Dog Breed Guide

Jack Russell Terrier

Profile

Size

Small

Country of origin

United Kingdom (breed developed in Australia)

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Fox hunting

Height

25 - 30cm (10 - 12in)

Weight

5 - 6kg (11 - 13lb)

Life span

13 - 15 years

A small but muscular terrier, white with tan or black patches. It has shorter legs than the Parson Russell Terrier, and its body looks slightly rectangular from the side. The coat may be smooth, rough or broken (in between).

The Jack Russell is a bundle of energy: curious, brave and very smart. It loves to play, and once it starts chasing a ball it never wants to stop. It can jump astonishingly high for such a small dog.

Satisfying its energy and brains takes plenty of exercise and mentally challenging play every day. Without enough exercise, it is prone to problem behaviors such as mischief, nuisance barking and digging. It is said to be a bit of a handful for first-time dog owners.

Good to know

Like the Parson Russell Terrier, it descends from the fox hunting terriers bred by the 19th-century English parson John Russell. Later, the shorter-legged type was developed into a breed, particularly in Australia.

Because it is smart and talented, it is also a star of film and television. Moose, who played Eddie, the dog of the hero's father in the popular American sitcom Frasier, was one of the most popular members of the cast.

In the 2011 film The Artist, a Jack Russell Terrier named Uggie gave a brilliant performance as the hero's dog. Uggie won the Palm Dog award at the Cannes Film Festival, given for an outstanding canine performance, and the following year he became the first dog to leave his paw prints at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.