Jack Russell Terrier: black, white, brown, tri-color and other colors

History of the Jack Russell Terrier breed

Smooth-haired Jack Russell Terrier
There are breeds that have lived side by side with humans for so long that it is only possible to reliably learn about their roots with the help of geneticists. This is, for example, the situation with the ancestors of Jack Russells - fox terriers. Their first descriptions are found in Roman chronicles from the time of Caesar’s campaigns against Albion.

But the closer we get to modern times, the more documentary evidence there is, so today no one doubts that the Jack Russell Terrier owes its appearance to a very specific enthusiast - John “Jack” Russell. Following family tradition, he became a priest and headed a small parish in the south of Britain, but this man’s true passion remained not serving the church, but parfors hunting and breeding dogs for it.

Even in John's last year of study at Exeter College, Oxford University, a significant meeting took place. During one of his walks, he saw a dog that embodied the ideal qualities of a real fox hunter: compact size, passion, vigilance and fearlessness. The treasure belonged to a local milkman, who was unlikely to be able to fully appreciate the mentioned advantages, so the first owner immediately gave Trump up to a persistent student. With this Trump - this is how the English word Trump is translated - many years of selection work began.

Of course, outwardly, the ancestor of the breed does not look so much like the current “Jacks”. The similarity is noticeable only in color: against the dominant white background, darker spots stood out in the area of ​​​​the eyes, ears and at the base of the hook-shaped tail. Judging by the surviving drawings, Trump was a poor-boned dog with a small skull. Most likely, her family included the now extinct English White Terriers.

It must be said that in the process of breeding a new breed, the pastor used representatives of various burrow dogs. There is no exact data about experiments with the gene pool, since the breeder did not keep any journals with records, or they simply did not survive. Researchers believe that fox terriers of the old format, border dogs, lakelands, Irish terriers, and Scottish cairns left their mark on the formation of the breed. Russell set himself the task of improving the working qualities of the offspring, and he did not consider it necessary to cull puppies because of the shape of the skull or the position of the tail. As a result, the unsightly and roughly cut short-legged pets of the Devonshire priest won the ardent love of all the surrounding hunters.

Although the vicar himself was involved in boxing (which in the 19th century was a very tough sport, because protective gloves were not used), he was not prone to cruelty and publicly condemned those fellow breeders who mixed the blood of fighting dogs into terriers. For John, fox hunting was incompatible with killing or severely injuring prey; he considered the main goal to be a competition between foxes and his animals in speed and endurance. Russell's terriers did not require the ferocity and powerful jaws of a bulldog.

Wirehaired Jack Russell Terrier puppy

The pastor's achievements in breeding and popularizing terriers did not go unnoticed. In 1873, he, along with Sewallis Shirley and a dozen like-minded people, took part in the creation of the organization that is today known as the oldest kennel club - the English Kennel Club. In subsequent years, John Russell was invited as a judge to exhibitions, but did not exhibit his own pets, calling them wild rose hips against a background of greenhouse roses. And this comparison was not in favor of the latter.

John Russell, who devoted much of his life to dog breeding, died at the age of 87 and was buried in the village of Swimbridge - in the cemetery next to the medieval church of St. James, where he served. Since he actively sold puppies and adult dogs, at the time of his death the breeder had only 4 dogs.

The development of the breed was continued by a young colleague, Arthur Heinemann. He is the author of the first draft of the breed standard. In 1914, the Parson Jack Russell Terrier Club (parson means “priest”) was founded and existed until the 40s. In the middle of the century, Russell's terriers began to be crossed with dachshunds and Welsh corgis to improve their character and working qualities. As a result, not only “classic” animals, but also short-legged animals began to appear. The latter were considered undesirable for a long time and in the eyes of the jury invariably lost to their tall brothers.

It is unknown what the fate of the “side branch” would have been if, in the 1960s, several dogs with short legs had not ended up on the Green Continent. The Australians, of course, did not intend to hunt with them, but they appreciated the energy and intelligence of their new pets, so they took up the development of the breed with great enthusiasm.

Official recognition by the Kennel Club and the FCI came only in 1990. Then both types of dogs were included in the standard of the International Canine Organization under the general name Parson-Jack Russell Terrier. However, activists from the UK and Australia did not give up attempts to achieve differentiation, and in 2001 two standards were adopted: for the Parson Russell Terrier (animals with long legs with a square body) and the Jack Russell Terrier (short legs with an elongated body).

Selection rules

Before purchasing a pet, you need to familiarize yourself with the breed standards. They must match the cable or bitch. Irregularities and discharge are not allowed on the tail.

The dog is purchased with a veterinary passport.

Often inexpensive girls bring titled offspring, since much depends on the selection of a pair for mating.

It is important in what conditions the children were kept. Did they have a place to run, toys, beds, contact with the mother dog.

