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. Rosamund Walters.