Mary Allen
The Jack Russell Terrier is a real whirlwind… albeit short-legged. Read everything about the character, attitude, and nature of the funny little fellows here.
The Jack Russell Terrier is a fairly young breed of dog. Nevertheless, he comes very close to the classic type of terrier in character. Jack Russell Terriers come from the British Isles. There they protected chickens, pigeons, and rabbits from martens, rats, and foxes.
But it was fox hunting that made the Jack Russell Terrier what it is today: a small, agile, courageous hunting dog with the so-called predator sharpness. That is, he should not only track down the foxes he hunts but also kill them. A Jack Russell Terrier was a pure utility dog with a clearly defined task for a long time.
The hunters, therefore, refused for a long time to join the system of modern pedigree dog breeding. They didn’t want the dogs to be judged on their outward appearance and feared the negative consequences of the exhibition system on the health and fitness of the dogs. With success: So far, serious breeding has largely been spared extremes.
In the early days, Jack Russell Terriers had an even greater variety in size. There are now two Russell terriers: the Parson Russell and the Jack Russell. The Parson may be a bit taller and longer-legged and looks more square. In contrast to the Parson, the “Jacky” is more rectangular, i.e. longer than high. He has that in common with the dachshund.
Therefore, the Fédération Cynologique International groups the Jack Russell Terrier in the short-legged terrier and the Parson in the high-legged terrier.
How big is a Jack Russell Terrier?
Jack Russell Terriers are small dog breeds. They grow between 25 and 30 cm high. Bitches move in the lower half, males on the upper edge.
How heavy is a Jack Russell Terrier?
A Jack Russell Terrier should weigh about 1 kg per 5 cm of height at the withers. For a 25 cm female that would be about 5 kg, a 30 cm male may weigh 6 kg.
What does a Jack Russell Terrier look like?
Jack Russell Terriers come in three coat varieties:
- smooth-haired
- rough-haired
- prickly hair
- The fur
The basic color of all Jack Russell Terriers is white. Black and brown spots of different sizes can be found on the white fur. The brown in the coat can range from light tan to rich chestnut.
The head
The dogs’ almond-shaped eyes and flipped ears reinforce the former hunting companion’s intelligent expression.
How old does a Jack Russell Terrier get?
Jack Russell Terriers tend to be a healthy breed of dog. It is not uncommon for the dogs to live to be between 15 and 18 years old if they are well cared for and fed high-quality food.
What character or nature does the Jack Russell Terrier have?
A Jack Russell Terrier is lively, alert, active, bold, fearless, yet friendly and endowed with good self-confidence. An intelligent dog, he was bred to work independently when hunting. The breed has retained this obstinacy to this day.
It is therefore a must to steer the pronounced hunting instinct of the four-legged friends in a meaningful way, preferably with the puppies with a good education. Otherwise, such a rascal disappears in the undergrowth when running free.
The dogs of this breed have also inherited a good dose of alertness.
Where does the Jack Russell Terrier come from?
The Jack Russell Terrier is actually a genuine Brit. A good 150 years ago, the pastor John (Jack) Russell bred him from the fox terrier. As an avid hunter, he needed a special breed of fox terrier: the dog had to be small enough to find and track a fox in its burrow. In 1819 he bought the rough-haired bitch “Trump”, who is now considered the ancestor of the terrier.
Great Britain is therefore also considered to be the country of origin of the breed. However, the four-legged friend was further developed in Australia. Trump’s first descendants arrived there in the mid-19th century when the red fox became rampant and was to be hunted. Again, it was the little terriers who did this job particularly well.
In 1972, breeders in Australia founded the first breed club for Jack Russell Terriers. In 1991 the breed was recognized by Australia’s National Canine Association.
In Europe, on the other hand, it took until 2003 for the breed to be finally recognized as one of the many dog breeds by the Fédération Cynologique International (FCI). In the USA, the breed is known as the Russell Terrier, the British Dog Association has only recognized the four-legged friend according to the FCI standard since 2016.
The right attitude and upbringing
As a terrier, Jack Russell is a rather independent character. He tests his limits and likes to follow his own will instead of that of his human. This is not surprising, since it was bred to be a hunting dog.
The breed has retained this hunting instinct. Stubbornness and hunting instinct paired with an irrepressible desire to move is good on the hunt. These qualities can make educating your four-legged friend a challenge.
Consistency and creativity are required instead of harsh words and even violence. A Jack Russell Terrier wants to be convinced that you are worth being with. It is therefore best to start on the day you move in with very short training sessions and positive confirmations for the puppy if the dog orients itself towards you.
The Jack Russell Terrier is no longer used very often as a hunting dog. For the clever little mind, it is therefore important to keep him busy. Otherwise, he looks for his own work and in the worst case, this can result in a watchful, constantly barking dog.
For example, agility, flyball, or nose work are perfect activities for the small and agile breed. In this way, you can steer the terrier’s need for exercise and work in the right direction. Jacky also does well as a companion dog when riding.
What Grooming Does the Jack Russell Terrier Need?
The terrier’s short coat is not prone to matting. Nevertheless, it is advisable to brush the dog regularly. Wire-haired Jack Russell Terriers should also be trimmed occasionally.
Get the puppy used to checking its claws, eyes, and teeth. This is helpful if you need to check your teeth for tartar from time to time.
In the summer, care includes checking your dog regularly for ticks. They can have serious effects on the dog’s health.
What are the typical diseases of the Jack Russell Terrier?
Like most terriers, Jack Russell Terriers are very hardy with a long life expectancy. Despite this, there are some diseases that this dog is more prone to than other dog breeds.
For one thing, atopies are quite widespread. These are hypersensitivities to certain substances in the environment or in the food. The associated histamine release can cause skin rashes or intestinal inflammation in dogs.
The so-called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease causes necrosis of the femoral head. Many terriers and smaller dogs suffer from it. Ataxia, cataracts, deafness, and extreme white discoloration (dilution) also occur more frequently.
How much does a Jack Russell Terrier cost?
A Jack Russell Terrier puppy costs between 1,300 and 1,800 euros, depending on the breeder.
Be sure to buy from a reputable breeder. You should definitely keep your hands off puppies from breeding farms.
A reputable breeder does not breed several dog breeds at once, he gives the puppies the necessary care and also takes the first steps in terms of educating the little four-legged friends. Only there you can be sure to get a Jack Russell Terrier with the best starting conditions for life.