Hunting qualities

Like many other members of the terrier group, Jack Russell Terriers were bred to hunt small, burrow-dwelling game. Of course, terriers do not have enough speed and power for tracking and pursuit, but English foxhounds or other hounds did an excellent job with this task, but in penetrating an underground shelter and in a fight forcing the “fugitive” to leave it, the persistent and compact hounds have no equal strong guys.

Jack Russell exploring the hole

It was already mentioned above that Jack Russell Terriers gained their reputation as excellent burrow dogs not for their ferocity, but for their clear voice and high intelligence. They not only understood the hunters’ strategy in a given situation, focusing on various horn signals, but also made their own decisions, which helped save energy without sacrificing efficiency.

Since their introduction, "jacks" have been an integral part of rural life in Great Britain. However, since 2002 in Scotland, and since 2005 in England and Wales, fox hunting has been officially banned, although for many it was part of the country's cultural heritage. Badgers are also now protected by conservation organizations. In southern Spain there is still a hunting area where it is possible to pursue game on horseback, but in most European countries the tradition is fading into history due to the lack of uninhabited areas with suitable landscape.

But innate instincts cannot be canceled as easily as centuries-old rituals, so four-legged “city dwellers” do not miss the opportunity during a walk to chase a passing cat or dig an impressive hole in the roots of trees from the nearest park.

Reviews

Anna: “A furry friend runs around with his tail everywhere. Having fallen asleep, he still watches over his owner. As soon as you get up, the Jack Russell jumps up, rushing after him.”

Artem: “The dog is small, but he has a lot of love and affection. He often lies on his back and asks to have his belly scratched. If guests come to the house, the threshold can be wet with joy.”

Svetlana: “Incredibly cunning creatures. They often play dirty tricks, but they look so cute that it’s a pity to punish them. Very smart people, if you choose the right educational measures, will stop acting weird, but only for a while. You can’t relax.”

Appearance of Jack Russell Terriers

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small but powerfully built dog. Height at the withers is 25-30 cm. There are no strict weight standards, however, experts note that the Jack Russell Terrier looks harmonious, having 1 kg of weight for every 5 cm of height, that is, the desired weight of an adult representative of this breed is 5-6 kg.

Body

Who is there?

The silhouette of the Jack Russell Terrier is strictly rectangular, elongated (the length from the withers to the base of the tail is greater than the height at the withers).

Head

The skull is flat and moderately wide. The muzzle is somewhat shorter than the skull. The transition from forehead to muzzle is well defined, but not too pronounced.

Nose

Careful. The lobe is black. The nostrils are developed and well open.

Eyes

Almond-shaped, dark. Not bulging, the eyelids lie close to the eyeball and are darkened along the edges.

Teeth and jaws

The Jack Russell Terrier's jaws should be strong, powerful, and have strong teeth. Scissor bite. The lips are black and tightly closed.

Jack Russell Terrier admiring the sunset

Ears

"Buttons" or hanging. Small, folded in front. Extremely flexible, can rotate 180°. The tips are V-shaped.

Neck

Strong, with a clean, crisp line.

Frame

The croup is even. The loin is short, strong and muscular. The back is strong and fairly narrow.

Breast

Deep, not wide. The ribs are strongly prominent at the base and noticeably flattened at the sides. The circumference of the ribs behind the elbows is 40-43 cm.

Tail

At rest, the Jack Russell Terrier's tail may be lowered, but when moving, it always rises.

Forelegs

They look the same both from the front and from the side. Straight, well set under the body. The shoulder blades have a good slope back and are not overloaded with muscles.

Hind limbs

Strong and muscular. The knee joints are strongly bent, the hocks are low. The metatarsals are parallel when viewed from behind.

Paws

Small, round in shape, with hard pads. Placed straight. The fingers are medium rounded.

Wool

Jack Russell Terriers have three types of coat: hard, smooth or kinky. Should provide good weather protection.

Color

Predominant white background with dark spots. The color of the spots can vary from black and dark chestnut to red.

Famous owners

One of the most famous representatives of the Jack Russell Terrier breed was a dog named Bootie. It belonged to the famous English traveler Ranulph Fyness. The dog became famous for visiting the North and South Pole.

James Herriot, a famous writer, dedicated an entire book to his beloved dog Don called “And Veterinarians Fly.”

Many foreign Hollywood stars have one or more Jack Russell terriers at home. Fans of this breed include Mariah Carey, Kyle McLahan, Robert Redford. Even Prince Charles did not remain indifferent to these dogs.

Among our famous compatriots, Jack Russell Terriers include Alla Pugacheva, Alexander Buinov, Dima Bilan, Philip Kirkorov, Lolita Milyavskaya and many others.

