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The Russell Terrier is a predominantly white working terrier with the insatiable instinct to hunt formidable quarry underground. The breed was derived from the Reverend John Russell's fox working terrier strains that were used in the 1800s for fox hunting. The Reverend's fox working strains were much smaller than the Show Fox Terrier and remained working terriers. The size of the Russell Terrier (10" to 12") combined with a small flexible, spannable chest makes it an ideal size to work efficiently underground. Their unique rectangular body shape with a 50/50 ratio of body to leg makes them distinctly different from the Parson Russell Terrier and the JRTCA Jack Russell Terrier.
The Russell Terrier originated in England with Australia being designated as the country of development.
The name "Jack Russell Terrier" was never used to describe a breed of dog. Rather, it became a common name for any predominantly-white earth-working terrier after the death of the Reverend John Russell. The only requisite was color, the instinct combined with the will to employ earth-work and the size to work efficiently underground. Still today, the name is widely used for working terriers of the Parsons Reverend's style. It was in the country of development, Australia, that this 10-12 inch dog was first standardized by Kennel Club recognition with the official name "Jack Russell Terrier" applied to the breed. This ultimately led to recognition of the breed by FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) countries including Ireland and most recently the USA. Unfortunately, due to the previous use of the name in the USA and England, the name Jack Russell Terrier is conflicting. In the USA, the Jack Russell Terrier conforming to the Australian/FCI standard is simply called a Russell Terrier. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the most common Jack Russell Terrier stood between 10" and 12" at the shoulder. There were those over 12", but these were in the minority. In the United Kingdom, each hunt had its Hunt Terriers made up usually of an assortment of Jack Russells, Borders, Lakelands and "Patterdales".
Even now, the size of the Russell Terrier in a hunt kennel will vary depending on its usage. In areas where the terriers are expected to run with hounds, they will be longer in leg. In areas where the terriers are carried in a saddle bag or, more likely today, in the back of a vehicle, they will be of the shorter and longer than tall variety. During the hunts' off-season the kennels usually have fun days and conformation events accompanied by a Hound Show, Terrier Show and Terrier racing. The Russell Terrier is a very popular companion breed in the US. It must be noted first and foremost the breed is a working breed not a companion breed. They are bred by dedicated Fanciers to preserve their working functional conformation and the instinct to employ their original purpose as earth terriers. This makes them an excellent performance breed participating in a variety of events; natural hunting which includes earthwork, agility, rally, obedience, tracking, go-to-ground and conformation, just to name a few. They are also found as therapy and service dogs.
In the early 1970s, the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Great Britain was formed, and this body instituted a very primitive form of registration. Soon, Jack Russell Terrier Clubs were being formed world wide, including Australia. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia was formed in 1972. This national organization set up a particularly comprehensive registration system, along with a formal breed standard. This club also initiated discussions with the KCC regarding the possibility of the breed being accepted for registration as a pure breed. The ideal height for the Jack Russell Terrier in Australia was to be 10" to 12".
In Australia, the Jack Russell Terrier Club initially held one show a year, but by the late 1980s, states were holding one or two shows each per year, as well as the National Annual Show. Discussions continued with mainly the KCC and from there to the Australian National Canine Council (ANKC). By now most Canine Councils were giving approval for their Judges to officiate at Jack Russell Shows, and those who were taking an interest in the breed began to realise that the type was improving, and the numbers increasing. In 1990, there were 109 entries at the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia's NSW Branch Easter Show. Since the beginning of development within Australia, the Breed has only progressed with great strength. Today, Jack Russell Terriers frequently gain Group awards at Championship Shows, are trialled at Obedience Trials, run in Endurance Tests, and compete in Earthdog Tests. Their most popular role...though is as pets, make lively and amusing companions.
The Russell Terrier, also known as the F.C.I. type Jack Russell Terrier, is a recognized Kennel Club breed in the United States and is maintained separately from the AKC Parson Russell Terrier, JRTCA Jack Russell Terrier and the UKC Jack Russell Terrier. In 2001 The United Kennel Club accepted the application from the English Jack Russell Terrier Club officially recognizing the Russell Terrier. The American Kennel Club AKC accepted the breed into the FSS Program in December 8, 2004, again based on the F.C.I. Jack Russell Terrier Standard, also submitted by the E.J.R.T.C. AKA the American Russell Terrier Club.
In England (country of origin) the slightly longer than tall, more rectangular Russell is yet to be recognized. The original finer legged, more square in form (Parsons) were preserved for the most part and, in England, are called "Parson Jack Russell Terriers". This form was recognised by the Kennel Club (UK) in 1990 and gained provisional recognition by the international breeds association, the F.C.I, in the same year. The name of the breed was changed to "Parson Russell Terrier" in 1999 by the Kennel Club (UK) and gained full recognition by the F.C.I under this name in 2001. Also in England the Parson type Russell through the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Great Britain (JRTGB) is accepted as a working terrier breed, this club has no ties to any kennel clubs.
The United Kennel Club (UKC) has officially recognized the F.C.I. type Jack Russell Terrier based on the FCI standard since November 2001. All UKC FS designated dogs were those previously registered with the ARTC. The FCI Jack Russell Terrier was also accepted into the AKC FSS known as the "Russell Terrier" in December 2004 on the application submitted by the ARTC. The AKC Parsons Russell Terrier, the UKC Jack Russell Terrier (Parsons in style) and the AKC, UKC Russell terrier all evolved using parallel breeding strains from the fox-working terrier bred by the Reverend John Russell. The Jack Russell Terrier, the Parsons Russell Terrier and Russell Terrier (Australian/FCI JRT) will forever be linked in ancestry. However, after 12 years of maintaining the Russell Terrier in the US and longer internationally as a distinctly separate breed with the selection of the rectangular appearance unique only to the Russell Terrier they can no longer be considered variations.
The breed originated in England and was developed in Australia with a well-documented history. The history of the breed detailed in the standard is as important as the definition of the description of the Russells. The AKC Parsons Russell Terrier and the AKC FSS Russell Terrier are maintained as distinctly separate breeds in AKC and in Europe.
The AKC FSS books are open and accepting registrations for the FCI type Jack Russell Terrier/AKC FSS Russell Terrier. At this time there are 4 registries acceptable within the AKC FSS for the Jack Russell Terrier, two of those registries, the American Russell Terrier Club and the American Russell Terrier Foundation Club are no longer able to accept registrations for the Russell Terrier because these organizations have turned their entire registries over to the AKC FSS and therefore have become the property of the AKC FSS. The only acceptable registry that pre-screens for the FCI type JRT exclusively for the AKC FSS, is the American Jack Russell Terrier Association.
A strong, active, lithe working Terrier of great character with flexible body of medium length. His smart movement matches his keen expression. Tail docking is optional and the coat may be smooth, rough or broken.
A well-cared-for Russell can live for anywhere between 14-21 years. Health concerns with the breed include hereditary cataracts, primary lens luxation, congenital deafness, medial patellar luxation, cerebellar ataxia, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, myasthenia gravis, atopy, and von Willebrand's disease. It is responsible breeders to have puppies BAER tested for hearing. The dams and sires should be CERF tested annually and Orthopedic Foundation for Animals examined to reduce the chance of passing on congenital eye or joint problems. Prospective puppy buyers are encouraged to avoid dogs sired or whelped by dogs under two years of age as congenital problems in the sire or dam may not yet have expressed themselves.