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Jack Russell Terrier

Smooth Coat Jack Russell Terrier
Other names Fox Terrier
Country of origin England
Nicknames JRT
Jack
Traits
Notes
The Jack Russell Terrier is often considered synonomous with the Parson Russell Terrier. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Parson Russell Terrier was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1990 and the American Kennel Club in 2001 under the name Parson Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier is a type (or landrace) of small, principally white-bodied, smooth or rough-coated terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. Landrace refers to domesticated animals or plants adapted to the natural and cultural environment in which they live (or originated and in some cases work they often develop A terrier is a Dog of any one of many breeds or Landraces of terrier type which are typically small wiry very active and fearless dogs Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking chase and sometimes killing of a fox traditionally a Red fox, by trained Foxhounds or other Scent hounds The name "Jack Russell" has been used to describe a wide array of small white terriers, but is now most commonly used to describe a working terrier. The Jack Russell Terrier is commonly confused the Parson Russell Terrier or Russell Terrier, which are very similar to the Jack Russell. The Parson Russell Terrier was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1990 and the American Kennel Club in 2001 under the name Parson Jack Russell Terrier

Contents

Description

Appearance

A rough-coat JRT.
A rough-coat JRT.

As a working terrier, the Jack Russell Terrier's most important physical attribute is not coat colour, gait or expression, but chest size, which must not be so large that it prevents the dog from entering and working in burrows.

The red fox is the traditional quarry of the Jack Russell Terrier (JRT). The Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes) is a Mammal of the order Carnivora. A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or Minerals are extracted Red foxes may den in a wide variety of locations from old badger setts, rabbit holes and groundhog dens to drain-pipes and building crawl-spaces but in all cases the working Jack Russell must be small enough to pursue its quarry. Badger is the Common name for any animal of three subfamilies which belong to the family Mustelidae: the same Mammal family as the A sett, or set, is a network of tunnels making up a badger 's homestead The groundhog ( Marmota monax) also known as the woodchuck land beaver or whistlepig, is a Rodent of the family Sciuridae Red foxes vary in size, but across the world they average about 14 pounds in weight and have a chest size, on average of 12-14 inches in circumference when measured at the widest part of the chest. As Barry Jones, the founding Chairman of the National Working Terrier Federation noted in comments[1] directed to those in Great Britain who were intent on pulling the Jack Russell Terrier into The Kennel Club as a Parson Russell Terrier:

The chest is, without doubt, the determining factor as to whether a terrier may follow its intended quarry underground. The Kennel Club ("KC" is a Kennel club based in London and Aylesbury England. The Parson Russell Terrier was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1990 and the American Kennel Club in 2001 under the name Parson Jack Russell Terrier Too large and he/she is of little use for underground work, for no matter how determined the terrier may be, this physical setback will not be overcome in the nearly-tight situations it will encounter in working foxes. It may be thought the fox is a large animal - to the casual observer it would appear so. However, the bone structure of the fox is finer than that of a terrier, plus it has a loose-fitting, profuse pelt which lends itself to flexibility. I have not encountered a fox which could not be spanned at 14 inches circumference - this within a weight range of 10 lbs to 24 lbs, on average 300 foxes spanned a year.

JRTs are predominantly white (more than 51%) with black or tan markings commonly found on the face and at the base of the tail.

JRT puppy displaying the characteristic ears and colouring.
JRT puppy displaying the characteristic ears and colouring.

The skin and the undercoat to show a pattern of small black or brown spots, or freckles, that do not carry through to the outer coat. These dogs have small V-shaped ears that should fold downward, and strong teeth with a scissor bite. JRTs come in three coat types: smooth, broken, and rough. In all cases, the coat should be dense and not soft, feathery or linty. A smooth-coated dog has a dense topcoat that is approximately 1 cm long, and is smooth-coated all over its body. A rough-coated dog should have a double coat with fur as much as 10 cm long, and is rough-coated over its entire body. A broken-coated dog is any dog with a topcoat of intermediate length, or one that is largely or partially smooth with longer hair on some parts of its body. Jack Russell Terrier tails are straight, held high and upright. Traditionally, tails are docked to around five inches -- the length of a hand grip. It is not a serious fault to leave a tail a little long, but too short a tail creates a less useful dog in the field and a dog that looks poorly balanced.

