw should be powerful and well boned with a scissor bite and straight teeth. The eyes are almond shaped and dark colored, and should be full of life and intelligence. Small V-shaped ears of moderate thickness are carried forward on the head. When the dog is alert the tip of the V should not extend past the outer corner of the eyes. The tail is set high and in the past was docked to approximately five inches in order to provide a sufficient hand-hold for gripping the terrier. It is a serious fault for the dog to have its tail down when in the show ring. The Jack Russell should always appear balanced and alert.

History

The small white fox-working terriers we know today were first bred by the Reverend John Russell, a parson and hunting enthusiast born in 1795. In his last year of university at Oxford, he bought a small white and tan terrier female called Trump from the milk man. Trump was purchased based upon appearance alone. (Burns, 2005) She was the basis for a breeding program to develop a terrier with high stamina for the hunt as well as the courage and formation to chase out foxes that had gone to ground. An important attribute in this dog was a tempered aggressiveness that would provide them with the necessary drive to pursue and bolt the fox without resulting in physical harm to the quarry, effectively ending the chase, which was considered unsporting. This line of terriers developed by John Russell was well respected for these qualities and his dogs were often taken on by hunt enthusiasts. It is unlikely, however, that any dogs alive today are descended from Trump, as Russell was forced to sell all of his dogs on more than one occasion because of financial difficulty, and had only four aged (and non-breeding) terriers left when he died in 1883.

While Trump's appearance is vague, and her size a complete mystery, the fox dens of Devon, England, where John Russell once hunted, are well known. Terrierman Eddie Chapman, who has hunted those same Devon earths for more than 30 years, notes that "I can state categorically that if given the choice, ninety-nine percent of hunt terrier men would buy an under 12" worker, if it was available, over a 14" one."

Well-known Jack Russell Terriers

On April 29, 2007, a Jack Russell named George saved five children in a carnival at New Zealand from an attack by two pit bulls. He was reported to have charged at them and held them at bay long enough for the children to get away. He was killed by the pit bulls, and in 2009 was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross. A former US Marine also donated a Purple Heart award he received for service in Vietnam to George's owner.

On screen and in literature

In the UK, one of the more recognisable canine stars was restaurateur and chef Rick Stein's irrepressible terrier Chalky, who frequently upstaged his owner on his various cookery series. He was unique in having his own line of merchandise, including plushes, tea towels, art prints, art paw prints and even his own real ale - Chalky's Bite. He earned a BBC obituary when he died in 2007.

Two Jack Russells, father Moose and son Enzo, played the role of Eddie, on the long-running TV sitcom Frasier. Eddie belonged to lead character Frasier's father Martin, and constantly "stole the show" with his deadpan antics. Eddie received more fan mail than any other Frasier character.

Footnotes

Further reading

* Burns, Patrick. American Working Terriers, 2005. ISBN 1-4116-6082-Xwww.amazon.com/dp/141166082X

• Chapman, Eddie. "The Working Jack Russell Terrier," 1994. No ISBN www.terrierman.com/terrierbooks.htm
• Lucas, Capt. Jocelyn M. "Hunt and Working Terriers", 1931. UK.
• Russell, Dan. "Jack Russell and His Terriers." 1990. ISBN 978-0-851-31276-7

See also

• Jack Russell (dog breeder)
• Fox hunting
• Working terriers

Clubs and associations

• American Working Terrier Association
• Jack Russell Terrier Club of America

Similar breeds

• Parson Russell Terrier
• Russell Terrier
• Fox terrier
• Rat terrier

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