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Parson Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, and the AKC-recognized Russell Terriers 2012 are three different dog breeds that trace back to an English pastor and his hunting dogs. To this day, the dog breeds are similar in many respects and are almost exclusively differentiated in terms of their size and temperament. You can find out which type suits you in an overview of the bright terriers.
The Appearance of Parson, Jack Russell, and Russell Terriers
The three variations of the original Jack Russell Terrier are almost indistinguishable for laypeople. All three breeds are relatively small and well suited to hunting small game. The texture of the coat is slightly different from dog to dog – in general, the dogs wear short to medium-length topcoats with a dense undercoat. The trimming hair must be regularly cared for and freed from superfluous wool.
Size and weight of the Russell, Jack Russell, and Parson Russell Terrier
- Russell Terrier: The ideal height at the withers is between 20 and 30 cm according to the American breed standard, the English breed standard prescribes 25 to 38 cm at the withers. They have the shortest runs among the three variants.
- Jack Russell Terrier: Height at the withers between 25 and 30 cm according to the FCI, between 25 and 38 cm according to the American breed standard.
- Parson Russell Terrier: According to the American breed standard between 30 and 36 cm high, the German breed standard specifies an ideal height at the withers between 34 and 38 cm for males and 31 to 35 cm for females.
What is the difference between the three Russell Terrier variants?
Externally, the long-legged Parson Russell Terrier is most easily distinguished from the other variations. The dogs were bred for shows and as companion dogs and appear a bit more graceful than their athletic counterparts; in addition, the lower abdominal line is rather straight. They have fairly short legs and a tucked-up belly line and can be distinguished mainly by their size.
The terriers from head to tail
- The head in all three Russell breeds is wedge-shaped and rather flat with well-developed cheeks. The stop is moderately pronounced and the powerful muzzle is only slightly shorter than the skull.
- Parson Russell Terriers are about as tall as they are long, Jack Russells and Russell Terriers appear slightly elongated. The pronounced chest, which proudly protrudes, is concise. The legs are heavily muscled and the hocks well developed.
- The medium-length tail is no longer docked and clearly indicates the mood of the dog.
Fur and coloring
The short to medium-length coat can be smooth and soft, similar to that of the dachshund, or noticeably rough. It is important that the fur is two-layered and keeps moisture and cold out. Every dog has small peculiarities in the color of its coat: The basic color of all Russell breeds is white with dark spots. The piebald can range from light brown or beige to black.
The Origin of the Russell Terrier Types: Who Was This Jack Russell?
Reverend John “Jack” Russell lived in Devon, England, in the 19th century – in addition to church work, he devoted his life to hunting. He crossed various short-legged terriers and first created the white Jack Russell Terrier, which was more distinguishable from wild animals when hunting than its brown or black predecessors. According to various sources, the puppies of a small terrier named Trump are direct ancestors of modern breed lines.
Characteristics of the breeding dogs from John Russell at a glance
- The white ground color helps the hunter distinguish the dog from the prey.
- The terriers drive wild animals to the hunter without harming them.
- They are fearless earth hunters.
The Origin of the Parson Russell and the Russell Terrier
Various types of English Fox Terriers can be traced back to the breeding efforts of the Reverend John Russell, among others. Until the introduction of the breed of the same name with a distinctive mustache, the term Fox Terrier was used to describe terriers with different coat structures and colors that were suitable for hunting hares, foxes, otters, weasels, and badgers. The Parson Terrier evolved just a few years after the Jack Russell Terrier and represented the long-legged variant of the breed (modeled after the Fell Terrier of northern England) – Parson Terriers are better suited to hunting in hilly terrain. The short-legged Russells are bred in the United States as pure companion dogs.
How did the Mini Russell Terrier come about?
Russell Terriers evolved from imported Jack Russell Terriers in Australia in the 20th century. Small ones were preferred to larger specimens in the outback, as they followed small animals even in dense bushes and in narrow burrows.
Nature and Character of the Terrier: The Smaller, the Wilder?
The character descriptions for Parson and Jack Russell Terriers overlap in most points. In the south of England Parsons were bred more as companion dogs and used short-legged Jack Russels for hunting, in the north Parsons were favored for hunting as they can more easily keep an eye on the game and track it over rough terrain. Like all terriers, the Parson Russells and Jack Russells are alert and fat, with an almost untamable will to hunt and work.