The Jack Russell Terrier is a small-sized dog that belongs to the Terrier breed.
They saw development a little over 200 years ago in Great Britain.
They make great fox hunting dogs. This was the main reason for their development.
Jack Russell Terrier History & Background
The Jack Russell Terrier was bred in the southern part of Great Britain during the mid 1800’s.
The breed was created by a man named Parson John Russell. The breed took up it’s name from him.
Jack Russell Terriers were primarily created because they were great hunting dogs.
They had great use in fox hunting. During hunts they chase foxes from their dens.
After chasing them from their den the huntsman or his hound dogs would pursue the fox.
Jack Russell Terriers became well known in the United States around the 1930’s.
After the death of Parson John Russell, the breed nearly went extinct, but they saw a rise in population at the turn to the 20th century.
Jack Russell Terriers’ use as hunting dogs saw a drop shortly after the end of World War II.
This drop was due to the decline in need for hunting dogs.
Despite the drop in hunting usage, they still were quite popular as family dogs.
With Jack Russell Terriers becoming more popular as family dogs, owners began cross breeding with other small breeds.
The most common breeds to mix with Jack Russell Terriers are Chihuahuas and other Terriers.
The offsprings of these mix breeds are called “Shorty Jacks” and “Russell Terriers.”
Another popular crossbreed is between Jack Russell Terriers and Beagles.
This crossbreed’s name is “Jackabee.”
Jackabees make great hunting dogs because of the combined hunting and tracking abilities of it’s original breeds.
Jack Russell Terrier Physical Characteristics
Ever since their creation in the 1800’s, Jack Russell Terriers have carried the same appearance.
Jack Russell Terriers have broken coats.
Dogs with broken coats have two layers of fur.
They have a rough outer layer of fur that protects from cold weather.
This outer layer protects the dog by keeping the inner layer of fur and it’s skin dry.
Dogs with broken coats often have longer hair than what is on smooth-coated dogs.
Jack Russell Terriers don’t shed too often, but will at times, like most dogs do.
A good brushing every now and again will prevent excessive shedding.
Jack Russell Terriers have a wide range in their height and weight.
Unlike most other dogs, male and female Jack Russell Terriers share the same heights and weights.
Jack Russell Terriers have a standing height range of 10 to 15 inches.
Jack Russell Terriers have a weight range of 13 to 17 pounds.
There is a type of Jack Russell Terriers that is smaller than average.
These Jack Russell Terriers are known as Shorty Jacks.
Shorty Jacks stand 10 to 12 inches tall, and are longer than they are tall.
Personality
Jack Russell Terriers are among the most energetic dogs out there.
Due to their high energy, they are not easy to train.
Jack Russell Terriers need owners with experience since they are so difficult to train.
With their outgoing personality, they need a great name to fit that great personality.
Jack Russell Terriers will more often than not need a leash when they are outdoors.
If they are not on leash something can easily grab it’s attention and off it will go.
Jack Russell Terriers are usually very friendly with people.
But can sometimes be quite combative towards other dogs that it is unfamiliar with.
With it’s high energy and short attention span, training sessions need to be quick and short.
Health
Jack Russell Terriers are usually quite healthy dogs.
But, as with most dogs, some health concerns may arise at times.
These health concerns include deafness and glaucoma.
As standard with all dogs, they need to have their ears and teeth checked frequently.
Due to their small size, weight management is quite manageable with Jack Russell Terriers.
Health issues in Jack Russell terriers usually don’t appear until they are at least 2 years old.
Jack Russell Terriers have an average life span of 13 to 16 years.