Many dogs commonly referred to as "Jack Russells" have crooked or “benched” legs, resembling Queen Anne furniture. This is often a sign of Achondroplasia, and is a fault according to the breed standard. Achondroplasia is a type of Autosomal dominant Genetic disorder that is a common cause of Dwarfism. [2] A Jack Russell's forelegs should be strong and straight boned with joints in correct alignment, elbows hanging perpendicular to the body and working free of the sides. Hindquarters should be strong and muscular, well put together with good angulation and bend of stifle, giving plenty of drive and propulsion. Looking from behind, the hocks must be straight. Generally, a JRT should have a square appearance, with the body length in proportion to the height.

Temperament

A Jack Russell makes an excellent pet for the right owner.
A Jack Russell makes an excellent pet for the right owner.

Traditionally a "working terrier", the JRT was required to bark at his prey so they both could be located underground and be dug out if necessary; because of this, JRTs were bred to be very vocal dogs, and excellent diggers. Although it is not uncommon for these dogs to be moody or to get bored easily, they are also intelligent, protective, fearless, stubborn and have incredibly high-energy. All of these attributes benefited this dog when on the hunt.

Due to this and their compact size, JRTs have a loyal and growing following among dog owners. However, prospective buyers should be aware that they are not for everyone. They are independent, and although they are small, they are not “lap dogs”. They require a firm hand, a lot of attention, and regular - even frequent - exercise to maintain both their physical and emotional well-being.

JRTs that are not trained and regularly exercised may exhibit unmanageable behaviour, including excessive barking, escaping from the yard, or digging in unwanted places inside and outside the house. In America, several Jack Russell rescue networks have to work constantly to find temporary and permanent homes for JRTs whose owners typically were not aware that Jack Russells are not "docile" dogs and could not meet the requirements for exercise. Prospective JRT owners are advised to be responsible.

Most JRT get along well with children as long as they are introduced carefully, but they are extremely protective of their territory and have no tolerance of abuse, even when it is unintentional . Most are outgoing and friendly towards other dogs (again, territorial invasions notwithstanding), but a good number show same-sex aggression issues, especially the males. JRTs are also known for a "Napoleon complex" regarding larger canines that can get them into dangerous situations. Napoleon complex is a Colloquial term describing an alleged type of Inferiority complex which is said to affect some people who are physically short Their fearlessness often scares off a larger animal, but their apparent unawareness of their small size can lead to a lopsided fight with larger dogs if not kept in check.

Health

Jack Russell terriers are known for good longevity and health due to a healthy gene pool and lack of in-breeding when compared to some Kennel Club 'show dog' breeds. A well-cared-for Jack Russell can live well into its teens. Jacks usually live for between 11 and 18 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, general joint problems, and von Willebrand's disease. Ataxia (from Greek α- as a negative prefix + -τάξις, meaning "lack of order" is a neurological sign and symptom consisting Von Willebrand disease (vWD is the most common hereditary Coagulation abnormality described in humans although it can also be acquired as a result of other medical conditions Responsible breeders will have their puppies BAER tested for hearing before sale (this test is good for the life of the dog). Auditory brainstem response (ABR is an electrical signal evoked from the brainstem of a human or other mammal by the presentation of a sound such as a click Prospective dams and sires should be CERF tested and OFA inspected before breeding in order to reduce the chance of passing on congenital eye or joint problems. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA is a Not-for-profit organization based in Columbia Missouri that aims to research and prevent orthopedic and hereditary 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.

Τ== History ==

A working Jack Russell Terrier exits a den pipe.
A working Jack Russell Terrier exits a den pipe.

