ORIGIN :
Great Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 04.06.2001.
UTILIZATION :
Robust, tenacious working terrier, with special ability to go to ground.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 3 Terriers.
Section 1 Large and medium
sized Terriers.
With working trial.
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 wirehaired
bitch with head markings which closely resembled 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 later on.
He also attempted to cross the breed with other breeds but the progeny
did not correspond to the ancestral type. These endeavours were disappointing
and were abandoned.
From
the end of the Second World War, this breed has enjoyed increasing popularity
on the European continent, particularly with hunters and horsemen. On 22nd January, 1990, The Kennel Club (Great
Britain) recognized the breed and published an Official Interim Standard under
the name of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier.
The F.C.I. in its turn accepted to add this breed to its provisional
list on July 2nd 1990.
The
current name of Parson Russell Terrier was given in 1999 by the (British)
Kennel Club. The breed was definitely
recognized by the F.C.I. on June 4th 2001.
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.
BEHAVIOUR / 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 of 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 withers 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 : Length complimenting the body while
providing a good handhold. Strong,
straight, moderately high set, carried well up on the move. Customarily docked.
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 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
loose.
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 : Dogs ideal height at withers 36
cm (14 ins).
Bitches ideal height at withers 33 cm (13 ins).
2 cm 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.
N.B. : Male animals
should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.