Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Jack Russell Terriers  Breed-FAQ
Supersedes: <dogs-faq/breeds/jackrussells_825928754@rtfm.mit.edu>
Date: 3 Apr 1996 22:14:13 GMT
X-Last-Updated: 1994/11/29

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                             JACK RUSSELL TERRIERS
                                       
Author

     * Stephanie Davis, steph@ora.com
       
   I consulted the official JRTCA pamphlet and other materials from the
   JRTCA to help me in the writing of this FAQ.
   
   Copyright 1994 by Stephanie Davis.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Table of Contents

     * Characteristics and Temperament
     * Frequently Asked Questions
     * History of the Jack Russell Terrier
     * Recognition
     * Terrier Trials
     * Rescue
     * Publications
     * Jack Russell Terrier Clubs
       
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Characteristics and Temperament

   The Jack Russell is a happy, bold, energetic dog; they are extremely
   loyal, intelligent, and assertive. Their greatest attribute is their
   working ability, closely followed by their excellent qualities as a
   companion. Unlike some modern breeds, Jack Russells have one type:
   hunting. Hunting is very bred in to these dogs. The unique personality
   of this feisty terrier is rapidly gaining popularity, but they are
   not a dog for everyone, especially first time dog owners. While
   adaptable to to a variety of environments, they are first and
   foremost bred to hunt.
   
   These dogs come in three different coat types; smooth (recessive),
   broken (intermediate), and rough (coarse, longer straight hair,
   dominant over smooth). All coats shed, with smooth shedding the most.
   They are adaptable to any climate, and are fine in cold weather (think
   Great Britain). Dogs have to be at least 51% white, or all white. Can
   have black and/or tan markings. Height can be between 10" and 15",
   with a proportionate body length. For showing purposes, terriers are
   classified in two groups, 10" to 12 1/2", and over 12 1/2" and up to
   15". Dogs should appear compact and balanced, always in solid, hard
   condition. Jack Russells have a short, upright tail, about 4" long.
   
Frequently asked Questions

   What "famous" Jack Russell Terriers would I recognize?
   
     The dog "Eddie" on the television show Frasier is a rough coat Jack
     Russell. The dog "Milo" in the movie The Mask is a smooth coat Jack
     Russell. The puppy in the RCA commercial is a Jack Russell.
     
   Are Jack Russell Terriers very hyper?
   
     Jack Russell Terriers are very energetic dogs, with a high
     requirement for regular exercise, and a lot of it! They are working
     dogs, and must have a job to do, whether it be keeping your yard
     free of rodents (digging is quite common, since they are bred to dig
     after quarry), chasing a ball, or going for a run or long walk with
     it's owner. Sitting on the couch peacefully all day is not in a Jack
     Russell's agenda.
     
   Because it is small, I'd like to keep a Jack Russell in my apartment.
   Will it be happy?
   
     Probably not. Given the exercise requirements of the Jack Russell, a
     home with a large, fenced yard is more adequate. They do not take
     well to inactive, sedentary lifestyles. If you are at home during
     the day and able to provide regular exercise, then it may work. They
     need a 5-6 foot hight fence, since they are known to jump, climb,
     and even dig under fences. Many of the Jack Russells in the Rescue
     are there because the owner underestimated the needs of the terrier.
     
   Will a Jack Russell Terrier get along with my cat/small pet/young
   child/horse?
   
     Cats and other small pets will not work with a Jack Russell because
     these dogs are first and foremost, hunting dogs. They see the cat or
     hamster/rat/guinea pig as prey (quarry). Many Jack Russell owners
     are horse people (probably because of the fox hunting relation...).
     Jack Russells are not herders, so the horse isn't an interest to the
     Jack Russell. Children under the age of six are usually a bad mix,
     unless the child understands how to properly handle the terrier.
     Having the natural assertive terrier characteristics, however, the
     Jack Russell will not put up with even unintended abusive behavior
     from a child. This should be carefully considered, particularly with
     children under six. 
     
   Are Jack Russell Terriers dog aggressive?
   
     They can be very aggressive with other dogs (not just other
     terriers), and in fact more than two terriers should never be kept
     together unattended. There have been many incidents of terriers
     being hurt, and even killed, by their fellow terriers; even young
     pups over the age of eight weeks must be carefully monitored. It is
     very important that prospective Jack Russell owners understand this
     sometimes harsh part of the terrier's nature.
     
   Can I train the hunting instinct out of my Jack Russell?
   
     With firm and consistent discipline you may be able to curtail the
     hunting instinct a bit, but they will still want to hunt. They
     should be kept on leash when in rural/country areas, because if they
     take off after a ground squirrel or other quarry, they will not
     hesitate to dig and go underground. Terriers have been known to stay
     underground with their quarry for days, with no food or water.
     
