Straightening Out the Jack, John, Russell, Parsons

I've always loved adorable little Jack Russell Terriers...cute little face, scrappy personality.... but get confused by their seemingly ever-changing name. Is it Jack Russell, or what is this Parson Russell, and recently I read an article about a Russell terrier- no Jack, no Parson. So I did a little digging, and here's the scoop:

Jack Russell terrier-

Photo courtesy of JRTCA

According to the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America, this is the original! They are a type of terrier, however they are not "pure bred" or recognized by the AKC.
They originated in the UK.
bred for: hunting
coat: smooth, rough, or wiry
size: 10- 15 inches at the shoulder
coloring: predominately white, with tan, black or brown markings
temperament: high energy, intelligent







Parson Russell terrier-

Photo courtesy of AKC

This is basically the same dog, only the name has been changed. This is a breed recognized by the AKC in 1997.
bred for: fox hunting
coat: wirehaired or smooth
size: 13 to 14 inches at the shoulder, 13-17 pounds
coloring: white, white with black, white with tan, tri-colored
temperament: high energy, intelligent





 
 Russell terrier-

Photo courtesy of AKC

This is a new breed recognized by the AKC in 2013.
The main difference appears to be that the legs are shorter.
bred for: fox hunting
coat: smooth, rough, or wiry
size: 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder
coloring: white with tan, white with black, white with tan and black
temperament: high energy, intelligent








Who is Jack Russell anyway?
Jack Russell is the Rev. John (nickname Jack) Russell, who was a respected huntsman in the UK.