The Parson Jack(recognized), The Jack Russell (not seeking recognition) and the Russell terrier (CKC pending recognition ) are actually three different breeds, though related. The Russell Terrier was introduced at the National Dog Show in 2012 , now recognized by the AKC. The Jack Russell is not a recognized breed, despite the dog’s popularity in our country. There is a explanation as to why, but it can be a bit confusing.
The Parson Jack, the Jack Russell and Russell Terrier breeds were all named after the Reverend John “Jack” Russell (1795 – 1883), a parson who lived in Devonshire, England during the 1800s. He was an avid fox hunter, when he wasn’t attending to his duties in his church. The Reverend was also quite fond of fox hunting dogs. His first terrier, a female named Trump,whom he started his breeding program with, is likely the foundation to all Russell terriers dogs today.
Reverend Russell, also known as “The Sporting Parson,” wanted a working dog that was feisty, strong and confident! To hunt fox and go to ground flushing out fox or other prey from their hole. The Reverend lived in the southern part of England where the terrain wasn’t as hilly, and a short legged dog met his needs. The small dogs ran with hunters on horseback, hounds in tow, following a fox. When the hounds chased the fox to ground, it was the terrier’s job to follow and flush the fox out so the hunt could continue.
It was after Reverend Russell’s death that the JRT breed began to evolve into the Parson Terrier. Hunters living in areas where the land was more rough and rugged wanted dogs with longer legs. Which allowed them to better navigate the terrain, keeping up with the hounds and horses. They were also more interested in hunting other prey, primarily badgers. If a pup was born with shorter legs, it would be kept at home as companion pet. Roaming around the barn's and home catching vermin, as well as a watchdog.
Eventually, it was discovered that the dogs with shorter legs could be useful on a hunt. These dogs were easy to carry over rougher terrain in terrier sacks, slung over the hunter’s shoulder or across their saddle. Due to their smaller size, it was easier for them to get into their prays dens. This is when the Parson and the Jack Russell terriers began to split off into two separate breeds.
The traditional Russell Terrier was created in England, then developed in Australia to form our breed today. Both the Russell and Parson terriers were bred to be working animals. However, it’s the Parson terrier that was bred as a hunting dog with a higher energy level. The Russell terrier was bred more as a companion dog. Although both breeds share the same intensity in prey drive, the Russell is a calmer companion,then, then their cousin, the Parson terrier.
There are not a lot of differences between the Parson Jack, the Jack Russell, and Russell Terrier (English), but all three are considered different breeds. This is where it gets confusing. The Russell Terrier is actually a shorter version of the Jack Russell terrier. Australia and other FCI (international federation of kennel clubs) countries call the Russell Terrier a (Jack Russell terrier), which is the traditional old style JRT(English). In the US, the Russell Terrier is the same size as the Australian Jack Russell terrier(English). Both the Russell and the Parson Terrier are recognized by the AKC ,pending CKC, but the Jack Russell terrier isn’t.
The standard height for the Parson is 12 ½ -15 inches, the Jack Russell Terrier/Russell Terrier is 10-12 inches, The Parson can also be recognized by its square body, and both the Russell and JRT have rectangular bodies.
Why isn’t the JRT recognized by the AKC? This, too, is a little complicated. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA) wanted to make sure the breed kept its working dog status. When AKC was considering adding the Jack Russell Terrier to their list of recognized dogs in the early 1990s, the JRTCA opposed it, fearing the working ability would be bred out of the breed, with an emphasis placed on conformation over hunting ability. In 2001, the issue was brought up again when the Jack Russell Terrier Breeders Association filed a petition requesting the Jack Russell be recognized as a legitimate breed.
Because there’s a variation in the JRT in size and appearance, all Jack Russell Terriers that met a specific standard were renamed as the Parson Terrier. The newly recognized Russell Terrier is the same breed as the Jack Russell Terrier, recognized in Australia and other FCI countries, and the JRT is still not a recognized breed. This seems to have made everyone involved happy, for the time being.
The Parson Jack, the Jack Russell and Russell Terrier breeds were all named after the Reverend John “Jack” Russell (1795 – 1883), a parson who lived in Devonshire, England during the 1800s. He was an avid fox hunter, when he wasn’t attending to his duties in his church. The Reverend was also quite fond of fox hunting dogs. His first terrier, a female named Trump,whom he started his breeding program with, is likely the foundation to all Russell terriers dogs today.
Reverend Russell, also known as “The Sporting Parson,” wanted a working dog that was feisty, strong and confident! To hunt fox and go to ground flushing out fox or other prey from their hole. The Reverend lived in the southern part of England where the terrain wasn’t as hilly, and a short legged dog met his needs. The small dogs ran with hunters on horseback, hounds in tow, following a fox. When the hounds chased the fox to ground, it was the terrier’s job to follow and flush the fox out so the hunt could continue.
It was after Reverend Russell’s death that the JRT breed began to evolve into the Parson Terrier. Hunters living in areas where the land was more rough and rugged wanted dogs with longer legs. Which allowed them to better navigate the terrain, keeping up with the hounds and horses. They were also more interested in hunting other prey, primarily badgers. If a pup was born with shorter legs, it would be kept at home as companion pet. Roaming around the barn's and home catching vermin, as well as a watchdog.
Eventually, it was discovered that the dogs with shorter legs could be useful on a hunt. These dogs were easy to carry over rougher terrain in terrier sacks, slung over the hunter’s shoulder or across their saddle. Due to their smaller size, it was easier for them to get into their prays dens. This is when the Parson and the Jack Russell terriers began to split off into two separate breeds.
The traditional Russell Terrier was created in England, then developed in Australia to form our breed today. Both the Russell and Parson terriers were bred to be working animals. However, it’s the Parson terrier that was bred as a hunting dog with a higher energy level. The Russell terrier was bred more as a companion dog. Although both breeds share the same intensity in prey drive, the Russell is a calmer companion,then, then their cousin, the Parson terrier.
There are not a lot of differences between the Parson Jack, the Jack Russell, and Russell Terrier (English), but all three are considered different breeds. This is where it gets confusing. The Russell Terrier is actually a shorter version of the Jack Russell terrier. Australia and other FCI (international federation of kennel clubs) countries call the Russell Terrier a (Jack Russell terrier), which is the traditional old style JRT(English). In the US, the Russell Terrier is the same size as the Australian Jack Russell terrier(English). Both the Russell and the Parson Terrier are recognized by the AKC ,pending CKC, but the Jack Russell terrier isn’t.
The standard height for the Parson is 12 ½ -15 inches, the Jack Russell Terrier/Russell Terrier is 10-12 inches, The Parson can also be recognized by its square body, and both the Russell and JRT have rectangular bodies.
Why isn’t the JRT recognized by the AKC? This, too, is a little complicated. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA) wanted to make sure the breed kept its working dog status. When AKC was considering adding the Jack Russell Terrier to their list of recognized dogs in the early 1990s, the JRTCA opposed it, fearing the working ability would be bred out of the breed, with an emphasis placed on conformation over hunting ability. In 2001, the issue was brought up again when the Jack Russell Terrier Breeders Association filed a petition requesting the Jack Russell be recognized as a legitimate breed.
Because there’s a variation in the JRT in size and appearance, all Jack Russell Terriers that met a specific standard were renamed as the Parson Terrier. The newly recognized Russell Terrier is the same breed as the Jack Russell Terrier, recognized in Australia and other FCI countries, and the JRT is still not a recognized breed. This seems to have made everyone involved happy, for the time being.
The Parson Jack (SQUARE body) And The Russell Terrier beside (RECTANGULAR Body)
