History of the Parson Russell Terrier

The Parson Russell is a fox hunting breed developed in England in the 19th century and is the breed from which the modern or show Fox Terriers has evolved. The Parson Russell takes his name from the renowned hunting parson, the Reverend John Russell, who from 1830 to 1870 bred with care a predominantly white terrier that followed the hunt on foot and went to ground after the fox. At that time the Parson Russell was known as the working Fox Terrier and was bred by many fox hunting terrier men.

The conformation of the Parson Russell follows its original function. Early British fox hunters used a black and tan type terrier, rather like the Fell or Welsh terrier whose colour was similar to that of its quarry the fox. Difficulty telling terrier from fox in a dig brought about a desire for a white terrier to do the job and most probably the Old English Black and Tan was crossed with the Old English White (now extinct) to achieve the type of colouring we have today.

As the Parson Russell most often followed the hunt on foot he had to have a most reasonable length of leg. As he went over terrain and to ground following into the fox's territory he had to have a size and shape similar to that of the fox. The original type Parson Russell, as bred by the Parson, is growing in popularity as more people become familiar with its wonderful personality and handsome appearance.

In recent years, small terriers have been out crossed and sometimes characteristics of other breeds have cropped up. These dogs, without true type are called "Puddins" or "Dwarf terriers", these dogs are not purebred and should not be presented as such. The term "Parson Russell" has often been misused but the true Parson Parson Russell Terrier persists and is currently maintained in proper form by conscientious breeders.

Respect the dog for its high intelligence, and be patient when it is only doing what comes naturally. Although the Parson Russell is small and fits into most homes, it does require a large amount of exercise, and proper training. A well trained, properly socialized terrier will have no problem fitting into a family setting.

ABOUT THE Parson Russell*

History:
Parson Russell Terriers are a unique, versatile working terrier. They take their name from the Reverend John Russell who bred one of the finest strains of working fox terriers in Devonshire, England in the mid-to-late 1800's. Rev. Russell (1795-1883), apart from his church activities, had a passion for fox hunting and the breeding of fox hunting dogs. His first terrier, the immortal TRUMP (acquired in 1819), is said to be the foundation of John Russell's working terriers. (It should be noted that there were other strains of Parson Russell "type" working dogs).
Everything about the Parson Russell has fox hunting in mind…colouring, conformation, character, and intelligence. The body is compact, of totally balanced proportions, the shoulders clean, the legs straight, and most importantly, a small chest (easily spannable by average size hands at the widest part behind the shoulders). The Parson Russell must also be totally flexible, allowing him to maneuver underground. This conformation allows the terrier to follow his quarry down narrow earths, in all respects, the fox is a good model for the Parson Russell ~ where the fox can go, so must the terrier. Although originally bred for fox hunting, the Parson Russell is a versatile working terrier to a variety of quarry including red and grey fox, raccoon, woodchuck, badger, and opossum.