Photo of an adult Jack Russell Terrier

Popular colors

The most popular color is the white-red color, which can be either with or without darkening on the face..

The tricolor, in which markings of black and red shades are scattered on a predominant white background, is also popular.

The white and black color is less common, although due to the pronounced contrast of the white background and black spots it looks simply magnificent.

Pure white color, in which the dog has a black nose, black edging of the eyelids and lips with black pigmentation, is also considered standard, but due to the ambiguous attitude of show experts towards it, it is less popular.

It is not common to see Jack Russells whose predominant color is not white, but brown or black.

These colors are considered non-standard and are a serious drawback.

And an extremely rare non-standard color is brindle, most likely inherited by Jack Russells from the old-type bulldogs with which they were crossed to improve their fighting qualities.

Character of the Jack Russell Terrier

Shall we play?
The Jack Russell Terrier is a real perpetual motion machine. He is simply physically unable to sit in one place for a long time and get bored while waiting for the game. This dog will attract the owner's attention in every possible way. She knows perfectly well the rules of behavior in the house and can deliberately break them in order to provoke at least some reaction from the owner, who is too carried away by his favorite TV series or a new book.

It is important to remember about the high intelligence of your pet. Physical activity must be accompanied by mental activity, otherwise any activity will quickly become boring. Alternate teams and toys, come up with new types of activities.

In general, representatives of the breed are distinguished by their cheerful and friendly disposition. Jack Russell Terriers are great for families where the children are old enough not to treat the pet like a teddy bear. Only dogs whose upbringing has made serious mistakes since early childhood can show aggression for no reason.

Representatives of this breed do not get along well with other animals in the house due to the hunter genes. Neighborhood with rodents is especially undesirable, because Jack Russells are famous rat catchers, but they can also cause trouble for cats. In relations with dogs of their own or another breed (regardless of the size of the enemy), due to their brave and capricious nature, they will always try to dominate, constantly getting into skirmishes.

Characteristics

The animal is active and curious. He needs regular physical activity and games. Then the shaggy friend will show affection and protect the owner. Lack of movement will lead to boredom. The pet will start playing pranks.

The dog knows how to be cunning, dodge, understands commands, but sometimes evades and does not carry them out. If the owner says “sit”, the dog will obey, but after 5-10 seconds he will get up and leave. These are the habits of most terriers, especially burrowing ones.

Education and training

Jack Russell Terriers are best suited to experienced owners as they are naturally cunning, independent and have a desire for leadership. If you feel that you cannot fully cope with the character of the new family member, seek advice and help from a canine specialist as soon as possible.

Early socialization of a puppy is important so that in the future he can coexist peacefully with household members (including children and the elderly), other pets, and does not show aggression towards guests and random passers-by during walks.

The main behavioral problems in Jack Russell Terriers include stubbornness, loud barking, damage to household property, anxiety from loneliness, digging and chasing small animals. All of them can be corrected with due attention from the owner. A dog shows the worst sides of its character only if it does not meet with opposition or sees this as the only way to attract the attention of its owner.

The breed lends itself well to training, the main thing is to be patient during the process, not to forget about the reward and not to raise your voice. Establishing the authority of the owner is extremely important, but it can and should be achieved through calm firmness. Your pet should respect and listen to you, and not be afraid.

Breeding

Owners can create mixed Jack Russells, get offspring from their favorite dog, allow the bitch to give birth, for other reasons. Puppies can be easily sold inexpensively to friends.

But it is important to understand that breeding is a science. A couple is selected based on genetic and other characteristics. It’s better to entrust everything to specialists.

Individuals with a pedigree and victories at exhibitions are considered suitable for replenishing offspring. Without such a minimum, mating cannot be carried out. Before the process, it is worth checking individuals for physical and mental abnormalities.

More often, mating is allowed to be done freely; the couple copes without human intervention. Pregnancy lasts 63 days. The female gives birth alone, but veterinarian insurance will not be superfluous. Caring for the mother and puppies falls on the shoulders of the owner.

Care and maintenance

Despite the compact size of Jack Russells, keeping them in a city apartment is fraught with certain difficulties. Dogs are too active for quarter-hour walks in the morning and evening to satisfy their need for exercise. With a lack of training, they will spend excess energy on destructive pranks. As a result, furniture, appliances, floors, shoes and clothes of the owners may be damaged. It should be understood that for the Jack Russell Terrier this is not an act of revenge or deliberate sabotage, but simply an attempt to occupy itself with something in the absence of the owner, so before leaving for several hours you need to find time for a long and meaningful walk.

From a young age, your pet should know that he has his own territory in the house. Choose a location that is protected from drafts and not too close to heat sources. It is necessary to purchase a natural mattress that is strong enough to withstand the attacks of powerful teeth. You should keep toys nearby that your Jack Russell Terrier can chew with impunity after waking up.

