Jack Russell Terrier

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Jack Russell Terrier

Smooth Coated Jack Russell Terrier
Nicknames JRT
Jack
Country of origin England
Traits

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small, principally white-bodied, smooth- or rough-coated terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. Commonly confused with the Parson Russell Terrier -- the American Kennel Club (AKC) and affiliate variant -- and the Russell Terrier (a shorter legged, stockier variety), the working Jack Russell Terrier is a unique terrier which has been preserved in working ability as well as appearance much as it existed over 200 years ago.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

"A black and white drawing of a white dog with black markings on the face. The image is in profile with the dog facing left."
A drawing of Trump, the dog purchased by Reverend John Russell.

The small white-fox working terriers we know today were first bred by the Reverend John Russell, a parson and hunting enthusiast born in 1795,[2] and they can trace their origin to the now extinct English White Terrier.[3] Difficulty in differentiating the dog from the creature it was pursuing brought about the need for a mostly white dog,[4] and so in 1819 during his last year of university at Exeter College, Oxford,[5] he purchased a small white and tan terrier female named Trump from a milkman. Trump epitomized his ideal Fox Terrier,[6] at the time it was a term used for any terrier which was used to bolt foxes out of their burrows.[3] Her colouring was described as "...white, with just a patch of dark tan over each eye and ear; whilst a similar dot, not larger than a penny piece, marks the root of the tail."[7] Reverend Davies, a friend of Russell's, wrote "Trump was such an animal as Russell had only seen in his dreams".[5] 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.[8] By the 1850s these dogs were recognised as a distinct type of dog.[9]

An important attribute in this dog was a tempered aggressiveness that would provide the necessary drive to pursue and bolt the fox without resulting in physical harm to the quarry and effectively ending the chase, which was considered unsporting.[10] Russell was said to have prided himself that his terriers never tasted blood.[9] This 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 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. [10]

The Fox Terrier and Jack Russell Terrier type dogs of today are all descended from dogs of this period, although documented pedigrees earlier than 1862 have not been found. Several records remain of documented breeding by Reverend John Russell between the 1860s and 1880s. The Fox Terrier Club was formed in 1875 with Russell as one of the founder members; it's breed standard was aspiration and not a description of how the breed appeared then. By the start of the 20th century the Fox Terrier had altered more towards the modern breed, but in some parts of the country the old style of John Russell's terriers remained and it is from those dogs that the modern Jack Russell type descends.[5]

Old Jock, a famous Fox Terrier born in 1859.

Following Russell's death the only people who made serious efforts to continue those strains were Mr. East, of Chiselhurst and Mr. Archer, of Cornwall. Mr. East at one point had several couples, all of which were descended from one of John Russell's dogs. The type aimed for were not as big as the show Fox Terrier, and were usually less than 15 pounds (6.8 kg).[4]

Arthur Blake Heinemann created the first breed standard, and in 1894 he found the Devon and Somerset Badger Club whose aims were to promote badger digging rather than fox hunting, and the breeding of terriers suitable for this purpose. Terriers were acquired from Nicholas Snow of Oare, and it is likely that the blood of John Russell's original dogs ran through their veins as the Parson would have probably hunted at some point with Snow's hunting club and is likely to have provided at least some of their original terriers.[5]

The club would go on to be renamed the Parson Jack Russell Terrier Club.[5] Badger digging required a different type of dog to fox hunting, and it is likely that Bull Terrier blood was introduced, and the short legged Jack Russell Terrier started to appear. At the same time that a split was appearing between show and working Fox Terriers, a further split was occuring between two different types of white terrier, both carrying Jack Russell's name.[4] Heinemann was invited to judge classes for working terriers at Crufts with an aim to bring working terriers back into the show ring and influence those that disregard working qualities in dogs. These classes were continued for several years by various judges but Charles Cruft dropped the attempt as the classes were never heavily competed. Following Heinemann's death in 1930, the kennel and leadership of the club passed to Annie Harris, but the club itself folded just prior to World War II.[4][5]

[edit] Description

A working Jack Russell Terrier exits a den pipe.

Jack Russell Terriers are sturdy, tough, and tenacious, measuring between 10–15 inches (25–38 cm) at the withers.[11] The body length must be in proportion to the height, and the dog should present a compact, balanced image. Predominantly white in coloration (more than 51%) with black and/or tan markings, [11] they exhibit either a smooth, rough or a combination of both which is known as a broken coat. A broken-coated dog may have longer hair on the tail or face than that which is seen on a smooth-coated dog.[12] The skin can sometimes show a pattern of small black or brown spots -- referred to as "ticking" -- that do not carry through to the outer coat. All coat types should be dense double coats that are neither silky (in the case of smooth coats) nor woolly (in the case of rough coats).

