The Legend behind
the
Jack Russell Terrier
Parson John (Jack) Russell (1795-1883) was born
on the 21st of December 1971 in Dartmouth,
England passionate about dogs and
chasing vermin from an early age.


Mr Russell was a keen hunter and for the majority
of his life and was known to have kept a modest
pack of hounds for the sole purpose of
pursuing foxes. The Jack Russell Terrier
was produced in England in the 1880's


Unsatisfied with his hound pack, or rather their
ability to capture a fox down a den, Mr Russell
produced The Jack Russell Terrier (1880’s).


Two varieties evolved with basically similar
Standards except for differences, mainly in
height and proportions. The taller, more
squarely built dog is now known as the
'Parson Russell Terrier' and the shorter,
slightly longer proportioned dog,
is known as the 'Jack Russell Terrier'.

Mr John Russell

A Typical Hunting Pack

Trump

Mr Russell developed a strain of Fox Terriers
to suit his needs. He required a dog to run with
his foxhounds which was also built to go
underground, to nip at and tease a fox in
order to leave its den.

The terriers were not used to kill the fox, merely
to chase it out, with their strong jaws they were
often seen ripping out the undergrowth, roots
and earth in order to chase their prey.

Mr Russell also used the Jack Russell Terrier
for hunting rats and other rodents at the farm.
The Jack Russell Terrier began when
Mr Russell discovered 'Trump' a white terrier
bitch with dark tan spots over her eyes,
ears and at the tip of her tail, who was owned
by a milkman and bought on a whim while
out walking one day. Jack Russell’s interest
lay in terriers which were entirely white or had
colour confined to head and a small patch at
the root of their tail" (Parson. J 1865).



During the hunt the Jack Russell Terrier would
often be set down some distance from the foxes
den and away from the hounds which is a large
part of the reason why Mr Russell always
insisted on the ‘white’ dog with markings so as
not to confuse the hounds who may
thinks it’s a fox and accidentally kill it.



The Reverend Jack Russell was a remarkable
man, a great sportsman, he shot, wrestled,
boxed, played cricket, hunted on foot and
horse -otter, badger, fox and hare. He also
created the Jack Russell Terrier
as we know it today.