Parson Russell Terrier

This gentle dog is the perfect companion for ranch owners. He loves to keep company of horses, with whom he gets along very well, and becomes friends easily. In addition, he hunts all the rats in the stable, cleaning up at the same time. The Parson Russell Terrier is an ideal dog for everyone, as long as work and activity are part of his daily life.

Height 31 to 38 cm
Weight 5 to 8 kg
Life expectancy 13 to 15 years
Home country United Kingdom (UK)

Quick Overview of the Parson Russell Terrier

Temperament

  • Bold and kind
  • Independent and gentle
  • Lively and very affectionate
  • Superior intelligence

Appearance

  • Suitable for work
  • Silhouette built for endurance
  • Well-proportioned
  • General aspect that exudes a good flexibility

Health

  • Generally in excellent health
  • Rarely ill
  • No particular disease or pathology

Temperament of the Parson Russell Terrier

Bold, kind, independent, gentle, lively and very affectionate, the Parson Russell Terrier is endowed with superior intelligence and a strong temperament.

Even if he understands quickly, his education must be firm and adequate, and his socialization undertaken very early.

Specially qualified and created for work, this gentle dog with an outstanding intelligence is bold and very active, appreciating neither sedentary nor inactive behaviour. He is constantly on the move. He has great energy and loves to work and exercise.

He is compatible with all situations, as long as he is not sedentary or inactive. He has to be in action all the time in order to feel good.

He was designed to move and work, and has maintained the same temperament over time. Being very active and energetic, he loves children and all their games. He is a real clown who is always ready to entertain the little ones as well as the older around him.

Never aggressive, he can however be reticent towards strangers. He is courageous, and his socialization must be undertaken very early, just as his education must be firm.

parson russell terrier personnalité

Breed Appearance

parson russell terrier

Having been sculpted for hunting, this dog's physique is adapted to the work. His silhouette, built for endurance and speed, is well proportioned, showing agility and great capacity for continuous activity.

His silhouette is longer than tall, and his general appearance exudes a beautiful flexibility.

Height

Between 34 and 38 cm (13.39 to 14.96 inches) for the male
Between 31 and 35 cm (12.20 to 13.78 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 5 and 8 kg (11.02 to 17.64 pounds) for the male
Between 5 and 8 kg (11.02 to 17.64 pounds) for the female

Color

His coat is entirely white, or white with fawn, black or lemon-coloured patches. The patches are usually limited to the base of the tail and head.

Hair

His coat is shaggy, dense and tight. It can be smooth or rough.

Morphology

His head has a flat skull with a very slight stop. His almond-shaped eyes are dark.

His ears are carried close to the head. They are small and v-shaped, falling forward. His nose is black.

His tail is usually shortened and carried straight. The custom is to cut the tail at a length proportional to the size of the body, while leaving it long enough to be able to catch the dog by the tail if necessary.

The great strength of his tail allows him to be lifted without pain.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 3, section 1 and is #339

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Parson Russell Terrier puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Parson Russell Terrier:
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Parson Russell Terrier puppies near me

Tips About this breed

He can live indoors as well as outdoors, withstanding both low and high temperatures very well.

He can also live in an apartment, as long as he has space where he can exercise regularly.

Dog sports are also perfect for him because they allow him to exercise regularly.

All owners can own such a dog, but the master must absolutely be available and ready to devote a minimum amount of time to him, allowing him to run and spend his great surplus of energy regularly.

He does not necessarily need a sports master, but a master who is present and ready to give him the time he needs to exercise.

The Parson Russell Terrier requires a firm and uncompromising education to counter his stubborn temperament and strong character.

The master must absolutely measure up to the task, otherwise the dog could be disobedient once adult. A minimum of dog education knowledge is required to successfully complete his education.

If you are inexperienced in this area, the help of a professional dog trainer is not to be declined.

Health of the Parson Russell Terrier

Generally endowed with excellent health, the Parson Russell Terrier is rarely ill. No pathology or genetic disease affects the breed.

Some individuals may be affected by patellar dislocations or eye infections, but these are not diseases directly associated with the breed.

The Parson Russell Terrier is very resistant to both heat and cold and generally enjoys a long lifespan.

GROOMING

His coat requires daily brushing to keep it clean and healthy.

Hair removal once or twice a year is recommended in his case. However, no other special maintenance is necessary.

History of this breed

Developed at the beginning of the 19th century, the Parson Russell Terrier was first selected to become the ideal dog for fox hunting.

It was the Reverend John (Jack) Russell, born in Dartmouth in 1795 in Devon, England, a great hunter emeritus, that decided to create improved breeds of Terrier, which he believed to be the perfect hunting dogs.

Having served the parish of Swimbridge Devon most of his life, the Reverend was passionate about breeding and selecting Terriers. He was one of the founding members of the Kennel Club in 1873 and died at the age of 87 in 1883.

He bought his first Terrier while studying at Oxford, from which he proceeded to many crossbreeds afterwards, always in order to obtain the ideal hunting dog, the appearance of the animal being then secondary.

At one time, he tried to cross the Russell with other breeds but the project, which did not produce the expected results, was quickly abandoned. He therefore continued to concentrate on crossbreeding some Terrier breeds.

The Parson Russell Terrier was officially received by the English Kennel Club in 1990, and its standard was then published under the name Parson Jack Russell Terrier. The FCI accepted the Parson Jack Russell Terrier the same year but the name was updated by the British Kennel Club in 1999 and the FCI finally recognized him as a Parson Russell Terrier in 2001.

Two breeds created by Reverend Russell now bear his name, the Parson Russell Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier.

This dog, which became ideal for fox hunting after multiple crossbreeding, is a hardy and tenacious utility Terrier qualified for working underground. He is a very versatile hunting dog that can penetrate burrows to dislodge game or simply to indicate their location.

He works very well alone for hunting fox, but used in small packs, he is then excellent for tracking wild boar. He is a hunter at heart, accepting all hunts whether they take place in burrows or in marshes.

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