Small white fox-working terriers were bred by the Reverend John Russell, a parson and hunting enthusiast born in 1795. John ("Jack" Russell ( December 21, 1795 – April 28, 1883) "The Sporting Parson" was an enthusiastic hunter and Dog In the pre- Reformation church a parson was the priest of an independent Parish church, that is a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade. In his last year of university at Oxford he bought a small white and tan terrier female called Trump from the milk man. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, Trump was purchased based upon appearance alone. (Burns, 2005) She was the basis for a breeding program to develop a terrier with high stamina for the hunt as well as the courage and formation to chase out foxes that had gone to ground, but without the aggressiveness that would result in physical harm to the fox, which would have ended the chase, and so was considered unsporting. The line of terriers, developed by John Russell, was well respected for these qualities and his dogs were often taken on by hunt enthusiasts. It is unlikely, however, that any dogs alive today are descended from Trump, as Russell was forced to sell all of his dogs on more than one occasion because of financial difficulty, and had only four aged (and non-breeding) terriers left when he died in 1883. (Burns, 2005)

The only painting that exists of Trump was painted more than 40 years after the dog died, and it was painted by someone that had never seen the original animal at all. Russell said the painting was "a good likeness" but in fact he may have been trying to be polite. The painting was commissioned by Edward VII (then Prince of Wales) who befriended Russell in his old age, and had the painting done as an homage to the old man. Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (and formerly the Kingdom (Burns, 2005)

On the day that the impoverished Rev. John Russell died, his old sermons and other papers were found blowing around in the farm yard. Little or no written record of Rev. John Russell survives to the present day.

While it is often stated that Trump was "14 inches tall and weighed 14 pounds," there is no source for this statement, and it appears to have been penned by someone who had never met Russell and had only seen the painting of Trump (to which there is nothing to suggest scale). (Burns, 2005)

While Trump's appearance is murky, and her size a complete mystery, the fox dens of Devon, England, where John Russell once hunted, are well known. Devon is a large county in the South West of England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Terrierman Eddie Chapman, who has hunted those same Devon earths for more than 30 years, notes that "I can state categorically that if given the choice, ninety-nine percent of hunt terrier men would buy an under 12" worker, if it was available, over a 14" one. " (Chapman, 1994). To this day most working terrier enthusiast seem to prefer a dog around 12 inches tall and with a chest span of around 3. Υ000'

Purpose of the breed and its relation to the standard

The Reverend John Russell did not have Jack Russell terriers – he had white-bodied fox-working dogs that, in his day, were simply called “fox terriers. ”

The term “Jack Russell Terrier” was coined after the Reverend John Russell was dead, and was used to differentiate small working terriers from over-large non-working Fox Terriers that by 1900 dominated the Kennel Club show ring and bench. The name Fox Terrier or Foxy refers primarily to two different breeds of Dog, the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier

Today, the term "Jack Russell Terrier" is used to describe a wide array of dogs. Though there is a difference of opinion as to what is a “true” Jack Russell Terrier, it is revealing that the Reverend John Russell himself, never registered his own dogs with the Kennel Club and described his own dogs as being very different from those found on the show ring bench: "True terriers [my dogs] were, but differing from the present show dogs as the wild eglantine differs from a garden rose. "

The simplest way to think about Jack Russell Terriers is to divide the entire lot of them into two groups as John Russell himself did: Those that actually work in the field, underground, to formidable quarry (what Russell himself valued), and all the rest -- pets and show dogs alike.

Such a simple demarcation stood for more than 100 years, but ended in 1990 when The Kennel Club (UK) decided to add the Parson Russell Terrier to its rolls. The Kennel Club ("KC" is a Kennel club based in London and Aylesbury England. The Parson Russell Terrier was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1990 and the American Kennel Club in 2001 under the name Parson Jack Russell Terrier The American Kennel Club followed suit in 2001, as did the United Kennel Club that same year. The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is a registry of Purebred Dog pedigrees in the United States. The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of Purebred Dog Pedigrees in the United States and

Female Jack Russell with one ear up, and the other down.
Female Jack Russell with one ear up, and the other down.

While working terrier enthusiasts, such as John Russell, are principally concerned about function and do not much care about the color of a dog’s nose or the lay of its ear, the show ring breeder is principally concerned about form. A working terrier is a small type of dog which pursues its quarry into the earth In order to ensure that the value of show dogs is maintained and a sense of exclusivity and “purity” is maintained, Kennel Club registries are generally closed, and firm physical standards are crafted with the idea of minimizing the differences between breed members. The primary goal of a Kennel Club registry is “conformation” (hence the term “conformation show”) and the working abilities of a dog take a second slot, if they are considered at all.

There are a wide variety of Kennel Clubs, each with competing registries and names for dogs claiming descent from the dogs of the Reverend John Russell. Some registries put no value on work at all, some value working dogs above all others, and some are largely conformation registries, but which give a small nod to the working side of the dogs in question.

