Russell Terriers were originally bred by Reverend Mr. John Russell, who was a parson and loved to hunt. Russell Terriers originated from a terrier named Trump, who was supposed to breed a terrier that would have good stamina for hunting and courage to catch and chase foxes without actually hurting them. Another form of Russell Terriers were ones bred for badger digging. They were crossed with Bull Terriers to create a strong, small dog which were then described as Jack Russell Terriers.
There is controversy over the breed, as Jack Russell Terriers were not recognized by major dog registries for a long time. In 1990, Jack Russell Terriers were finally recognized. However, since recognition is still quite recent, there is still no kind of conformity on naming and classifying the different types of dogs yet.
Jack Russell Terriers are about 25 to 30 cm tall and are mostly white with various colors such as black or tan on the face and tail. Their ears are V-shaped and fold forward. Jack Russell Terriers have strong teeth and a dense double coat which comes in three varieties.
Jack Russell Terriers' tails, which are 6 to 8 inches long, are straight and upright. In the past, the tails were often cut short to about 4 inches, supposedly to give them a human hand's grip so hunters could help pull them out of holes. Fortunately, docking like this is now illegal and is less common.
An outgoing breed with a keen expression, Jack Russell Terriers are considered intelligent and are filled with energy. They are popular pets due to their small size, friendly nature, intelligence and curiosity. They need a lot of exercise as they have a hunting background and are meant to be strong and fast. Though they love to play, training is necessary as untrained Jack Russell Terriers tend to have difficult behaviors.
Jack Russell Terriers make good watchdogs as they were designed to bark at prey. Though they are very vocal dogs, they do not bark unless there is a good reason to. They are good with children, but any kind of abuse, even accidental, is not tolerated by them. Most Jack Russell Terriers are outgoing and friendly to other dogs, but some can be fairly aggressive. Jack Russell Terriers are also known as not being afraid of larger dogs, which can be a bad thing and lead to injuries.
Jack Russell Terriers, if taken care of, can live for over 15 years. The main health issue with them is cataracts, which is often seen in Jack Russell Terriers whose breeding stock is not tested.
Jack Russell Terriers are popular on screen as well, as they have vivid facial expressions and a feisty personality. Famous Jack Russell Terriers include Wishbone, who has his own television series, Milo from the popular comedy movie "The Mask" and Eddie, the popular dog on Frasier.
Jack Russell Terriers make great pets as they are small and friendly, yet also are attentive, strong and vocal when they need to be.
Jack Russell Terrier Breeds
This little terrier has a perky personality and is just at home on the agility course as he is taking part in an English hunt. Originating in England in 1800s, this breed was bred to hunt small game like fox. He has a willful personality, can be a bit mischievous at times, and makes a great pet for an active family that likes to share their activities with their dog.
Featuring a compact car with athletic body, the Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog ranging in height from 10 to 12 inches and in weight from 14 to 18 pounds. he has almond shaped dark eyes and pointed ears that flop over. The docked tail is carried high. This breed comes in three different types of coats - the broken coat, the smooth coat and a wirehaired coat. The body Is largely white in color and has markings usually on the face and tail sometimes in the middle which can be tan, brown or reddish black.
Not for the newbie dog owner, the Jack Russell Terrier is a very active dog. He is obedient but he also has his own minds and training can be challenging. This willful dog will need to be trained with a firm but loving hand using positive reinforcement. Socialization from a young age is a must as this dog is absolutely fearless and can be aggressive with other dogs is not trained properly.
Jack Russell terriers have strong hunting instincts which causes them to love to dig, and also cannot be good housemates with small animals. They can get along with small children quite well as long as the children are trained not to abuse the dog.
The Jack Russell Terrier does require a wad of exercise that he can be a good apartment dog if he is exercised properly. He will be active indoors, and it's probably best that he have at least the medium-sized yard to run around in. Be forewarned, however, that you Jack Russell will probably do a lot of digging and this dog can jump very high in even climb fences so make sure your backyard is Jack Russell proof.
The Jack Russell terrier likes to be with his family, and in fact it's really not a good idea to leave him alone with the run of the house. Jack Russell's need to be busy all the time and can become destructive if left alone to much. Your best bet is to crate train your dog so that you can keep them contained when you're not around. The Jack Russell Terrier should be matched up with her family that is able to spend a lot of time with their dog.
This breed is fairly easy to grow requiring occasional brushing and an occasional bath. The Jack Russell Terrier can be prone to certain eye diseases as well as dislocated knee caps. as when selecting any dog make sure you get your pet from a reputable breeder and be sure to provide him with regular vet visits and the appropriate immunizations.
The Jack Russell Terrier can make an excellent family pet for the family that is willing to spend the time training and hanging around with their dog. Excellent for hunting, tracking and agility this dog small size makes imperfect as a take a long dog for all of your family activities.
