Russell Terrier

The Russell Terrier is a dwarfed variant of the Parson Russell Terrier. It originates with the Parson Russell in England, and was developed in Australia, when the recessive chondrodysplastic gene was exploited to result in a longer back and shorter legs. The Russell Terrier is considered to be amongst the best of burrow hunters; even today it is bred by breed fanciers to be a hunting and working dog, not a house pet. It is sometimes called the F.C.I. Jack Russell Terrier (Federation Cynologique Internationale). This type of terrier was developed in the early 19th century to flush the red fox out of its den during the hunt. It was bred specifically to follow along with the hunt behind the Fox Hounds, whose job it was to pick up a scent and track the fox. The little white Parson Russell Terriers then went into the den to flush or "bolt"� the quarry so that the hunt could continue. These dogs were not expected to ever kill a fox and thus end the day's sport, but to flush it without harming it. The Russell Terrier of today exhibits many of the same traits. It is intelligent, eager, and energetic. It is a small dog, standing an average 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder. It is very sturdy and of medium bone. Its back is significantly longer than its height, and the legs are short, of thicker bone and sturdy. Its coat, which may be either smooth, broken or rough, is double and coarse. It is white or grizzle, with areas of tan and/or black. The eyes are bright, dark and almond-shaped, and the nose is always black. Ears are of medium length and droop. The Reverend John Russell was an Englishman of noble birth who gained considerable fame in his own time as a huntsman. Born in the southern English county of Devonshire in 1795, "Parson"� Jack was reared in a fox-hunting family and grew accomplished in the sport. He took the habit of training many small white fox terriers during the hunt for bolting the fox. Over time, he worked to breed the perfect fox hunting terrier, possessing the precise conformation to go speedily underground after the fox, the temperament to do the job with enthusiasm and fearlessness, the endurance to chase all day long, a coat to deflect wet weather, and the color to make it easily to spot in the excitement of the hunt. In 1819 he acquired a terrier called "Trump"� who fit the bill and became the ancestor for his signature terrier type, which during his lifetime became known as the Parson Russell Terrier. After Russell's death in 1883, fanciers of the Parson Russell Terriers began to experiment further with their breeding. Some lines were crossed with Corgis and other terrier breeds, resulting in working terriers that, while able to perform well in the hunt, sometimes bore little physical resemblance to the dog envisioned and so carefully developed by their namesake. The Russell Terrier is not a dog for the faint of heart. It is the most energetic of terriers a tiny fireball of energy that must be expended with the help of a patient and creative owner. Its quick little mind works as fast as its body, and must be given something to chew on. The Russell Terrier individual may not do well in an apartment. This breed will need daily walks or other vigorous workout. A fenced back yard must be very secure: the Russell will dig under the fence. The coat of the Russell requires little care. This dog, when it has a smooth coat, is a moderate shedder; the dog in a broken or coarse coat is a minimal shedder. It will rarely need bathing, since its coat sheds dirt and water easily. A strong terrier brush should be used a few times a week to pull out dead hair and keep shedding in the house to a minimum. The Russell Terrier lives an average of 14 to 21 years. It shows many of the inheritable disorders typical to terriers, and the prospective owner should always check with the breeder to determine what genetic testing has been done. Common disorders include: eye diseases such as cataracts and lens luxation; nervous disorders such as cerebellar ataxia and epilepsy; Legg-Perthes disease and von Willebrand's disease; patellar luxation and arthritis. This breed should be carefully monitored for obesity; too much weight will put undue stress on leg joints and spine and can result in life-threatening situations. This breed is very intelligent and needs to learn regularly to remain content and balanced in temperament. The owner is advised to engage the dog in obedience training early to establish good manners and establish control as a handler. The Russell Terrier is strong-willed and bold, and can be susceptible to Small Dog Syndrome without proper training, in which the dog develops behavioral problems due to the owner's failure to enforce consistent boundaries as a leader. Training for the young Russell Terrier should involve frequent and consistent socialization through exposing the dog to many different people of many ages, and to other dogs, to create early good experiences that will help the individual develop into a friendly dog. The Russell Terrier is not recommended for households with cats, as some individuals can be quite aggressive with felines. In the event that there is a household cat in residence, owners should take care to never leave the two alone together without supervision. The Russell can be very good with household children with which it is brought up, but very small children may try its patience too much. The Russell Terrier excels in agility, flyball, earthdog, obedience, and any other rough and tumble activity the owner can find.

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