Parson Russell Terrier

About the breed

The Parson Russell Terrier is a small hunting terrier bred to go to ground after fox, and Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) Standard No. 339 sets an ideal height at the withers of 36 cm for dogs and 33 cm for bitches. It is not the same as the “Jack Russell” of everyday speech: the FCI keeps a separate standard for the Jack Russell Terrier (No. 345) with a much lower height. The breed is lively, independent and hunting-minded, so it suits owners who can give it plenty of exercise, mental work and consistent training.

The Reverend Russell and the origins of the breed

The breed is named after the Reverend John Russell, an English hunting parson (1795–1883, according to the Parson Russell Terrier Association of America, PRTAA). The UK Kennel Club writes that in 1819 he bought a bitch called Trump, regarded as the founder of the breed. The FCI standard sums it up briefly: the breed derives from a strain of Fox Terriers bred by the Victorian parson and, after a long dispute over a type vaguely called “the Jack Russell”, was recognised as the Parson Russell Terrier.

The official path is more recent. According to PRTAA, Arthur Heinemann drafted the first standard in 1904. The Kennel Club formally recognised the breed in 1990 as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier and renamed it the Parson Russell Terrier in 1999 to differentiate the two breeds; the American Kennel Club (AKC) adopted the present name in 2003.

Parson Russell or Jack Russell Terrier: where they differ

The Parson Russell Terrier is taller than the Jack Russell Terrier, and the FCI treats them as two breeds with separate standards. Standard No. 339 sets an ideal height of 36 cm (dogs) and 33 cm (bitches), a body “slightly longer than height from withers to ground” and Section 1 of Group 3 (large and medium sized terriers). Standard No. 345 for the Jack Russell Terrier states an ideal 25–30 cm, a weight rule of 1 kg per 5 cm of height (roughly 5–6 kg), a rectangular body and Section 2 (small terriers). Standard 345 itself says two varieties evolved from the same history, differing mainly in height and proportions: the taller, more squarely built dog is the Parson Russell, the shorter and slightly longer one the Jack Russell.

Recognition differs too. The Kennel Club recognised the Parson Russell in 1990 but the Jack Russell Terrier only in 2016, and notes that the British type is similar to the Parson Russell in proportion but in a smaller frame. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA) reads the name more broadly: it writes that the “real Jack Russell” may be any height between 10 and 15 inches (roughly 25–38 cm) and regards the Parson Russell as one of the variants the AKC turned into separate breeds.

So check the breed name on the pedigree and the height of both parents: a dog sold as a “Jack Russell” without a pedigree guarantees neither height nor type.

Size according to the standard: height and weight

Under the FCI standard the ideal height at the withers is 36 cm for dogs and 33 cm for bitches; the standard sets no weight. This is an ideal, not a limit: the Kennel Club, which has the same figures (14 and 13 inches), warns that an individual dog may be larger or smaller. For weight the AKC says a terrier in hard working condition usually weighs 13–17 pounds, roughly 6–8 kg; this is an American figure, not an FCI one.

The standard stresses function: the chest must be spannable behind the shoulders by average-sized hands, because the dog works in a fox earth. The FCI places it among large and medium sized terriers, the Kennel Club and PDSA (a UK veterinary charity) among small breeds.

Smooth, broken or rough coat, and colours

The FCI standard allows three coat varieties – rough, broken and smooth – all naturally harsh, flat, straight, dense, with a good undercoat and weather-resistant. The AKC standard recognises only broken or smooth. A prepared (trimmed) coat should look natural and never clipped.

The colour is white or predominantly white with tan, lemon or black markings, preferably on the head and root of the tail; a little body colour is acceptable. The AKC disqualifies brindle markings. Care is simple: the Kennel Club and PDSA both recommend weekly brushing, and the Kennel Club adds that the breed sheds.

Temperament: bold, friendly and independent

The FCI standard calls the temperament “bold and friendly”: originally a terrier bred to work fox, confident, energetic and happy. The AKC is more specific: at work a game, tenacious, single-minded hunter, at home playful, exuberant and very affectionate; an independent, energetic terrier that wants its due share of attention and should not be quarrelsome. PRTAA warns it can be “difficult” without proper training and needs a great deal of attention and exercise from puppyhood to old age.

Working to ground: digging, barking and chasing

Digging, a loud voice and interest in small game are not necessarily training faults here but can be remnants of the original job. The FCI lists the use as a “working terrier with ability to go to ground” and the AKC says it is fearless enough to dig in and flush a fox from its lair. PRTAA adds that the Parson Russell was a “baying terrier”: a dog that drives the fox out with its voice rather than killing it.