Broken coated non-conforming Russell Terrier with prick ears
Broken coated non-conforming Russell Terrier with prick ears

Many working dog breeds are not officially registered with any kennel club or breed registry. The Jack Russell Terrier is one of those breeds where many parents and offspring may not be "papered" but are still part of the breed. Not being registered in a breed registy does not make a dog any less a representative of its breed. Many working breeds are moving away from the "purebred" notion and instead are breeding for phenotype, not genotype, which will help prevent the working dog populations from acquiring genetic diseases such as we've seen in the last century with "pure" breeds.

As working dogs depend on health, ability, and temperament to be successful, it is important to breed for those characteristics and allow a lot of variability within the breed. A continuing loss of genetic diversity (such as has been seen in most modern "purebreds" because of their closed gene pools) leads to less healthy, less resistant animals that are less able to do their jobs.

Miscellaneous

On April 29th, 2007, a Jack Russell named George saved five children in New Zealand from an attack by two pit bulls. This article is about the group of breeds commonly called "Pit Bulls He was reported to have charged at them and held them at bay long enough for the kids to get away. He had to be put down due to injuries and was posthumously awarded a medal of bravery, normally reserved for humans, by the SPCA. Put to sleep redirects here For its literal meaning see Sleep or Anaesthetic. [3] A former US Marine also donated a Purple Heart award he received for service in Vietnam to George's owner. [4]

On screen and in literature

Moose as Eddie Crane on Frasier.
Moose as Eddie Crane on Frasier. Moose ( December 24 1990 &ndash June 22 2006) was a veteran canine Actor. Besides the main characters Frasier Crane, his father Martin and brother Niles, Daphne Moon, Roz Doyle and a few others there are several Frasier is an American sitcom, a Spin-off of Cheers starring Kelsey Grammer as

The endearing facial expressions, feisty personality, and cuteness make it a natural choice for television and the cinema. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DO NOT ADD ANY IMAGES WITHOUT * * PROVIDING ACCORDING Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic The famous RCA symbol of a white dog peering into an RCA Victrola was a JRT. Wishbone, the title character of an extremely popular and award-winning children's television series in the United States, is perhaps the most famous of Jack Russell Terriers. } Wishbone is a Television show featuring a Jack Russell Terrier of the same name Wishbone was played by the late Soccer who died in June 2001 at 13 years old. Soccer ( May 17, 1988 - June 26, 2001) was a Jack Russell terrier Dog Actor.

Other famous Jack Russell Terriers include Milo from the hit movie The Mask, and Eddie, the clever, irrepressible dog belonging to character Martin Crane on the sitcom Frasier. The Mask is a 1994 action Comedy film, based on a series of comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. Besides the main characters Frasier Crane, his father Martin and brother Niles, Daphne Moon, Roz Doyle and a few others there are several Martin "Marty" Crane is a character on the American Television show Frasier. Frasier is an American sitcom, a Spin-off of Cheers starring Kelsey Grammer as Eddie was played by Moose, who died in July 2006. Moose ( December 24 1990 &ndash June 22 2006) was a veteran canine Actor. Moose's son Enzo stepped in for the more physically demanding tricks as Moose aged, and Moose and Enzo also appeared in the movie My Dog Skip. Moose ( December 24 1990 &ndash June 22 2006) was a veteran canine Actor. My Dog Skip is a 2000 movie, directed by Jay Russell. It is based on the book My Dog Skip by Willie Commandant Spangler on the FOX sitcom Malcolm In The Middle had a Jack Russell Terrier, but it was eaten alive by the character Francis's snake. Malcolm in the Middle was a seven-time Emmy Award -winning one-time Grammy -winning He had run off and married a good-natured Canadian woman Big Ben's dog "Nippy" in Problem Child 2 was a Jack Russell. Problem Child 2 is the 1991 comedy

A Jack Russell named Russell the Muscle stars in the music video for 1980's hit "Just Got Lucky" by JoBoxers. JoBoxers, a predominantly British pop group was formed in 1982 when former Subway Sect members - Guitarist Rob Marche Keyboardist [5]

In 2008, A VW Polo advert included two jack russells. One of them was shaking which sparked much controversy about cruelty.