   Is the Jack Russell predisposed to any medical problems like ear
   infections or hip dysplasia?
   
     At this point, there are no tangible Jack Russell health problems.
     This is mainly due to the fact that the JRTCA will not register any
     dogs until they are one year old, and have passed a special
     veterinary examination that the JRTCA has outlined. No dogs with
     hereditary defects are allowed to be registered.
     
History of the Jack Russell Terrier

   Jack Russell Terriers are a type, or strain, of working terrier;
   they are not purebred in the sense that they have a broad genetic
   make-up, a broad standard, and do not breed true to type. This is a
   result of having been bred strictly for hunting since their beginning
   in the early 1800's, and their preservation as a working breed since.
   
   The Jack Russell takes its name from the Reverend John Russell who
   bred one of the finest strains of terriers for working fox in
   Devonshire, England in the mid-to-late 1800's. Rev. Russell
   (1795-1883), apart from his church activities, had a passion for fox
   hunting and the breeding of fox hunting dogs; he is also said to be a
   rather flamboyant character, probably accounting for his strain of
   terrier's notability and the name of our terrier today.
   
   The Fox Terrier, accepted as a kennel club breed in the late 1800's,
   has undergone many conformational changes as a result of the whims of
   the show ring, resulting in today's Modern Fox Terrier. John Russell
   maintained his strain of fox terriers bred strictly for working, and
   the terrier we know of today as the Jack Russell is much the same as
   the pre-1900 fox terrier. The Jack Russell has survived the changes
   that have occurred in the modern-day Fox Terrier because it has been
   preserved by working terrier enthusiasts in England for more than 100
   years; it has survived on its merit as a worker. It is the foremost
   goal of the JRTCA that the Jack Russell continues in that tradition.
   
Recognition

   The Jack Russell Club of America breed registry is one of the most
   unique registries in the world. It has been designed specifically to
   maintain the the Jack Russell Terrier as a healthy working breed, free
   from genetic faults and characteristics that would be detrimental to
   the breed. Unlike other registries which register entire litters at
   birth, each application for registration in the JRTCA is judged on the
   individual terrier's own merits; having registered parents does not
   automatically guarantee that a terrier can be registered. A terrier is
   not eligible for registration until it reaches one year of age and has
   attained its adult height, dentition, and other aspects considered for
   full maturity. Each terrier's application for registration must be
   accompanied by the following documents:
   
     * Veterinary Certificate. A JCTRA Veterinary Certificate, designed
       specifically for the Jack Russell Terrier, must be completed and
       signed by a licensed veterinarian stating that he has examined the
       terrier and found it to be free from inherited defects.
     * Pedigree. A complete pedigree, signed by the breeder (4
       generations are required as of July 1, 1993). The JRTCA will not
       accept any terrier that is inbred according to the JRTCA's
       inbreeding policy.
     * Stud Service Certificate. A stud certificate signed by the owner
       of the sire, verifying that they bred their stud dog to the dam of
       the terrier applying for registration.
     * Color Photographs. Clear photos, standing on a firm surface,
       clearly showing each side and the front of the terrier, are
       required in order to evaluate the terrier's general adherence to
       the breed standard.
       
   The JRTCA and the JRT Club of Great Britain (JRTCGB), along with the
   majority of the JR Clubs in the world, strongly oppose recognition of
   the Jack Russell by any Kennel Club/National All-Breed Registry. Most
   JR owners, and all working terrier people, seem to be in complete
   agreement on this issue. When the early fox terriers became recognized
   by the Kennel Club in the late 1800's, it quickly progressed (or
   regressed) into a fancy show breed... and rapidly became one of the
   most popular breeds on the KC list. It also quickly lost all
   usefulness as a working terrier. The highest compliments the JRTCA
   receives comes from its registry. Those familiar with kennel club
   registries would say that they are proud to be associated with a
   registry that turns down dogs with genetic faults. Kennel Club
   registries accept anything, and thus implicitly condone breeding from
   it. By turning down dogs with inherited defects, the JRTCA is doing a
   great service to protect the Jack Russell and keep out serious faults
   in the breed.
   
   The UKC (a for-profit national dog registry of hundreds of breeds)
   accepted the Jack Russell Terrier for registration in 1992, against
   the advice of the JRTCA. The JRTCA views this as a clear and present
   danger to its efforts of preserving and protecting the Jack Russell
   Terrier, and in no way endorses recognition of the Jack Russell
   Terrier by the UKC or any other all-breed registry. All Jack Russell
   Terrier owners are asked to support the JRTCA in its efforts to
   protect and preserve the Jack Russell Terrier as we know it today, and
   NOT to support the UKC registration of Jack Russell Terriers. The
   JRTCA fully expects that in the future they will have to face further
   challenges as the Jack Russell Terrier becomes more and more popular,
   and trust that the JRTCA members, and all Jack Russell enthusiasts,
   will be equal to the task.
   
