About Us

On April 1, 2003, the AKC changed the name of the breed from Jack Russell Terrier to Parson Russell Terrier. This is to distinguish between the correct, longer legged dog and the shorter legged dog, often referred to as the pudding or shortie.

General Appearance

The Parson Russell Terrier was developed in the South of England in   the 1800's as a white terrier to work European Red Fox both above and below   ground. The terrier was named for the Reverend John Russell, whose terriers   trailed hounds and bolted foxes from dens so the hunt could ride on.
 

 To function as a working terrier, he must possess certain characteristics: a   ready attitude, alert and confident, balanced in height and length, medium in   size and bone, suggesting strength and endurance. Important to breed type is   a natural appearance; a harsh, weatherproof coat with a compact construction   and clean silhouette. The coat is broken or smooth. He has a small, flexible   chest to enable him to pursue his quarry underground and sufficient length of   leg to follow the hounds. Old scars and injuries, the result of honourable   work or accident, should not be allowed to prejudice a terrier's chance in   the show ring, unless it interferes with movement or utility for work or for   breeding.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Size: Both sexes are properly balanced between 12" and 14"   at the withers. The ideal height of a mature dog is 14" at the withers,   and bitches 13". Terriers whose heights measure either slightly larger   or smaller than the ideal are not to be penalised in the show ring provided   other points of their conformation, especially balance and chest span, are   consistent with the breed standard. The weight of the terrier in hard working   condition is usually between 13 - 17 pounds.
 

 Proportion: Balance is the keystone of the terrier's anatomy. The chief   points of consideration are the relative proportions of skull and foreface,   head and frame, height at the withers and length of body. The height at the   withers is slightly greater than the distance from withers to tail, i.e. by   possibly 1 to 1.5 inches on a 14 inch dog. The measurement will vary   according to height, the ratio of height to back being approximately 6:5.
 

 Substance: The terrier is of medium bone, not too heavy as to appear coarse   or so light as to appear racy. The conformation of the whole frame is   indicative of strength and endurance.

Head

Head: Strong and in good proportion to the rest of the body, so the   appearance of balance is maintained.
 

 Expression: Keen, direct, full of life and intelligence.
 

 Eyes: Almond shaped, dark in colour, moderate in size, not protruding. Dark   rims are desirable.
 

 Ears: Button ear. Small 'V' shaped drop ears of moderate thickness carried   forward, close to the head with the tip so as to cover the orifice and   pointing toward the eye. Fold is level with the top of the skull or slightly   above. When alert, ear tips do not extend below the corner of the eye.
 

 Skull: Flat and fairly broad between the ears, narrowing slightly to the   eyes. The stop is well defined but not prominent.
 

 Muzzle: Length from nose to stop is slightly shorter than the distance from   stop to occiput.
 

 Jaws: Upper and lower are of fair and punishing strength.
 

 Nose: Must be black and fully pigmented.
 

 Bite: Teeth are large with complete dentition in perfect scissors bite, i.e.,   upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and teeth set square to the   jaws.

Neck, Topline and Body

Neck: Clean and muscular, moderately arched, of fair length, gradually   widening so as to blend well into the shoulder.
 

 Topline: Strong, straight, and level in motion, the loin slightly arched.
 

 Body: In overall length to height proportion, the dog appears approximately   square and balanced. The back is neither short nor long. The back gives no   appearance of slackness but is laterally flexible, so that he may turn around   in an earth. Tuck-up is moderate.
 

 Chest: Narrow and of moderate depth, giving an athletic rather than heavily   chested appearance; must be flexible and compressible. The ribs are fairly   well sprung, oval rather than round not extending past the level of the   elbow.
 

 Tail: Set high, strong, carried gaily but not over the back or curled. Docked   so the tip is approximately level to the skull, providing a good handhold.

Forequarters

Shoulder: Long and sloping, well laid back, cleanly cut at the   withers. Point of shoulder sits in a plane behind the point of the   prosternum. The shoulder blade and upper arm are of approximately the same   length; forelimbs are placed well under the dog.
 

 Elbows: hang perpendicular to the body, working free of the sides. Legs are   strong and straight with good bone. Joints turn neither in nor out.
 

 Pasterns: firm and nearly straight.
 

 Feet: Round, catlike, very compact, the pads thick and tough, the toes   moderately arched, pointing forward, turned neither in nor out.

Hindquarters

Strong and muscular, smoothly molded, with good angulation and bend of   stifle. Hocks near the ground, parallel, and driving in action. Feet as in   front.

Coat

Smooth: Double-coated. Coarse and weatherproof. Flat but hard, dense   and abundant, belly and undersides of thighs are not bare.
 

 Broken: Double coated. Coarse and weatherproof. Short, dense undercoat with a   harsh, straight, tight jacket, which lies flat and close to the body and   legs. There is a clear outline with only a hint of eyebrows and beard. Belly   and undersides of thighs are not bare. Coat does not show a strong tendency   to curl or wave. No sculptured furnishings. The terrier is shown in   natural appearance not excessively groomed. Sculpturing is to be severely   penalised.

Colour

White, white with black or tan markings, or a combination of these,   tri-color. Colours clear. Grizzle is acceptable and should not be confused   with brindle.

Gait

Movement or action is the crucial test of conformation. The terrier's   movement is free, lively, well co-ordinated, with straight action in front   and behind. There should be ample reach and drive with a good length of   stride.

Temperament

Bold and friendly. Athletic and clever. At work he is a game hunter,   tenacious and courageous. At home he is playful, exuberant and overwhelmingly   affectionate. He is an independent and energetic terrier and requires his due   portion of attention. He should not be quarrelsome. Shyness should not be   confused with submissiveness. Submissiveness is not a fault. Sparring   is not acceptable.

Spanning

To measure a terrier's chest, span from behind, raising only the front   feet from the ground and compress gently. Directly behind the elbows is the   smaller, firm part of the chest. The central part is usually larger but   should feel rather elastic. Span with the hands tightly behind the elbows on   the forward portion of the chest. The chest should be easily spanned by   average sized hands. Thumbs should meet under the chest. This is a   significant factor and a critical part of the judging process. The dog cannot   be correctly judged without this procedure.

Faults

Light or yellow eye, round eye. Hound ear, fleshy ear, rounded tips.   Soft, silky, wooly, or curly topcoat. Lacking undercoat.

Disqualifications

Height under 12" or over 15". Prick ears, liver nose. Four   or more missing teeth. Overshot, undershot or wry mouth. Brindle markings.   Overt aggression towards other dogs or humans.