Character:
The Parson Russell is a happy, bold, energetic dog, extremely loyal, and bred for intelligence. Their greatest attribute is their working ability, closely followed by their excellent qualities as a companion. A Parson Russell can be equally content bolting a fox or sleeping on your living room sofa, or equally adept at killing a sock in the living room or a rat in the barn. Their funny antics will continually amuse you, their intelligence seems to know no bounds, and their affectionate nature is at times overwhelming. Their unique personality is capturing the hearts of many, but it MUST be noted that they are not a dog for everyone. Apartment living, or a confined or sedate lifestyle, most often does not meet the needs of a Parson Russell. Those interested in the breed must understand that these little dogs need an extraordinary amount of human attention, outdoor activity, exercise, discipline, and an understanding and acceptance of their hunting nature. They have been known to train their owners more often than not.
While adaptable to a variety of environments, it must be remembered that first and foremost they are bred to be hunting dogs. They can be aggressive with other dogs, and in fact more than two should never be kept together unattended. There have been instances of terriers being hurt by their fellow terriers; even young pups over the age of eight weeks must be carefully monitored. It is imperative that prospective Parson Russell owners understand this part of the terriers nature, and that special facilities and handling are absolutely necessary when owning two or more Parson Russell's. It has been said that "the courage of the Parson Russell is never in doubt"; surely a true statement, as they have often been known to take on an adversary twice (or more) their size. They require firm, consistent, responsible handling; they are very intelligent, determined, and bold (sometimes to the point of abandon, which could be fatal).
While outdoor activity and exercise is essential, the Parson Russell should never be permitted to roam unattended, even in the most remote country setting. The Parson Russell is, above all, a hunting dog - and will go to ground at every given opportunity; to any quarry - they are afraid of nothing. Many a Parson Russell has been known to stay in an active earth for days, and even weeks, without food or water, because of the strong instinct bred into them to stay with their quarry. It can be a very frightening experience to lose your terrier, and an impossible situation to the untrained owner inexperienced in earthwork; the results could be tragic.
The Parson Russell can make a terrific family pet, and gets along well with well-behaved children. One of the Parson Russell's most surprising qualities is a gentle and kindly nature. He is friendly with small children, provided the child understands how to properly handle the terrier. The few instances of bad temper can nearly always be traced to the fault of the owner, who provided no early corrective training, or actually encouraged a display of aggressiveness. Having the natural assertive terrier characteristics, however, the Parson Russell will not put up with abusive behavior from a child. This should be carefully considered, particularly with children below the age of six.
The Parson Russell has been a popular breed in England for many years, and is now attracting a variety of followers with varied interests in other countries around the world. We strongly encourage those interested in the breed to thoroughly study all aspects of the Parson Russell, its special characteristics and needs, and to make a careful evaluation of whether this unique little dog will fit into your lifestyle. The Parson Russell is a very special breed; it has been kept sound, functional, intelligent, and relatively unchanged because of responsible people who have cared about its heritage. The major goal and purpose is to maintain the Parson Russell as the wonderful working terrier it has been for more than 100 years. The real future of the Parson Russell, however, depends on all owners and breeders, who will hopefully share the dedication to preserving the Parson Russell Terrier as the sound working breed it has been for many generations and many more yet to come!
*Taken in part from JRTCA Inc. membership booklet

*Is a Parson Russell Terrier the right dog for you?
The points made here represent worst case scenario of owning a Parson Russell Terrier. If you are a prospective JRT owner, be sure you understand the unique needs and character of this feisty little working terrier before you purchase. Many people underestimate life with a Parson Russell.

Parson Russells…
…are first and foremost hunting dogs. Digging, ability to follow scent (excellent hunting traits) are often interpreted as bad habits that cause people to give them up.
…are bred to go underground. If they do not have an outlet for their natural instincts, they will invent new ones, such as ; guardian of the world/possessions/family, hunting birds, or digging in the soil. 
…are a big dog in a little body. They think they are 150lbs. And are fearless, often challenging other dogs three times their size. Same sex aggression and aggression towards other breeds is documented. No more than two Parson Russells should ever be left together unattended.
…are not a non shedding breed. All coat types shed, with smooth coats the most.
…require firm, consistent discipline. They are extremely intelligent. More often than not, they train their owners before the owner knows it.
…can be known to harass, or injure other small pets, such as cats, birds, rabbits, mice etc.
…remain active well into their 15 year-plus life span. Untrained, unsupervised dogs rarely meet their life expectancy.
…require at least basic obedience training. Even well trained dogs will be tempted to chase something. Off lead is always dangerous for a Parson Russell unless in a safe environment with experienced JR owners.
…need a securely fenced yard. Many JR's have been killed by cars when darting into the road. They can dig under, climb or jump over small fences. 
…can be destructive if left unattended and unemployed. If you've only seen perfect, well- behaved JR's, they are the ones that were lucky enough to be exercised, well socialized and trained.
…are not recommended as apartment or condo dogs. They need a great deal of exercise and outdoor activity.
…will not tolerate mistreatment from a child. They will not put up with typical child handling such as pulling ears, tails etc.
…require long term commitment to obedience, activity, and entertainment. Their unique character, intelligence and high energy level can frustrate you, but will undoubtedly entertain you. Parson Russell Terriers are always a work in progress.
*Taken in part from the JRTCA brochure.

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