In daily life this means a dedicated digging corner and a secure fence with no gaps at ground level. PDSA writes that, because of the strong instinct to hunt and explore, even basic training, especially recall, “will not always be easy”.

Exercise, mental work and training

Plan for one to two hours of activity a day, because the sources differ: the Kennel Club states “up to 1 hour per day” and PDSA ideally 1–2 hours. A lead walk alone is rarely enough; free running in a safe place, scent games, tug games and short training exercises work better. The Parson Russell Terrier Club UK (PRT Club UK) says the breed’s energy and independence have adapted well to activities such as mini agility.

In training, rewards and short, varied exercises work better than pressure. The AKC calls the breed an independent problem solver that may have its “own ideas”, and PDSA points to reward-based training. Practise recall on a long line before trying it off the lead.

Family, children and other pets

The breed suits a family with children conditionally. PDSA says it gets on well with children and can be an excellent family pet; PRTAA adds that it does not tolerate rough handling from toddlers, and the PRT Club UK says the dogs romp happily with children.

With other animals it depends on the animal. The Kennel Club says terriers were bred to pursue fox, badger, rat and otter, so it is reasonable to expect rodents, rabbits and birds to count as prey. PDSA says it needs early socialisation with any other family pets; there is no guarantee of harmony.

Flat and garden

The breed is only conditionally suitable for a flat. PRTAA would not recommend the breed first for a city apartment, yet knows success stories of urban dogs, which take time, commitment and imagination. The Kennel Club lists a small house with a small to medium garden as the suitable home, in town or country.

Health: what the clubs recommend and what they do not require

The Kennel Club “strongly recommends” DNA tests for late onset ataxia (LOA) and primary lens luxation (PLL) before breeding because, in its words, evidence indicates these conditions are a significant concern in the breed; as “best practice” it adds a DNA test for spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and an eye examination under the BVA/KC/ISDS scheme. These are recommendations, not obligations: the Kennel Club lists no additional breed-specific breeding restrictions. The PRT Club UK describes the breed as healthy; the Kennel Club has placed it in Category 1 of its Breed Watch scheme, which means only that no breed-specific points of concern have been identified for judges.

The American parent club PRTAA lists a specialist eye examination, patella evaluation and a BAER hearing test in its CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) programme and recommends DNA tests for PLL, LOA and SCA. PDSA lists luxating patellas, lens luxation and cataracts as potential breed-related problems. The breeding regulations for terriers of the Kennel Club of Slovenia (KZS) recommend a hearing test before the breeding assessment, especially for mostly white dogs (over 50% white).

PLL, LOA and SCA: what the abbreviations mean

PLL is an inherited eye disease in which the fibres holding the lens weaken. Cornell University describes it as a painful, potentially blinding condition, most commonly developing between the ages of three and eight; when the lens moves forward, glaucoma can develop quickly, which Cornell treats as an emergency. With early surgery some vision can often be preserved, while untreated anterior luxation has a poor outlook. Cornell says a variant of the ADAMTS17 gene causes it, and the PRT Club UK adds that lens luxation can also arise from trauma or as yet unidentified mutations.

LOA and SCA are ataxias, that is, a loss of coordination. The PRT Club UK says signs of SCA can appear as early as two to six months and of LOA within the first year. Both are progressive, and the club writes that affected dogs are often euthanised young because of poor quality of life. A German study (2016) warns that the DNA tests do not capture every case of hereditary ataxia in the breed.

Lifespan

The AKC lists a life expectancy of 13–15 years and the Kennel Club “over 12 years”. These are general estimates by organisations, not registry data.

What to ask a breeder

Ask for the health results of both parents, not just statements:

• DNA results for PLL, LOA and SCA (or the hereditary status if the pedigree shows it);
• an eye examination, a patella assessment and a hearing (BAER) test (especially for mostly white dogs);
• the exact breed name on the pedigree and the height of both parents;
• a chance to see the puppies with their mother (the PRT Club UK recommends it) and how they were socialised;
• a written contract with clear obligations on both sides.

Find a vetted breeder in the directory.

Myths and facts

• “Jack Russell and Parson Russell are the same.” The FCI has two standards with different heights (36/33 cm versus 25–30 cm), and the American JRTCA allows an even wider range (10–15 inches).
• “A small dog needs little exercise.” The sources state up to one hour (Kennel Club) or one to two hours (PDSA) of activity a day.

Who it suits and who it suits less

It suits active owners who will occupy the dog every day with exercise and work, have a fenced garden or safe off-lead areas and are not bothered by digging and noise. It suits less those wanting a calm flat dog, those with small animals such as rodents or rabbits, or first-time trainers without an experienced mentor. The conditions for living well together are health-tested parents, early socialisation, consistent reward-based training and daily mental work.

Pros & cons