   The Parson JRT Club in England actively campaigned and acquired
   British Kennel Club recognition for a terrier meeting a narrow portion
   of the JR breed standard. This small group has only been in existence
   a few years has formed their own standard including only a specific
   size and type which they claim was preferred by Rev. Parson himself.
   The BKC accepted the proposal, however, the JRTCA and JRTCGB will
   refuse membership to anyone belonging to The Parson JRT Club, the Jack
   Russell Terrier Breeder's Assoc., the BKC or the UKC.
   
Terrier Trials

   Traditionally, the JRT terrier trial is made of of three divisions:
   conformation, go-to--ground, and racing. Obedience, agility, and
   search 'n' sniff are also being included more often in these events.
   
   Conformation classes are judged much like any other dog show. The
   winner is the dog that most closely matches the breed standard. In
   addition to conformation and movement, the dog is judged on
   temperment; as in all things having to do with Jack Russells, the best
   working dog is being sought.
   
   Go-to-Ground consists of wooden liners placed in a trench dug in the
   ground. They are made to resemble as closely as possible natural earth
   where a dog might encounter fox or other prey. At the end of the
   course is a cage with two or three rats. The terrier is judged on how
   quickly it it gets to the liners and finds the rats, and on how it
   "worries" its quarry. The judge wants to see the Jack Russell bark,
   growl, dig and whine.
   
   The Racing division is probably what first attracts and most excites
   both terriers and owner at these trials. A sanctioned track is at
   least 150 feet long, and is a straight course (sometimes with jumps
   added) with a starting box at one end and a stack of hay bales with a
   hole in the middle (the finish line) at the other. A lure (usually a
   piece of scented fur) is attached to a piece of string thats pulled
   along by a generator. The dogs are muzzled for safety because of the
   excitement (a good aggression inciter!) The first dog through the hole
   in the haybales is the winner--and the winner, despite the impediment
   of the muzzle, usually has the lure clamped firmly between its teeth.
   
   The JRCTA gives out three types of Certificates for working. The
   Natural Hunting Certificate Below Ground in the Field, the
   Sporting Certificate, and the Trial Certificate. The Trial and
   Natural Hunting Certificate can only be awarded to a terrier by a
   sanctioned working judge.
   
   Although the JRTCA has not yet adopted rules covering obedience work,
   some trials offer obedience competitions. The individual trial
   officials can tell you the requirements for their events.
   
Publications

   T.F.H. Publications has a book called "Jack Russell Terriers". The
   JRTCA has a bi-monthly newletter called True Grit. It has 80-100 pgs.
   of info, including updates on what is happening in the Club and with
   JRTs worldwide. Has JRT related articles, vet articles, breeding,
   general interest, educational, humorous, and hunting stories. Also has
   listing of JRT trials throughout the country, photos, gifts for sale
   etc... Available free with membership to the JRTCA.
   
Rescue

   The majority of the dogs that end up in the Russell Rescue are
   unwanted simply for being Jack Russells by nature and behavior. Owners
   often find that they were unprepared for the care required for this
   feisty terrier; and did not understand the nature of the breed, and
   their instinctive desire to hunt. Owners are often gone all day, and
   therefore unable to provide the time, attention, and level of activity
   necessary to this active little dog.
   
   Consider a Rescue dog before a puppy... give a Jack Russell Terrier a
   second chance at a good terrier life!
   
   JRTCA RUSSELL RESCUE c/o Catherine Romaine Brown Humane Services of
   the JRTCA 4757 Lakeville Road Geneseo, NY 14454-9731
   
   Jennifer Carr - Rhode Island (401) 737-1041
   
   Kathy Padilla - California (310) 547-5478
   
   Conni Martin - Washington (206) 885-9858
   
   Paul Kimmerly - Kansas (913) 432-0989
   
Jack Russell Terrier Clubs

   Jack Russell Terrier Club of America Inc. P.O. Box 4527
   Lutherville, MD 21094-4527
   ph: (410) 561-3655
   
   Jack Russell Terrier Club of Great Britain Chairperson Greg Mousley
   Aston Heath Farm
   Sudbury, Derbyshire England DEGS88
     _________________________________________________________________
   
    Jack Russell Terrier FAQ
    Stephanie Davis, steph@ora.com
