Jack russel terrier

Overall description of the breed

Of English origin, the Jack Russel Terrier is a small, tenacious and determined hunting dog that appeared in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 19th century. Created and developed by the Reverend John Russel from Fox Terrier stock, he wanted to have a dog that was powerful and bold enough to slip into foxholes to dislodge them, while having good endurance and speed. There are two types of Russell Terrier, one taller on legs with a shorter body is known as the Parson Russell Terrier, the other smaller, shorter on legs, with a slightly longer body, called the Jack Russell Terrier. The latter has been popular with hunters since the middle of the 20th century, its official standard was established in the year 2000 and was finally recognised by the International Kennel Federation on 01 January 2003.

These hunting skills are recognized worldwide, small stocky dog, its courage is matched only by its determination. Robust, agile and vigorous, this is a breed with a strong temperament and exceptional physical abilities. Its body is longer than it is tall, so it fits into a rectangle, its chest is ample, its limbs powerful and its size has been designed to be able to squeeze into small burrows. The head is flat, the muzzle is moderately long and the stop is not very pronounced. His ears are triangular in shape, small in size, falling nicely towards the front of the head. His tail is of good length, it should be low when the dog is at rest and high when he is active. The coat is predominantly white with tan or black patches of varying shades, and the hair (short or medium length) may be soft or rough in texture.

The strong character of the Jack Russell Terrier is still well imprinted in its DNA, with a strong personality, its hunting instinct and its belligerent behaviour towards other animals is still very marked, despite the fact that it has been present in many families for decades. However, it is a remarkable everyday companion, affectionate and tender with its family, it appreciates playful activities, especially with children with whom it gets along wonderfully. Intelligent and courageous, they are still widely used as hunting and tracking dogs, areas in which they particularly excel. His alertness and bravery are not legends, he will go to any length even if it means putting himself in danger. Moreover, his energy expenditure needs are high and absolutely necessary for his well-being, not well adapted to the urban environment, he will blossom more in the countryside.

The Jack Russell Terrier is definitely an active dog, if his energy load is evacuated daily, he will prove to be calm in his home. Although attached to his family, he will know how to stay on his own if his education has been made in this sense, of a rather independent nature, he will need time to understand that you have to be absent at times. Obedience is not one of his primary qualities, like any good terrier, he is sometimes stubborn, his lack of concentration can sometimes play tricks on him, but if you instil strict rules in him from a young age, you should obtain satisfactory results. They are loyal to their family and friends, and will show you their affection every day.

As an adult, the Jack Russell Terrier will weigh between 11 to 17.6 lbs and stand 10" to 13.7" tall.