Jack Russell Terrier

Coat and looks how to spot one

Three weatherproof coat varieties: smooth, broken and rough

A small, sturdy and supple working terrier built slightly longer than tall, with a flexible body of medium length and a chest compact enough to be spanned by two hands (girth roughly 40-43 cm). The dark, almond-shaped eyes give a sharp, clever look. The coat can be short and flat, wiry with facial furnishings, or somewhere in between, and in every version it is dense and resistant to weather. The tail may hang at rest but rises when the dog is moving.24

Personality what they are like

A spirited little dog with a big personality: upbeat, curious and always ready for action. It is confident without being pushy toward people, loves having a job to do and tends to speak up when something catches its attention, which makes it a keen watchdog. Its hunting heritage shows in a strong chase instinct and plenty of determination, so it thrives with owners who enjoy training and games.2467

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High-energy breed. The Royal Kennel Club suggests up to an hour of exercise a day, and Hill's around 40 minutes of vigorous activity such as hikes and fetch, plus mental challenges. Not a good match for a sedentary household.364

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low-maintenance coat: a brush about once a week is usually enough, though all three coat types shed. Rough and broken coats may need occasional tidying of the harsh outer hair.36

Home where they are happiest

Adapts to house or flat life if its exercise and play needs are met; it is suited to active homes rather than quiet, sedentary ones, and a secure outdoor area helps given its working-terrier drive.64

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, balanced dog food formulated for small breeds and matched to life stage and activity level, with portions adjusted to keep the dog lean and fit for its busy lifestyle.6

Company who they like around

Very people-oriented and affectionate with its family, and happiest when included in daily activities. Its strong prey drive means early socialisation and supervision around small pets and other dogs is sensible.657

The story where it all began

The breed traces back to the Reverend John 'Jack' Russell (born 1795), a Devon clergyman and devoted fox hunter. In 1819, while a student at Oxford, he bought a small white terrier with tan patches over her eyes and ears named Trump from a local milkman, and she became the founding dog of his strain. Russell bred white-bodied terriers that could run with the hounds and then work underground to bolt a fox, and by the 1850s his dogs were regarded as a distinct type. After his death in 1883 a few breeders carried the line on. Over time two shapes emerged: a taller, squarer dog that became the Parson Russell Terrier, and a shorter, longer-bodied dog used for fox and vermin work. That shorter type was taken up with particular enthusiasm in Australia, where the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia was founded in 1972 and the breed was standardised. The FCI adopted it with Great Britain as country of origin and Australia as country of development (definitive acceptance 2003), the UKC recognised it in 2001, and The Royal Kennel Club followed in 2016. In the United States the related Russell Terrier gained full AKC recognition in 2012.523147

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard no. 345, Group 3 Terriers, Section 2 Small-sized Terriers; country of origin Great Britain, country of development Australia; definitive acceptance 1 Jan 2003 (The Royal Kennel Club dates first FCI recognition to 1991); current standard published 8 Oct 2012; working trial only for countries that request it.1

The Royal Kennel Club

Recognised in 2016, Terrier group; Breed Watch category 1; not a vulnerable native breed.3

UKC

Recognised 1 Jan 2001 under the name Russell Terrier, renamed Jack Russell Terrier on 1 Jan 2009; Terrier Group.4

AKC

Not registered under this name. The closely related Russell Terrier, whose AKC standard started from the FCI Jack Russell standard, entered the Foundation Stock Service in Dec 2004 and was fully recognised in the Terrier Group in 2012.10

Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia

Founded 1972; the breed was formalised in Australia in the 1960s-70s.3

Popularity In 2009 the Australian National Kennel Council registered 1,073 Jack Russell Terriers, compared with 18 Parson Russell Terriers.5