JoAnn Stoll

Elk Creek Russell Terriers

President and Founder of the American Russell Terrier Club est. 1995

My association with the Russell Terrier began in the 1985 when I acquired Trailswood Woodchuck "Woody". I had been very active with the American Quarter Horse breeding, training, and showing for many years which required traveling many weekends. I had always shared my life with large dogs which were less than ideal for traveling companions. I was instantly enamoured with these small terriers and their unique characteristics. Through my study and research of the working terriers of England at the time it became obvious the Russell Terrier was being passed by in liew of the more elegant Parson Russell Terrier type in the US during the eighties. I met Thaddius Ryan, owner of the Skartein Hunt in England, on one of his trips to the US in the early ninety's. He insisted on interrupting his tour of the Spring Creek Equestrian Center to see my Russells. He fell in love with Woody at first sight and wanted to take him back to New Zealand. He told me he was exactly like the small terriers he used and bred for Fox Hunting in England being almost impossible to find anywhere anymore. It was after my visit with Thaddy I realized a formal breed registry must be established if this old working breed was to be preserved.

In 1995 I established the American Russell Terrier Club, Inc., "ARTC, Inc.". It was particularly difficult to organize fanciers in the early days because we were not connected via the internet. I have served the breed as President for the past seventeen years and have worked actively with club members to usher the breed into UKC and AKC. Our club was very proactive in organizing and hosting working terrier trials including earth dog, racing, lure coursing and conformation through the years. Prior to ARTC, Inc. I attended JRTCA and AWTA working terrier trials with my Russells participating in earth dog, racing, and natural hunting from 1985 to 1994. I have been involved in the sport of purebred dogs since 2002 the first year our breed was allowed to show in UKC and AKC since 2004. I have written many articles on the breed over the years. Currently I am working on a book for the Russell.  Visit www.elkcreekrussells.com email: joannartc@yahoo.com or call 859-255-0678