The head should be of moderate width at the ears, narrowing to the eyes, and slightly flat between the ears. There should be a defined but not overpronounced stop at the end of the muzzle where it meets the head, and a black nose. The jaw should be powerful and well boned with a scissor bite and straight teeth. The eyes are almond shaped and dark colored, and should be full of life and intelligence. Small V-shaped ears of moderate thickness are carried forward on the head. When the dog is alert, the tip of the V should not extend past the outer corner of the eyes. The tail is set high and in the past was docked to approximately five inches in order to provide a sufficient hand-hold for gripping the terrier. It is a serious fault for the dog to have its tail down when in the show ring.

"Three mostly white terriers with different markings stand up over a log"
Two rough coated Jack Russells on either side, and a smooth coated JRT in the middle.

The Jack Russell should always appear balanced and alert,[11] As the Jack Russell is primarily a working terrier, its most important physical characteristic is its 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), so the working Jack Russell must be small enough to pursue its quarry. Red foxes vary in size, but across the world they average from 13-17 pounds in weight and have an average chest size of 12-14 inches at the widest part. [13]

The Jack Russell Terrier and Parson Russell Terrier breeds are similar as they share a common origin, but with several marked differences – the most notable being the range of acceptable heights.[14] Other differences in the Parson can include a longer head and larger chest as well as overall a larger body size.[15] The height of a Parson Russell at the withers according to the breed standard is 12–14 inches (30–36 cm) which places it within the range of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America's standard size for a Jack Russell which is 10–15 inches (25–38 cm). However the Parson Russell is a conformation show standard whereas the Jack Russell standard is a more general working standard.[16]

The Russell Terrier, which is also sometimes called the English Jack Russell Terrier or the Short Jack Russell Terrier is a generally smaller related breed.[17] Both the breed standards of the American Russell Terrier Club and the English Jack Russell Terrier Club Alliance states that at the withers it should be an ideal height of 8–12 inches (20–30 cm).[18][19] Although sometimes called the English Jack Russell Terrier, this is not the recognised height of Jack Russells in the United Kingdom. According to the Jack Russell Club of Great Britain's breed standard, it is the same size as the standard for Jack Russells in the USA, 10–15 inches (25–38 cm).[20] Compared to the Parson, the Russell Terrier should always be longer than tall at the withers, whereas the Parson's points should be of equal distance.[21]

[edit] Temperament

A Jack Russell Terrier is a dog with a high level of energy.

Jack Russells are first and foremost a working terrier. [22] Originally bred to bolt fox from their dens during hunts, they are used on numerous ground-dwelling quarry such as groundhog, badger, and red and grey fox. The working JRT is required to locate quarry in the earth, and then either bolt it or hold it in place until they are dug to. To accomplish this, the dog must bark and work the quarry continuously. Because the preservation of this working ability is of highest importance to most registered JRTCA/JRTCGB breeders, Jack Russells tend to be extremely intelligent, athletic, fearless, and vocal dogs. It is not uncommon for these dogs to become moody or destructive if not properly stimulated and exercised, as they have a tendency to bore easily and will often create their own fun when left alone to entertain themselves.

Their high energy and drive make these dogs ideally suited to a number of different dog sports such as flyball or agility. Obedience classes are also recommended to potential owners, as Jack Russells can be stubborn at times and aggressive towards other animals and humans if not properly socialized (a process that should be continued throughout their whole lives). Despite their small size, these dogs are not recommended for the condominium or apartment dweller unless the owner is ready to take on the daunting task of providing the dog with the necessary amount of exercise and stimulation. These are truly big dogs in small packages, a fact which can sometimes lead to trouble involving larger animals. The JRT owner must be aware of these tendencies and keep an eye out for trouble in many situations. [23]

[edit] Well-known Jack Russell Terriers

His Master's Voice (1898) by Francis Barraud.

On April 29, 2007, a Jack Russell named George saved five children at a carnival in New Zealand from an attack by two pit bulls. He was reported to have charged at them and held them at bay long enough for the children to get away. He was killed by the pit bulls, and in 2009 was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross. A statue has been erected in Manaia, New Zealand in his memory.[24] A former US Marine also donated to George's owner a Purple Heart award he had received for service in Vietnam. [25]

A Jack Russell named Bothy made history in 1982 as part of the Transglobe Expedition. Owned by explorers Ranulph and Ginny Fiennes, he became the first dog to travel to both the north and south poles.[26][27] This feat is unlikely to be repeated in the future as since 1994 all dogs have been banned from Antarctica by the Antarctic Treaty nations due to fears that they could transmit diseases to the native seal population.[28] Ranulph Fiennes and Charles Burton actually made the trip to the north pole by powered sledges before signalling to the base camp that thy had arrived. To celebrate their achievement a plane was sent out to take the two men champagne, along with Bothy.[29]

