FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE

PARSON JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

July 2001

Origin: Great-Britain PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD: july 2001

F.C.I.’s CLASSIFICATION: Group III (Terriers); Section 1 (large and medium sized Terriers); Subject to a working trial

FCI-Standard No 339 of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:

The promoter of this breed the Reverend John (Jack) Russell was born in 1795 in Dartmouth, Devon. He became a Clergyman and for most of his life served in the parish of Swimbridge, Devon. An experienced horseman and great huntsman he became passionately involved in the breeding and selection of terriers. In 1873 The Kennel Club was founded and he became one of its early members. He died in 1883 at the great age of 87. It was while studying at Oxford that he bought his first terrier, a white wire-haired bitch with head markings which closely resemble the standard of today. Jack Russell undertook a number of crosses between different working terriers, self coloured and parti-coloured types. His intention was always to improve the aptitude for hunting without too much regard for a uniform type. This tradition, crossing with other breeds of terriers continued until later times. He also attempted to cross the breed with other breeds of dog but the progeny did not correspond to the ancestral type of Jack Russell, these endeavours were disappointing and were abandoned.

From the end of the Second World War, this breed enjoyed increasing popularity on the European continent, particularly with hunters and horsemen. On 22nd January 1990, The Kennel Club (Great Britain) recognised the breed and published an Official Interim Standard under the name of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier. The FCI in its turn accepted this breed to its provisional list on 2nd July, 1990.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: workmanlike, active and agile; built for speed and endurance. Overall picture of balance and flexibility. Honourable scars permissible

IMPORTANT PORPORTIONS : Well balanced. Overall length of body slightly longer than height from withers to ground. Length from nose to stop slightly shorter than from stop to occiput.

 

BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Essentially a working terrier with ability and conformation to go to ground and run with hounds. Bold and friendly.

HEAD:

CRANIAL REGION:

SKULL : flat, moderately broad, gradually narrowing to the eyes.

STOP : Shallow

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black

JAWS/TEETH: jaws strong, muscular. Teeth with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

EYES: almond shaped, fairly deep-set, dark, keen expression.

EARS: small, V-shaped, dropping forward, carried close to head, tip of ear to reach corner eye, fold not to appear above top of skull. Leather of moderate thickness.

 

NECK: clean, muscular, of good length, gradually widening to shoulders.

 

BODY: Well balanced. Overall length slightly longer than height from wither to ground.

BACK : Strong and straight

LOIN : Slightly arched

 

CHEST : of moderate depth, not to come below point of elbow, capable of being spanned behind the shoulders by average size hands. Ribs not over-sprung

TAIL: strong, straight, moderately high set, carried well up on the move. Customarily docked with length complimenting the body while prividing a good handhold.

Undocked: Of moderate length and as straight as possible, giving a general balance to the dog, thick at the root and tapering towards the end. Moderately high set, carried well up on the move.

 

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS: Strong, must be straight with joints turning neither in nor out.

SHOULDERS : Long and sloping, well laid back, cleanly cut at withers.

ELBOWS : Close to the body, working free of the sides.

HINDQUARTERS: strong, muscular with good angulation.

STIFLE: Good bend of stifle.

HOCKS : Set low

REAR PASTERNS : parallel, giving plenty of drive.

FEET: compact with firm pads, turning neither in nor out.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Free-striding, well co-ordinated, straight action front and behind.

SKIN : Must be thick and loo

 

COAT:

HAIR : naturally harsh, close and dense, whether rough or smooth. Belly and undersides coated.

COLOUR: entirely white or predominantly white with tan, lemon or black markings, or any combination of these colours, preferably confined to head and/or root of tail.

SIZE: for dogs ideal size at withers 36 cm (14 inches)

for bitches ideal size at withers 33 cm (13 inches)

2.5 cms (1 inch) above or below is acceptable.

 

FAULTS: any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE: male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.