The Jack Russell is a tough little dog,
that is full of character, loyal and affectionate with its family but
not always friendly towards strangers. They are excellent guard dogs.
Description & History
The breed originated in Devon early in
the nineteenth century and was named and established by its founder,
Parson John (Jack) Russell, MFH. Parson Russell was a sporting cleric
whose love of hunting and a good terrier took priority over his ecclesiastical
duties! During his time at Oxford University he had found in the village
of Marsden such a terrier, called Trump, which he acquired from a local
milkman. This terrier is believed to have been crossed with a Devon
hunt terrier and their descendants formed the foundation stock of the
breed. To this original stock other terrier strains have been introduced
over the years to produce today's dogs. Jack Russell believed that a
working dog should preferably be the size and weight of a vixen.
The present day breed varies in size,
weight and coat. Some are smooth-coated and short-legged, others longer-legged
with smooth coats, while some of the longer-legged variety are rough
coated and resemble the old wire-coated Fox Terrier. The Jack Russell
is a hardy dog that was bred to work the fox. They have excellent noses
which make them ideal hunters of all types of vermin - rats, weasels,
rabbits, field mice and even the odd stoat. On a farm or in a stable
yard they work tirelessly to keep all vermin under control. All hedgerows
and fields are always thoroughly searched to make sure that any small
animal which happens to have the misfortune to be away from home is
promptly eliminated.