Jack Russell Terrier

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Jack Russell Terrier for Sale: Small but Dynamic & Intriguing

The Jack Russell is a small-breed tenacious terrier with a highly driven and mischievous personality and wicked speed. Its historical popularity never wavering much, the Jack Russell Terrier has a broad scope of uses ranging from racing to accompanying equestrians to entertaining active families. If you are looking for a dog with high intensity and activity but do not want a large breed like a GSD, you might consider many small terriers such as the Jack Russell.

The Parson Russell Terrier Twist

As a potential owner of a Jack Russell Terrier, you may have heard of the Parson Terrier and wonder what the difference is. The quickest way to describe it is with two statements. “All Parson Russell Terriers are Jack Russells,” but “Not every Jack Russell is a Parson Russell Terrier.” Another way to distinguish them is to think of the Parson Russell as a show dog and the Jack Russell as more of a working terrier. Every JRT show dog in AKC conformation classes must conform to the Parson Russell Terrier breed standard. The Parson Russell encompasses the middle of the Jack Russell height range. Therefore, a Parson Russell should be 12 to 14 inches tall whereas a Jack Russell may range from 10 to 15 inches tall. Parson Russells also have broader chests and longer heads than Jack Russells. To further confuse the issue, the Russell Terrier is another variant of the Jack Russell Terrier. The Russell is eight to twelve inches tall and is the stockiest type with shorter legs. Such dogs were crossed with other breeds to create a badger specialist.

History and the Parson Terrier Twist Expanded

The JRT originated with Parson Jack Russell from the English White Terrier around 1819. Its original purpose was to hunt red foxes in England. Jack Russells were smaller than Fox Terriers and able to pursue foxes into burrows. However, just as important was the Jack Russell’s largely white coat that distinguished it without question from its prey. Jack Russell Terriers became a distinct breed in the 1850s with separation of the modern type from the similar Fox Terrier complete by 1900. Of note is that Jack Russell Terriers were bred to pursue and corner their targets without harming them, contrary to most other hunting terriers. The United Kennel Club recognized the Parson Jack Russell Terrier in 1991, and the AKC accepted Jack Russell Terrier registrations starting in 1997. In 2001, the FIC recognized the Parson Russell Terrier, and in the same year, the UKC recognized the short-legged Russell Terrier. The AKC renamed the JRT the Parson Russell Terrier in 2003. The UKC dropped Jack from the Parson Jack Russell Terrier breed name in 2008, so it became the Parson Russell Terrier. In 2009, the UKC would add “Jack” to the Russel Terrier name, making it a Jack Russell Terrier. The UKC along with the major registries of New Zealand and Australia is alone in recognizing the Parson Russell and Jack Russell as separate breeds. Everyone else considers them type variations.

Jack Russell Terrier Description

Jack Russells have unique physical and personality traits.

Physical Characteristics

A Jack Russell has a lively not quite foxlike expression. The head is an approximate wedge, tapering gradually from the rather wide forehead to a medium, strong jaw. The skull is flat on top and the prominent cheekbones hint at powerful jaws for the dog’s size. Jack Russells have a clear stop (break from head to snout) and button or hanging high-set ears. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark, and rather small. The neck is relatively long and the legs rather short. All features show strength with muscling more prominent in the hindquarters than the shoulders. A Jack Russell’s chest, while prominent, is not very broad or deep. Jack Russells are working terriers, and like many larger dogs, are slightly longer than tall. The tail is set and carried high. Many owners in the US have dogs with docked tails, but the cut is not extremely short.

Coat

Jack Russells have three possible coat types. Regardless of the coat’s quality. it should be weatherproof. The smooth coat is flat with short hairs that all orient in the same direction. It is composed of a soft undercoat and hard outer guard hairs. Alternatively, the rough-coated JRT has hair about two inches long over its entire body. The fur is straight and wiry. Broken-coated Jack Russells have a smooth coat interspersed with wiry hairs that usually are most prevalent on the head and legs.

Colors

The preference for a Jack Russell Terrier for sale is that she be mostly (51% or more) white with patches of color. Those patches can be black, chestnut, lemon, tan, brown, or cream. Tricolor dogs are white with black and tan or brown and tan markings.

Size

Jack Russell Terriers for sale should be about 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulders. They weigh 12 to 18 pounds.

Temperament

Jack Russell Terriers resemble other terriers in that they are bold, confident, and outgoing. They are also clever and independent. Your pet should be friendly without a trace of shyness or skittishness. Not all Jack Russells enjoy cuddling, but they form strong and lasting bonds with their owners. They enjoy staying near the members of their families.

Children

As you can imagine, a Jack Russell has the high energy and playful nature that can jive well with children. However, like many small dogs, he does better with older children who are more aware of canine etiquette than kids under seven or eight years old. Jack Russell Terriers do not have much patience with rough handling and will not hesitate to snap when displeased despite their sturdiness. Some Jack Russells become skittish with bullying and frequent mishandling.

Other Pets

You will often see Jack Russells in groups, but other terriers may not tolerate your dog’s pushy ways. However, most Jacks get along with other dogs, especially if dominance is established early. Because of her aggressive manner, you must watch a Jack Russell with much larger dogs. Unless they grow up together and you are thoroughly familiar with all dogs involved, you should not leave a Jack Russell Terrier with large guard and herding dogs unattended.

