Jack Russell Terrier

A terrier by nature, the Jack Russell Terrier is a tiny, mostly white-colored dog which might have a coarse or even coat. It was originally a dog meant for hunting wild foxes. There are a wide variety of tint terriers, all of which are generally termed as ‘Jack Russell’. But sometime back, the JRTCA (Jack Russell Terrier Club of America) and its associates launched an extensive legal suit, and thereby received exclusive rights to name only their breed of dogs as ‘Jack Russell Terrier’. This is applicable only in the US though. The American Kenner Club has an alternative of the breed, called the Russell Terrier – shorter and stouter – and the Parson Russell Terrier, and the Jack Russell Terrier is often confused with this.

A Jack Russell Terrier is a solidly built, strong and robust dog, being anywhere between 10 inches to 15 inches up till the shoulders. It is well proportioned in length and width, and looks rather steady. Most such dogs are white in color, and have tanned or black markings on their hide, which is even in texture. ‘Ticking’ (brownish or blackish spots) is present in some dogs, but is not spread over the entire coat. All varieties of coats in a Jack Russell Terrier are essential thick and neither woolly nor silky. It has a moderate sized head, a well built jaw and a high-set tail.

As mentioned earlier, a Jack Russell Terrier is predominantly an outdoors dog. Primitively, they were used to chase foes from their lairs, while on a hunt. They are also put to use to chase smaller nuisances like red/grey fox, groundhog and badger. Their works comprises of finding such animals, driving them out of their nestling places, or blocking them there until dealt with by their owners. In order to accomplish this, the dog has to bark constantly, while digging the earth wherever the animals are located. The ability to do all of this is rare in dogs, and since a Jack Russell Terrier can do this, it is very highly placed among breeders belonging to the JRTCA. Behaviour wise, Jack Russell Terriers are smart, fit, brave, and loud. If not given enough opportunities to stretch and exercise, they often become agents of damage, as then, they find their own means of amusement.

Having boundless energy, these dogs are also perfect for playing sports in the open, especially with kids. But they can also be quite obstinate, and therefore require some tutoring in order to be a suitable house pet. They are also known to be rather violent towards and intolerant of other humans and dogs, and therefore, need coaching in the process of mingling with others, all through their lives. They might be small in size, but are most unsuitable for a life in an apartment. An exception might be made if its master has time and patience enough to take it out for walks and jogs everyday. This will not be easy though, given the fact that the dog is quite stubborn. This trait might also cause some trouble, especially when the dog is brought in contact with other dogs, especially if bigger in size.