I begin with the disclaimer that much of my information is gathered personally from old books and opinions from influential terrier people from both here and abroad of the mid to late 1900’s; Histories of fox terriers and some deductive reasoning on my part. The almost certain probability that the following will stir controversy illustrates the difficulty that Russell advocates have faced all along. In all of dogdom there has been little to equal the fervor and contention provoked by the proponents of small, white (with or without markings) smooth to rough coated terriers, long legs and short thrown unhappily together under the banner of Jack Russell.

England in the mid 1800’s was where almost all terrier breeds originated. While many breeds developed regionally to suit the owners needs and personal preferences, standards were being written and the British Kennel Club was to come into being. One Devonshire parson, John Russell, avid foxhunter and dog dealer served on the originating kennel club board and was influential in developing the standard for the Fox Terrier (which was his preference) This is in place, pretty much unchanged, today. During the last quarter of the nineteenth century white-bodied terriers were referred to generally as Fox Terriers and while the Famous Parson himself declined to show his dogs (and there is no real proof that he actually bred his own) there exist other references. In the 1984 reprint edition of The Illustrated Book of The Dog, originally published 1879 – 1881 (London) Author Vero Shaw talks about three original strains of the Fox Terrier being Jock, Trap and Belvoir Joe. Of interest to the short type Russell enthusiast is the Trap line as “Trap’s most noted son, Tyrant” in build was ‘ a big, little’ un’, low on leg with great substance and length in the right places”. Another “low” dog was “Sam”,’ Tyrants’ Grandson with an infusion of Jock blood.

Breeding of the White working terrier went on throughout the British Isles and many of these early dogs were merely white colored “sports” born to, but not favored by, breeders of the various other regional terrier breeds, plus some original bull dog types and assorted native dogs. Some where down the line if the dog was white, and not obviously something else, in England it was called a Jack Russell. Two distinct types of dog emerged, the longer legged modern Fox Terrier type, most notably called the Parson Russell Terrier today, in the North and the shorter Russell Terrier version being seen more in the south of England, due primarily to the difference in the terrain in which the dog worked. Things rocked on this way for nearly a century, the Kennel Club establishment ignoring them and the breeders and hunters contest to keep it that way, each enjoyed his own preference as to type, coat, etc. the short Russell type had found its way around the world by now especially in America among fox hunters and race horse owners. For years if a horse was imported from England, two or three Russell puppies came too.

In the mid 1970’s things began to heat up across the pond and here in the USA with the founding of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Great Brittan and The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. Both were difficult births. Remember; please dear reader, that both types here to fore carried the name Jack Russell. Both of these Organizations promote the “Parson” type and so are of minor concern to the “Russell” person except for the historical fact that the JRTCA adamantly opposed the shorter-legged/long body, smaller dog, reluctantly admitting them to compete in performance events but only if spayed or neutered. Our Russell’s lost a lot of good genetic material when that happened, but the JRTCA was also opposed to any all-breed registry affiliation and so isolated itself.

Globally things are hardly less confusing in 2000 the FCI recognized the Russell “(short) Terrier type as the Jack Russell Terrier, primarily due to the efforts of Australian breeders who incidentally also call the shorter version a Jack Russell; FCI subsequently recognizes the Parson Russell (taller) Terrier in 2009. The English Kennel Club recognizes the Parson Russell as the “Parson Jack Russell Terrier in 1990; Changing the name to Parson Russell Terrier in 1999 and to date has no provision for the 10 to 12 inch Russell Terrier.

The little dog “Russell” breeders soldiered on and in 2000, the Russell Terrier was admitted to the UKC. Things get sticky here because UKC recognized a “Parson” type but called it the “Jack Russell” (the same breed that AKC called the “Parson”) which, by the way, is in line with the standard for the JRTCA, Russell Terriers were also getting noticed by AKC due to the dedication of breed fanciers and UKC Russell’s are moving into the AKC/FSS stud books in preparation for reorganization. All to the good right? Not exactly...

While things in the registries were looking brighter, the scene in the public sector began to deteriorate. Movies and television catapulted the Russell/ Jack Russell/ Parson types into meteoric demand, advertising, commercials engaging small dogs with good stories drove the demand for the dogs through the roof. Back in the public eye was the “catch-all” term Jack Russell and it was a commercial puppy breeder’s dream come true. Hardy, easy whelpers were put to use everywhere and commercial “registries” flourished. The real tragedy in this is that the unsuspecting and uninformed new puppy owner got nothing like he expected, and with no back up from the unscrupulous breeders, These “generic” puppies did not grow up to be like the movie dogs. Dog Pounds, shelters and rescuers rapidly filled up and the name “Jack Russell” became a warning flag to those wanting a small companion dog. The inevitable breed “Burn Out” was underway, but the Russell Terrier breeders, having held out and bred our little ones, organized since 1995 persevered, Things for the Russell’s looked okay; we were twentieth in the numbers of registered U.K.C. breeds and were racking up Best in Shows and had good representation nation wide and yet...

In a decision that rivals that of changing the formula of Coca Cola, U.K.C. decided to change the names of their Jack Russell to “Parson Russell” and the Russell Terrier became the UKC Jack Russell in 2009. In one fell swoop all Russell Terrier education and identity was out the window. And both breeds took a giant step backward as the papers for tall dogs registered before 2009 read “Jack Russell” and little short-legged ones read Jack Russell after 2009. Now everyone has a right to feel confused. Russell breeders and exhibiters have now pretty much as a whole turned to the AKC and there have found a home, for now anyway.

The Russell breeders, owners and exhibitors are dedicated to our dogs because they are truly wonderful companions. They have drawn a lot of fire from the advocates of the other types, because they are milder, smaller and can live on the sofa – what’s wrong with that? I ask you. Spike is curled up under my elbow as I write, has been all morning, but last week killed a big wood rat at a friend’s house in Louisiana and nailed a trophy-sized mole in the front yard here. They are to me the ideal dogs. Calm and sane, self-possessed but happy, they enjoy being wherever their owners are. They want to be engaged and are charming family pets. They have endured the slights from other types as being “puddin” (meaning soft and fat) and ‘dwarfs” (do other short legged Terriers go through this?) but they remain smart loyal, and courageous. They are fun to train and easy to keep.

The standard asks that they not be overly groomed for the show ring, so they may never reach the glamorous status of other terrier breeds and their mild nature may give them less pizzazz then other terriers but this should keep them as unspoiled as possible. They are indeed “big, little’uns” who understand clearly how very good it is to be a dog.

https://www.thedogplace.org/Breeds/Russell-Terrier/What-Is-A-Russell-Terrier_Williams-126.asp

Courtesy ShowSight Magazine July 2011, ad design: Xamillion design

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