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JACK RUSSELL TERRIER |
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Although a man
of the cloth, the "Hunting Parson," Rev. Jack Russell, was a
passionate fox hunter of the mid-1800s and pursued the sport until his
death at age 88. 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
the Reverend Jack liked a longer legged type that could follow the hounds
on foot. He developed his own strain, based on a crossbred terrier bitch,
"Trump," which he bought from a milkman.
How Russell
continued with the breeding program was never recorded, but even modern
proponents of the breed admit a certain amount of crossbreeding occurred.
First, fighting bull-and-ierrier dogs were used to add the white color
(easily differentiated by the hounds from the fox) and increase the aggression
and tenacity. Unfortunately, this often resulted in a dog that silently
killed the fox underground, thus spoiling the sport of the hunt for the
others! Small "pocket" Beagles were used to temper this 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.
Game to this
day, a good Russell Terrier is still capable of going to ground. One owner
described how her three JRTs chased a bull raccoon down a drain pipe near
her home. When they hadn't emerged by the next morning, she had a backhoe
brought in and started digging. The crew cut a ditch, reaching 300 feet,
over the next 12 hours, and finally discovered the raccoon backed up against
the cellar wall. Not only were the terriers none the worse for the ordeal,
they were still jockeying for position with one another to get closest
to the prey. It is not unusual for this breed to forego food, water and
other creature comforts once it has the whiff of the quarry.
Although the
Parson never used his dogs for the purpose, the JRT is also a plucky ratter.
In 1977, an Englishman and his team of four Jack Russells took three tons
of rats out of chicken farms in just one day! Another modern JRT owner
gave this practical advice to a writer from Sports Illustrated to
pass on to anyone planning to take part in this sport with their dogs:
"If you take your terrier ratting, always wear slacks or breeches
tucked either into your Wellingtons or into your socks so that the rats
cannot run up your trouser legs or skirt. This happens far more often
than one might imagine, and, although it may be excruciatingly funny to
the rest of the party, it is no joke for you."
Despite all this emphasis on
its ability and desire to fight and kill pests, JRTs are excellent house
dogs and children's pets. They have a unique sense of humor, are clean
in their habits and are sweet and affectionate to people. They do require
plenty of exercise. When there is more than one, they have a tendency
to go off hunting on their own if not fenced. The old instincts to get
down in the ground may cause some to be passionate diggers. But they
are happy companions and their fans are delighted with them. The Jack Russell
Terrier has its own registering body in both Britain and the USA, but
in neither country is there much desire for formal recognition of the
breed. Owners prefer the unrefined nature of their dog. They worry about
novice owners caring more about show points and good looks, allowing
a loss of the working characteristics that have been so painstakingly
kept over the years. A typical opinion is stated: "If these terriers
ever become soft-bred show dogs, John Russell will turn over in his
grave."
In fact, there is a reverse
snob appeal about this breed, due to the fact that they do not want
to be AKC recognized. This, in addition to the fact that they possess
an affinity for horses, has made them a popular addition to many horse
farms and estates of the wealthy, especially on the East Coast. In all physical
characteristics, form follows function. The size of a good Jack Russell
should be about the same as that of a fox; if the fox can go down
the hole, then the terrier should be able to follow without difficulty.
The standard demands that the chest be narrow enough to be spanned
by two hands behind the shoulder blades. Chests that are chunkier
create a dog that can be stuck in the hole! The docked tail of an
adult specimen should end up about four inches, just enough length
to be able to grab in order to extract the dog from the burrow. The
predominance of white differentiates him from the fox.
Most of
the larger sized dogs sport the rough or broken coat (similar to a
smooth, with fuller hair on the legs and a bit of wiry hair on the
chin creating a beard), while the shorter legged variety, carrying
more of the cross to the pocket beagle, are more often smooths. Although
they often live to 16 years as a house pet, their fearless nature
tends to shorten their lifespan in the country. One breeder estimates
the average lifespan on a farm to be only six years.
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