Nipper, was a dog born in 1884 which was thought to be a dog of the Jack Russell Terrier type.[30] He was the inspiration for the painting Dog looking at and listening to a Phonograph, later renamed to His Master's Voice. The painting was used by a variety of music related companies including The Gramophone Company and EMI. Today it remains in use incorporated into the logo for HMV in UK and Europe.[31]

[edit] On screen and in literature

A rough-coated Jack Russell Terrier puppy

In the UK, one of the more recognisable canine stars was restaurateur and chef Rick Stein's irrepressible terrier Chalky, who frequently upstaged his owner on his various cookery series.[32] He was unique in having his own line of merchandise, including plushes, tea towels, art prints, art paw prints and two real ales - Chalky's Bite and Chalky's Bark,[33] which won gold in the Quality Drink Awards 2009.[34] Chalky was given a BBC obituary when he died in 2007.[35]

Father Moose and son Enzo, played the role of Eddie, on the long-running TV sitcom Frasier. Eddie belonged to lead character Frasier's father Martin, and constantly "stole the show" with his deadpan antics, receiving more fan mail than any other Frasier character.[36] Wishbone, from the television show of the same name which aired from 1995 to 2001 in the United States, was a Jack Russell Terrier.[37] Wishbone's real name was Willowall Soccer, and was chosen from over a hundred other dogs vying for the part.[38]

Actor Gene Hackman's pet in the 1995 movie Crimson Tide was a smooth-coated Jack Russell Terrier named "Bear". [39] Milo (played by Max, a Jack Russell Terrier) is one of Stanley Ipkiss's only friends in the 1994 U.S film The Mask starring Jim Carrey.[40]

