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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is now known as the Russell Terrier. It is a small, compact, athletic dog with shorter legs than the Parson Russell Terrier. The coat of this breed must be predominately white with black, tan or tri-color markings and must be naturally smooth or broken. The head is strong and is keen, direct and full-of-life. The eyes are almond shaped and dark in color. The ears are small and drop in a “V”-shaped carried forward and close to the head. The muzzle is narrow and the nose should be black. The teeth are large a have a perfect scissor bite. The neck is clean, is moderately arched and the gradually widens so that it blends well into the shoulders. The topline is straight and the short legs are also straight and have cat-like feet which turn neither in nor out. The tail is docked so that the tip is approximately level to the skull and has a very slight arch over the loin.
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Temperament
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This small breed is lively, bold and friendly. They love to hunt and are fearless, tenacious, courageous, and single minded. At home, you will find the breed to be playful, exuberant and very affectionate. They tend to be an independent yet energetic terrier and often demand attention. This breed needs a firm and experienced owner. Do not let this little dog ever believe that they are the pack leader to all humans. If they decide to take over, they can be aggressive with other dogs. They tend to move with their noises down, always on the hunt for vermin. They are true exterminators and will go after anything. This breed is the king or queen of hole diggers. They will thrive when they have a job to do.
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Height, Weight
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Height: 10-12" ; Weight: 10-14 lbs.
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Health Problems
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Russell Terriers are prone to cardiomyopathy, cerebellar ataxia, hernias, Legg Perthes, lens luxation, and Von Willebrand’s disease.
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Living Conditions
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The breed will do fine living in an apartment and are very active indoors, but do best with a small yard. This small terrier can easily jump five feet.
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Exercise
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This breed needs plenty of exercise. They love to run, play, and hunt.
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Life Expectancy
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Up to 15 years
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Grooming
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The Russell is easy to groom. Brush and comb regularly and only bathe when necessary. More grooming is necessary when showing the breed.
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Origin
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Although he was a man of the cloth, Rev. Jack Russell was a passionate fox hunter during the mid 1800s. Fox hunters needed small dogs to roust the foxes who had escaped to ground. Many hunters employed smaller or shorter legged terriers, which had to be carried on horseback to the fox's lair. But Rev. Jack liked a longer legged type that could follow the hounds on foot. He developed his own strain, based on a crossbred terrier female, which he purchased from the local milkman. First, fighting bull and terrier dogs were used to add the white color which easily differentiated the hounds from the foxes and increased the aggression and tenacity. Next, small "pocket" beagles were used to temper their hard edge, as well as adding the tendency to give tongue. The result was a dog that was often one thought ahead of the fox. They are recognized by both the AKC and the UKC.
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Group
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AKC and UKC: Terrier
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