In the UK, one of the most recognisable canine stars was restaurateur and chef Rick Stein's irrepressible terrier Chalky, who frequently upstaged his owner on his various cookery series - indeed, many feel Chalky is the more famous of the pair! He was unique in having his own line of merchandise, including plushes, teatowels, art prints, art paw prints and even his own real ale - Chalky's Bite. A restaurant is a retail establishment that serves prepared Food to Customers. A chef is a person who cooks professionally In a professional kitchen setting the term is used only for the one person in charge of everyone else in the kitchen the executive Christopher Richard (Rick Stein OBE (born January 4 1947) is an English Chef, restaurateur Chalky was TV chef Rick Stein 's rough-haired Jack Russell Terrier Dog, who regularly accompanied Stein when filming his popular cookery shows Cask ale or cask-conditioned beer is the term for unfiltered and unpasteurised Beer which is conditioned (including Secondary fermentation He earned a BBC obituary when he died in 2007. [6]

The character of the wizard Ron Weasley in the popular Harry Potter book and movie series has a Jack Russell Terrier as his patronus charm. Ronald Bilius "Ron" Weasley is a Fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J Harry Potter is a series of seven Fantasy novels written by British author J The patronus is an insubstantial animal-form protector created by the advanced Patronus Charm spell, and one way to defend against Dementors and certain other dark creatures.

A Jack Russell Terrier is also briefly seen in the movie Crimson Tide, in which it is referred to as the "Smartest Breed. Crimson Tide is a 1995 Hollywood Submarine film starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, produced by Don Simpson " Another Jack Russell Terrier is playing a tiny role in the movie See Spot Run where the dog is shown as an aggressive dog, attacking a criminal jumping his back. See Spot Run is a 2001 Comedy film about a mailman that takes in a stray Bullmastiff only to learn that it is an FBI drug-sniffing

In the Francophonic Belgian novel Thank You for The Delicious Coke, the heroine Murielle Fried's closest companion is Matisse, who in a plot surprise, is revealed to actually be her Jack Russell Terrier.

Ernest P. Worrell owned a Jack Russell Terrier named Rimshot. Ernest P Worrell was a fictional character portrayed by American actor Jim Varney in a series of Television commercials and later in a television series

Tillamook Cheddar, a Jack Russell Terrier from Brooklyn, New York, is among the world's most renowned animal artists. Tillamook Cheddar (b Greenwich, Connecticut, January 17, 1999; also called Tillie for short is a Jack Russell terrier Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous She has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (on which she demonstrated her painting technique), as well as in a short film, Tillie Goes BUST!. Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien on NBC

References

  1. ^ http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2007/08/parson-russells-potted-histories-potted.html The Real Jack Russell Terrier: A Complete History
  2. ^ http://terrier.com/jrtca/standard.php3 Jack Russell Terrier Club Breed Standard.
  3. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070508/od_afp/nzealandanimalsoffbeat
  4. ^ Medals for brave jack russell terrier | NATIONAL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz
  5. ^ New Wave Outpost Message Board - Dig Wayne Of Jo Boxers?
  6. ^ BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Celebrity chef Stein's dog dies

External links

See also

Clubs & Associations

Similar Breeds

John ("Jack" Russell ( December 21, 1795 – April 28, 1883) "The Sporting Parson" was an enthusiastic hunter and Dog Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking chase and sometimes killing of a fox traditionally a Red fox, by trained Foxhounds or other Scent hounds A working terrier is a small type of dog which pursues its quarry into the earth The American Working Terrier Association (AWTA was founded in 1971 by Patricia Adams Lent to encourage and promote the breeding hunting and ownership of terriers of correct size conformation The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America {JRTCA is the largest Jack Russell Terrier club and registry in the world and is the National Breed Club and Registry for the Jack The Parson Russell Terrier was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1990 and the American Kennel Club in 2001 under the name Parson Jack Russell Terrier The name Fox Terrier or Foxy refers primarily to two different breeds of Dog, the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaWikiProject_Dog_breeds#Infobox_Dogbreed_template for full explanation The Atlas Terrier is a breed of Terrier that faces potential extinction due to the popularity of a closely-related breed the Jack Russell Terrier.
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