[edit] See also

[edit] Clubs and associations

[edit] Similar breeds

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Coile (2000): p. 11
  2. ^ Nicholas, Anna Katherine. Jack Russell Terriers. Neptune City, NJ: TFH Publications. pp. 4. ISBN 0-7938-2379-x. "Parson Jack was born in 1795. His father was a noted sportsman... also a clergyman. ...patterned his own life after the senior Russell's footsteps" 
  3. ^ a b "Jack Russell and Fox Terrier History". Jane Dogs. http://www.janedogs.com/jack-russell-and-fox-terrier-history/. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Breed History & Club History". Jack Russell Terrier Club of Great Britain. http://jrtcgb.webs.com/clubinfo.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f "An introduction to the Parson Russell Terrier". Parson Russell Terrier Club UK. http://www.parsonrussellterrierclub.co.uk/history.html. Retrieved 15 March 2010. 
  6. ^ Coile (2000): p. 6
  7. ^ Coile (2000): p. 3
  8. ^ Smith, Steve (September 2002). The Encyclopedia of North American Sporting Dogs: Written by Sportsmen for Sportsmen. Willow Creek Press. pp. 229. ISBN 978-1572235014. http://books.google.com/books?id=d4FnXfnoc-IC&pg=PA229&dq=jack+russell+terrier&lr=&cd=34#v=onepage&q=jack%20russell%20terrier&f=false. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 
  9. ^ a b McKinney, Liz. "History of the Jack Russell Terrier". Parson Russell Terrier / Jack Russell Terrier.com. http://www.prt-jrt.com/articles/HistoryOfTheJRT.html. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  10. ^ a b Burns, Patrick (2005). American Working Terriers. ISBN 141166082X. 
  11. ^ a b c "JRTCA Breed Standard". www.therealjackrussell.com. Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. http://www.therealjackrussell.com/jrtca/standard.php. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 
  12. ^ Romaine Brown, Catherine (27 March 2006). Jack Russell Terrier: Your Happy Healthy Pet. Howell Book House. pp. 18. ISBN 978-0471748373. http://books.google.com/books?id=m7pJJIwLS3QC&pg=PA18&dq=jack+russell+broken+coat&cd=7#v=onepage&q=jack%20russell%20broken%20coat&f=false. Retrieved 15 March 2010. 
  13. ^ "WORKING DOG". www.therealjackrussell.com. Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. http://therealjackrussell.com/breed/working.php. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 
  14. ^ Rice, Dan (17 November 2005). Small Dog Breeds. Barron's Educational Series. pp. 140. ISBN 978-0764120954. http://books.google.com/books?id=iYS0rHP4AUIC&pg=RA2-PT46&dq=jack+russell+parson+diffences&lr=&cd=11#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 15 March 2010. 
  15. ^ Rainwater, Don; Rainwater, Kellie (3 March 2008). The Jack Russell Terrier Canine Companion Or Demon Dog. CreateSpace. pp. 9. ISBN 978-1434848901. http://books.google.com/books?id=xIX1rZ1rv_UC&pg=PA9&dq=jack+russell+parson+diffences&cd=2#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 15 March 2010. 
  16. ^ "Breed Comparison". Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. http://www.therealjackrussell.com/breed/difference.php. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  17. ^ "A Brief History of the American Russell Terrier Club". American Russell Terrier Club. http://www.theartc.org/History.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  18. ^ "EJRTCA Breed Standard". English Jack Russell Terrier Club Alliance, Inc.. http://www.ejrtca.org/standard.html. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  19. ^ "AKC Russell Terrier Breed Standard". American Russell Terrier Club. http://www.theartc.org/AKCBreedStandard.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  20. ^ "Breed Standard". Jack Russell Terrier Club of Great Britain. http://jrtcgb.webs.com/breedstandard.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  21. ^ "The Body & Tail". American Russell Terrier Club. http://jrtrohmregister.com/11.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  22. ^ "The Jack Russell Terrier: A Working Dog". www.therealjackrussell.com. Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. http://www.therealjackrussell.com/breed/index.php. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  23. ^ "Jack Russell Terriers". www.inseguire.com. Inseguire Jack Russell Terriers. http://inseguire.com/JRTs.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-20. 
  24. ^ "Hero Dog Dies Fighting Pit Bulls". Sky News. 11 February 2009. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Dog-Bravery-Jack-Russell-George-Awarded-PDSA-Gold-Medal-For-Saving-Children-From-Pit-Bull-Terriers/Article/200902215220504. Retrieved 2 June 2009. 
  25. ^ "Medals for brave jack russell terrier". tvnz.co.nz (Television New Zealand). 8 May 2007. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/1107891. Retrieved 2 June 2009. 
  26. ^ "Part 3: The Arctic: May 1981 – August 1982". Transglobe Expedition.org. http://www.transglobe-expedition.org/page/the-arctic. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  27. ^ "Part 2: The Antarctic: January 1980 – April 1981". Transglobe Expedition.org. http://www.transglobe-expedition.org/page/the-antarctic. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  28. ^ Macklin, Debbie (22 June 1991). "Redundant huskies sent packing from Antarctica". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13017742.500-redundant-huskies-sent-packing-from-antarctica-.html. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  29. ^ Porter, Monica (11 April 1997). "15 Years Ago…". Daily Mail. Findarticles.com. http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/daily-mail-london-england-the/mi_8002/is_1997_April_11/15-years/ai_n35832114/. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  30. ^ "HMV seeks budding Nipper". BBC News. 8 September 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/440596.stm. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  31. ^ "The History of Nipper and His Master's Voice". erikoest.dk. http://www.erikoest.dk/nipper.htm. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  32. ^ "Rick Stein's dog Chalky dies". Metro.co.uk. 16 January 2007. http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/33333-rick-steins-dog-chalky-dies. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 
  33. ^ "Chalky's Bite". Sharp's Brewery. http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/our-beers/chalkys-bite/. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 
  34. ^ "Chalky's Bark wins Gold at Quality Drink Awards 2009". Sharp's Brewery. http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/news/?id=81. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 
  35. ^ "Celebrity chef Stein's dog dies". news.bbc.co.uk (BBC News). 16 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6268025.stm. Retrieved 2 June 2009. 
  36. ^ "Moose (III) - Biography". IMDb. http://us.imdb.com/name/nm1189150/bio. Retrieved 2 June 2009. 
  37. ^ "About the Show". World Wide Wishbone. http://www.wwwishbone.com/html/show/show.asp. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 
  38. ^ Coile (2000): p. 9
  39. ^ "Crimson Tide". Ahafilm.info. http://www.ahafilm.info/movies/moviereviews.phtml?fid=6961. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 
  40. ^ "The Mask(1994)". imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110475/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved 18 March 2010. 

[edit] References

  • Coile, D. Caroline (1 August 2000). Jack Russell Terrier Handbook, The. Barron's Pet Handbooks. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0764114113. 

[edit] Further reading

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jack-Russell-Terrier
  • Burns, Patrick. American Working Terriers, 2005. ISBN 1-4116-6082-X[1]
  • Chapman, Eddie. "The Working Jack Russell Terrier," 1994. No ISBN [2]
  • Lucas, Capt. Jocelyn M. "Hunt and Working Terriers", 1931. UK.
  • Russell, Dan. "Jack Russell and His Terriers." 1990. ISBN 978-0-851-31276-7
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