Grooming will not cause excessive trouble, although this breed, if kept completely indoors, sheds throughout the year. Only wire-haired terriers need trimming with special tools; the rest need regular brushing. Frequent bathing is contraindicated because it damages the natural protective layer on the pet's fur and skin. After walks, just wipe your paws with a damp towel or animal wipes.

Teeth should be brushed once or twice a week using a specialized toothpaste. Inspect and clean your ears twice a month.

The Jack Russell Terrier has standard nutritional requirements. Either premium and super-premium food, or balanced natural food. In the latter case, the ratio of meat (beef, veal, cooked poultry and offal) and plant components should be 2:1.

Nutrition

Caring for a Jack Russell is easy. He's not picky. Has a good appetite and quickly burns off accumulated energy. When eating natural food, it is appropriate to supplement the diet with vitamins and minerals. Dry meals are all inclusive.

Table by month:

An adult pet is given food twice a day. A puppy taken from a breeder is first fed with its usual foods, gradually adding in its own version of food. Dry food is used of high quality, designed for a certain age.

Natural food consists of 30-70% lean meat, soups, 25% cereals, 20% vegetables. It is good to give fermented milk products, boneless sea fish, and fruits. The latter should not be too sweet.

Expert opinion

Anna Abramenko

An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.

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It is strictly forbidden to add mushrooms, onions, garlic, spices, sweets, and tubular bones to the diet. Natural food is not the owner’s dinner table, but raw or lightly cooked meat with cereals and vegetables.

Health and disease of the Jack Russell Terrier

Playing Frisbee with a Jack Russell
In general, Jack Russell Terriers can be called hardy dogs with good health. But they are not immune from a number of congenital and acquired diseases:

• osteochondropathy of the femoral head (Perthes disease) manifests itself in puppies 4–10 months old in the form of constant or periodic lameness;
• dislocation of the kneecap;
• hip dysplasia, although large breeds are more often considered at risk, does not bypass terriers;
• deafness;
• heart diseases;
• epilepsy;
• hereditary defects in the development of the sclera, choroid, retina, optic nerve and retinal vessels - the so-called collie eye anomaly.

To ensure your pet's well-being and improve his quality of life well into his old age, visit your veterinarian regularly for preventive examinations and follow his recommendations. Do not self-medicate if symptoms of various diseases occur.

Lifespan

Energizers live for 15 years.

Such dogs are considered hardy and in good health. The animal should live only in an apartment or house. In outdoor conditions, a dog can quickly get sick, since his body cannot withstand air temperatures below -5°C.

Since their fur needs to be plucked regularly, dogs need to wear a jacket during the colder months. Otherwise, failure to comply with temperature standards will lead to pneumonia or a reduction in life expectancy.

How to choose a puppy

The appearance of Jack Russell Terriers on the silver screen and in photo reports from glossy magazines about the lives of celebrities did not have the best effect on the breed. There are many unscrupulous breeders who strive to make a profit from selling popular animals and do not care at all about the gene pool and raising children.

It is very important to buy puppies only from breeders with an impeccable reputation and in the best kennels. Of course, such Jack Russells will cost more, but in the future you will not have to deal with uncontrollable dog behavior or spend all your free time in clinics due to hereditary health problems.

When meeting a Jack Russell Terrier for the first time, it is important to pay attention to the behavior of the chosen puppy. He should be playful, energetic and sociable. Lethargy, apathy and lack of appetite indicate poor health, and aggression or fear of the outside world indicate mental instability. Do not ignore the living conditions of mother and babies. Cleanliness, sufficient space and the presence of toys indicate a responsible attitude of the breeder no less than the presence of official documents and routine vaccinations.

List of suitable nicknames

To choose a nickname for your pet, you should pay attention to what the puppy looks like. It is important to take into account ease of pronunciation and personal preferences.

Nickname options:

1. Rada is a girl who brings positivity.
2. Lily is a white flower.
3. Buffy is the slayer of enemies.
4. Baby or Button is a beautiful baby.
5. Kiku is a chrysanthemum.
6. Jack is the name of the breed.
7. Milo (Mila) - not original, but sounds like in the movies.
8. Twister is a fun game.
9. Espresso is a dynamic energizer.
10. T-rex is a formidable option.
11. Tiktak is an active baby.
12. Etsuko is a child of joy.

Photos of Jack Russell Terrier puppies

To what age do they grow?

The age at which a dog stops growing is different for all breeds.

Jack Russells stop growing when they reach 11-12 months of age . If your dog has stopped gaining at least a centimeter in height per month, then this is a reason to sound the alarm.

Most likely he is not receiving any nutrients, due to which his growth hormone is not activated.

This development of events cannot be favorable for the dog, so contact your veterinarian to find out the cause of this anomaly and correct the situation as soon as possible.