Remember Mighty Dog? He was a Jack Russell Terrier! Celebrity status for these little guys too…wow!

Firstly, the Parson Russell Terrier, the Australian Jack Russell Terrier and the Russell Terrier ARE NOT the Jack Russell Terrier. These are not working breeds. They are companions and show dogs.

The Parson is a breed that was created by further narrowing of the breed.

The Australian and the Russell are newer breeds still and were only recognized in parts of the world in 2001. The claim there is that they were bred from dogs out of England.

The name “Jack Russell” has been used to describe a wide array of little white terriers, but it is now most commonly used to describe the working variety.

These little guys are fox hunters. They help hunters by scaring out the foxes from their dens, and other animals from their burrows.

When judging the Jack Russell Terrier, what is the most important physical attribute is their chest size, not their coloring, expression or the way they walk, unlike many other breeds. Basically, in shows, dogs are judged by how well they meet their standards set for the breed. This always relates directly to what kind of dog they are, and what they were bred to do. If a Jack Russell Terrier has a large chest, they are not able to fulfill their duties as a hunting aid, since they would be unable to enter a den or dig into a burrow…They simply don’t fit!

Red Fox are their main targets in hunting. It’s chest can be no larger than the animal it’s pursuing. Red fox make their dens in a huge variety of interesting places: old rabbit holes, badger settes, crawl spaces, drain pipes, groundhog dens, under tree roots, etc. The size of a red fox can vary, but on average they weight approximately 6.4 kg and have a chest circumference of 30-36 cm.

There are 3 types of Jack Russell Terrier coat:

1. Smooth coated

2. Rough coated

3. Broken coated.

Jack’s are predominantly colored white (at least 51%), and can have black, tan or tricolor markings on the head and the base of the tail. They have a scissor bite and small V-shaped ears that ideally flop forward. Their tails are usually docked to the length of a hand grip, and are straight and help high.

JRTs are high-energy and super intelligent. This means that a 1st time dog owner should think through getting a JRT as a companion. They need to be exercised and have their minds stimulated on an ongoing, daily basis. They need intensive training, as they can get into a lot of mischief otherwise. JRTs are prone to digging in the yard, incessant barking (as they want to hunt anything furry or anything they see that moves outside), escaping and exploring.

They certainly need to be trained well: Super Information on How to Train Your Jack Russell Terrier

They are certainly not a typical “lap dog” even though they are small. They are always on the go. If you have other little animals in the home, such as guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, cats, lizards, etc., it would be a good idea to rethink adopting a JRT. They will want to hunt these little pets…That’s what they are bred for!

JRTs really think they are tough and have a “little man syndrome”. In their heads, they are big dogs. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that they be on a leash when around other dogs, especially large dogs, as they will be fearless and either try to bark at them or instigate a fight.

With great care, a JRT can live between 14-21 yrs. This is a wonderful blessing!

I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Terrier Lover. What a fun and hard working terrier!

Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Make sure to get your 2008 Jack Russell calendar before all of the cute ones are gone:

Jack Russell Puppies 2008 Wall Calendar The popularity of the Jack Russell terrier is one of the fastest growing trends in the US. They are affectionate, lovable, energetic and just fun to be around. Large format displays the candid images of some of the world’s finest animal photographers. Grids provide plenty of space to record appointments, birthdays, and reminders. Size Closed: 13″ x 10.5″ Size Opened: 13″ x 21″

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Jack Russell Terrier – The Fox Hunter is a post from: Terrier Lover