Jack Russell Terrier

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Weekly
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
Low maintenance
Barking preference
Moderate
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mrs Leesa Musgrove (JOELLEIGH)

JOELLEIGH1@HOTMAIL.COM
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Breeder - Mrs Sarah Gaffikin (Brighthelm)

brighthelmjacks@gmail.com
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History

With a love of hunting typical of any 19th-century Englishman, Parson John Russell developed the Jack Russell Terrier (his namesake) almost 150 years ago to aid his fox hunts.

Legend has it that he acquired his first terrier ‘Trump’ around 1816 from a milkman, wanting to breed very specific characteristics. He was said to be so particular in his pursuit that he bred only those that were entirely white or had colour confined to the head and a small patch at the root of the tail.

The breed’s mainly white coat meant the hounds would not confuse the Terrier with the fox during a hunt and kill it by mistake.

The ANKC officially recognised the Jack Russell Terrier in 1991, although it has been in Australia since the ‘60s. A comprehensive stud book register was set up in Victoria at that time which proved invaluable when seeking ANKC recognition as a pure breed.

Characteristics

An intelligent hunter, the Jack Russell Terrier was bred as a working Terrier and for its ability to quickly ﬂush foxes out of their dens and into the path of chasing hounds. It is loved for its lively and active personality.

The breed’s character is generally demonstrated by the carriage of the ears, its erect tail when moving and its alert expression.

Temperament

The Jack Russell Terrier is a highly intelligent dog and readily trainable. A handler will be able to get its undivided attention and train it for suitability to both children and adults.

While the breed won’t stand still for long and can quickly become restless, it is suited to playing with other dogs, particularly in a pack. Bred as a working dog, it has plenty of courage and won’t back down from a challenge.

Overall, the Jack Russell Terrier is friendly and active, and it loves social outings and plenty of exercise. If bored, they have a tendency to dig and are excellent escape artists, so tall and secure fencing is recommended.

Appearance

The Jack Russell Terrier is strong and sinewy with long ﬂat muscles in hard condition. This slimly built dog is supple and ﬂexible with a medium body length.

With a chest deep rather than wide, the body is slightly longer than it is tall with a level back. Although small, the Jack Russell Terrier isn’t a short dog but depends on perfect proportions in body and head to give it an alert look. The loins are short, strong and deeply muscled.

As for colour, a purebred is white with black and/or tan markings with pigmented eye rims, nose and lips. In a more general sense, white is the predominant colour with black or tan markings in varied patterns, and with a mix of coat type.

The breed’s coat can be one of three types: smooth, broken or rough. In all cases it should be thick, harsh to touch and weatherproof.

Health and Maintenance

With a long lifespan of 14-15 years, there are very few health and genetic problems with this breed. Instead, they are considered extremely hardy and any injuries usually relate to their fearless nature during confrontations of which there are many.
On occasion the breed can slip a kneecap, which is a direct result of unsound breeding practices, although this is becoming increasingly rare.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a very low maintenance dog. It requires little grooming even with a rough or broken coat. A regular brush will do the trick.

Suitability

The Jack Russell Terrier is a fantastic family dog and great with children over three years of age.
The active lifestyle of the Jack Russell Terrier is often underestimated for such a small dog. So if you’re considering taking one home, ﬁrstly make sure this lively breed is suited to your lifestyle.

Words: The Jack Russell Terrier Club of NSW

Image: Cabal Canine Candids

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Jack Russell Terrier, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Jack Russell Terrier and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 16 Oct 2021)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

A strong, active, lithe working Terrier of great character with flexible body of medium length. His smart movement matches his keen expression. The coat may be smooth, rough or broken.

Characteristics

A lively, alert and active Terrier with a keen, intelligent expression.

Temperament

Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	The skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually decreasing in width to the eyes and tapering to a wide muzzle with very strong jaws. There should be a well defined stop but not over pronounced. The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter than from the stop to the occiput with the cheek muscles well developed. The nose should be black.
Eyes	Small dark and with keen expression. MUST not be prominent and eyelids should fit closely. The eyelid rims should be pigmented black. Almond shape.
Ears	Button or dropped of good texture and great mobility.
Mouth	Deep wide and powerful jaws with tight-fitting pigmented lips and strong teeth closing to a scissor bite.
Neck	Strong and clean allowing head to be carried with poise.
Forequarters	Shoulders well sloped back and not heavily loaded with muscle. Forelegs straight in bone from the elbow to the toes whether viewed from the front or the side and with sufficient length of upper arm to ensure elbows are set under the body with sternum clearly in front of shoulder blades.
Body	Chest deep rather than wide, with good clearance and the brisket located at the height mid-way between the ground and the withers. The body should be proportioned marginally longer than tall, the length from the point of the shoulder to the buttocks slightly greater than the height from the withers to the ground. Back level. Ribs should be well sprung from the spine, flattening on the sides so that the girth behind the elbows can be spanned by two hands - about 40 cms to 43 cms. The loins should be short, strong and deeply muscled.
Hindquarters	Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder, hind legs parallel when viewed from behind while in free standing position. Stifles well angulated and hocks low set.
Feet	Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, turned neither in nor out.
Tail	Docked: The tip of the tail should be on the same level as ears. May droop at rest. When moving should be erect.Undocked: May droop at rest. When moving should be erect.
Gait/Movement	True, free and springy.
Coat	May be smooth, broken or rough. Must be weatherproof, preferably unaltered.
Colour	White MUST predominate with black and/or tan markings. The tan markings can be from the lightest tan to the richest tan (chestnut).
Size	Ideal Height: 25 cms (10 ins) to 30 cms (12 ins)The weight in kg being equivalent of 1 kg to each 5 cms in height, i.e. a 25 cm high dog should weigh approximately 5 kgs and a 30 cm high dog should weigh 6 kgs.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. However, the following weaknesses should be particularly penalised:(a) Lack of true Terrier characteristics(b) Lack of balance, i.e. over exaggeration of any points(c) Sluggish or unsound movement(d) Faulty mouth.