Jack Russell Mix

Although not as popular as the Poodle mix, the Jack Russell mix has a strong following. Jack Russells add several endearing qualities to other breeds such as a smart alert expression, wiry or wispy coat, energy, small size, and speed. Many crosses end up with a take-the-world attitude and scruffy good looks. Some popular Jack Russell Terrier mixes are as follows.

• Jack-a-Poo (Poodle)
• Jug (Pug) – Looks like a Pug with a longer nose; Usually fawn with black mask or solid black; 13 to 16 inches tall, 12 to 18 pounds
• Jackshund (Dachshund) – Much like a Dachshund with a shorter body; Black and tan, brown and tan, red, or white with brown, red, or cream patches; 5 to 9 inches tall, 10 to 30 pounds; Smooth-coated, long-haired, or wire-haired coat types
• Jackabee (Beagle) – Many look like a Beagle with a narrower face, some have rose ears; White with large spots of black, red, cream, or lemon, or tricolor; 10 to 16 inches tall, 15 to 30 pounds
• Jacairn (Cairn Terrier)- Much like a Cairn Terrier with a narrower face and larger less triangular ears; Dense wavy coat; 11 to 12 inches tall, 10 to 13 pounds; Brown, black, gray, red, or brindle
• Yorkie Jack (Yorkshire Terrier)- Looks like a smaller JRT more solid colors; 12 inches tall or less, 6 to 12 pounds; Long silky coat; White with large black or brown patches, black-and-tan, cream, brown with white, or silver and tan
• Papi Jack (Papillon) – Like a Papillon with button ears; 8 to 12 inches tall, 7 to 18 pounds; Medium-long straight fur; Usually tricolor with large areas of white, can also be white with red or black
• Jackweiler (Rottweiler)- Looks like a Rottie with a less square-shaped head and smaller ears; Black and tan with short fur; 13 to 22 inches tall; 15 to 75 pounds
• Bo-Jack (Boston Terrier)- Variable appearance; Usually black with variable white markings, can also be white with red or black, or tricolor; 11 to 15 inches tall, 15 to 20 pounds; Smooth-coated
• Jack Chi (Chihuahua) – Often produces smaller JRT with sweeter face and large ears, not always; 10 to 15 inches tall, 8 to 18 pounds; fawn, chocolate, or black with varying degrees of white, or white with cream, brown, or black patches, can be speckled
• Jackie Bichon (Bichon)- Variable; Loose curls; Usually white, can be white with red, or black, chocolate, or gray all with white
• Border Jack (Border Collie)- Looks like a small Border Collie with a more terrier-like face; 15 to 20 inches tall, 20 to 30 pounds; Usually black and white, can be tricolor, brown-and-white, black, or merle
• Jack Pit (American Pit Bull Terrier)- Looks like a Pit Bull Terrier with smaller jaws and narrower, rounder face; 15 inches tall and 25 to 40 pounds; Usually white with tan, black, or cream markings
• Husky Jack (Siberian Husky)- Variable appearance, often have at least one blue eye; Smooth- or broken-coated; 17 to 19 inches tall, 30 to 40 pounds; Black and tan, tricolor, white, or white with black, red, cream, or gray
• French Jack or French Bull Jack (French Bulldog) – Looks like a small French Bulldog with longer snout, ears may be bat or button; Commonly white with brown but can be solid white, fawn with white, or brindle; 11 to 14 inches tall, 13 to 25 pounds

Other Jack Russell mixes of note are the Jackaranian, Cocker Jack, and CoJack, involving crosses with the Pomeranian, Cocker Spaniel, and Corgi, respectively.

Health

Jack Russell Terriers are very healthy, typically living 13 to 16 years. If you see an ad for “Jack Russell puppies for sale near me,” then visit them. If they do not come from a rescue organization or humane society, you should be able to get a complete background. Try to see the father or mother. The AKC recommends certain tests to try to eliminate breed-specific problems. These exams include BAER testing (hearing), an ophthalmologist evaluation (eyes), and patellar certification (knees).

Care of Jack Russell Puppies for Sale

Jack Russell Terriers are relatively low-maintenance dogs. As working dogs, they require plenty of exercise and attention from you.

Exercise

Ideally, you will give Jack Russell Terrier jobs to do. Jack Russells should get 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day. Jack Russell puppies for sale need only five minutes of exercise per month of age. The remainder of your time should involve training basic obedience and socialization with people, other dogs, children, and different settings.

Grooming

Jacks do not require intensive grooming. You can brush your dog once or twice a week. Long-haired and broken-coated Jack Russells sport their best looks when you strip them twice a year. Stripping is a specialized grooming technique that removes unshed dead hairs from wire-haired dogs. You can learn it or leave it to a professional groomer. Make sure to check your pet’s ears at least weekly and trim her nails every four to six weeks. You can bathe your Jack Russell every six to eight weeks, although an extremely active or a hunting dog may require more frequent rinses.

Feeding

Jack Russells, with a comparatively sedentary lifestyle, are prone to obesity. You can prevent it not only with exercise but also with a high-quality diet with plenty of animal-sourced proteins. Jack Russell Terriers eat about 35 to 35 calories per pound. Since you are dealing with a small dog, you can freely explore your options of Kibble, wet food, moist and meaty packets, fresh or raw commercial diets, and homemade recipes. A veterinarian can guide you through the maze of homemade or raw dog foods to make sure you provide a complete and nutritionally balanced diet. Jack Russell Terrier puppies for sale will eat 35 to 120 calories per pound of bodyweight depending on growth rate and activity levels.