Jack Russell Care Network History

Jack Russell Care Network

History of the JRT

History of the Jack Russell Terrier

Many conflicting claims are made and people often wax lyrical about the origins of the Jack Russell Terrier and the founder of the breed, Parson Jack Russell. Varying claims are also made about the ancestry of the modern breeds known as Jack Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, Australian Jack Russell Terriers and Russell Terriers. All have their own differing conformation standards and then there are the working terriers and hunt terriers that have the appearance of Jack Russell Terriers.

So we have Rough Coats, Smooth Coats, long legs, short legs, some with bodies longer than the legs as a standard. Then there are all the non-registered Jack Russell offspring that have arisen from the crossing of any two or more of the above recognised varieties, which are often bred in rural areas or peoples backyards.

Rather than engage in debate, "the least said the quickest mended" the following information will be kept brief and further reading of biographical accounts of Parson Jack Russell (the man) is recommended, along with visits to various club, Jack Russell and working terrier websites around the world. My personal inclination is to be as inclusive as possible and my own bias is towards the Jack Russell Terrier being preserved as a working breed.

One thing that most people agree on is the Jack Russell Terrier's distinctive character. Known for their intelligence, tenacity, loyalty, hunting instinct, these dogs have some unique qualities that set them aside from other dog breeds.

It is generally accepted that in the early 1700's, there appeared in Britain , a working hunt terrier which was used to bolt the fox from underground so that the chase could be continued. This terrier was predominantly white with the odd spot of black or tan. This small, long-legged terrier ran with the hounds and had great stamina and intelligence.

The origin of the Jack Russell Terrier name and breed is attributed to Parson [Reverend] John Russell (1795-1883). John Russell was born in South Devon, England, and as a member of a family with a strong fox hunting tradition, he showed a passion for hunting from an early age.

It is commonly believed that by the early 1800's a strain of small, white-bodied working Terriers were widespread throughout Britain.

John Russell purchased his foundation bitch, named Trump, from a milkman. She was predominately white, with dark tan over each eye and ear, and a dot at the base of her tail. Her coat was thick, close and wiry, considered at the time to be the most suitable type of coat for these terrier hunting dogs.

........."It is unlikely, however, that any dogs alive today are descended from Trump, as Russell was forced to sell all of his dogs on more than one occasion because of financial difficulty, and had only four aged (and non-breeding) terriers left when he died in 1883. (Burns, 2005)

The term “Jack Russell Terrier” was coined after the Reverend John Russell was dead, and was used to differentiate small working terriers from over-large non-working Fox Terriers that by 1900 dominated the Kennel Club show ring and bench.

Today, the term "Jack Russell Terrier" is used to describe a wide array of dogs. Though there is a difference of opinion as to what is a “true” Jack Russell Terrier, it is revealing that the Reverend John Russell himself, never registered his own dogs with the Kennel Club and described his own dogs as being very different from those found on the show ring bench: "True terriers [my dogs] were, but differing from the present show dogs as the wild eglantine differs from a garden rose."

The simplest way to think about Jack Russell Terriers is to divide the entire lot of them into two groups as John Russell himself did: Those that actually work in the field, underground, to formidable quarry (what Russell himself valued), and all the rest -- pets and show dogs alike. .........."
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Russell_Terrier)