GENERAL APPEARANCE : Working dog, active and agile without exaggeration. Built for stamina and endurance, the overall image is one of balance and flexibility. Work scars are allowed.
 

Personality:  Confident, energetic and happy.
 

Energy Level : Very Active.  This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise.  
 

Good with children:  Yes.

Good with other dogs:  With supervision.

Grooming:  Seasonal.

Life Expectancy : 13-16  years old.

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Bark level:  Moderate.

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• HISTORICAL SUMMARY  

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For many years there has been great controversy in the ranks of terrier admirers over a type of terrier loosely called something like "the Jack Russell". Applications for registration have been received by “The Kennel Club” from a considerable number of admirers of a lineage of “Fox Terriers” bred by a Victorian hunting shepherd, the Reverend John Russell. Eventually, this hardy-type working terrier was recognized and given the breed name - Parson Russell Terrier.

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Country of Origin: Great Britain.

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BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT:  Originally a “terrier” bred for fox hunting work; a confident, energetic and happy dog that has the ability and structure to “go to the ground” (hunt). Brave and friendly.

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HEAD:  cuneiform format.

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• CRANIAL REGION  
   

Skull: Flat, moderately broad, gradually narrowing towards eyes. Stop: Little marked (shallow).

• FACIAL REGION

Truffle: Black.

Jaws and Teeth: Jaws strong, muscular. Good size teeth. Perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth overlapping the lower teeth and are set square to the jaws.

Cheeks: Not prominent.

Eyes:  Dark, almond-shaped, never prominent. Alive, with an intelligent expression.

Ears: In proportion to the size of the head. In “V” shape, falling forward; the tip of the ear should be at the same level as the outer corner of the eye. The fold not above the top of the skull. Moderately thick leather.

NECK: Dry, muscular, of good size, gradually widening and well set into the shoulders.

• TRUNK

Back: Strong, straight and flexible.

Loin: Strong and slightly arched.

Chest: Of moderate depth, not exceeding the point of the elbow. Capable of being wrapped behind the shoulders by medium-sized hands. Ribs carried well back, not excessively sprung or flat on the sides.

TAIL: Of moderate length, preferably straight, giving balance to the dog. Thick at the base and tapering towards the tip. Moderately high set on, carried well erect when in motion, but may be carried lower when relaxed.

• MEMBERS

FOREQUARTERS: Moderate width between the limbs, well placed below the trunk.  

Shoulders: Long and sloping, well set back, clearly marked at the withers.

Arms: Equal in length to the shoulder and at an angle such that the legs are well back under the body, below the point of the withers.

Forearm: Strong and straight, turning neither in nor out. The length of the forearms should be slightly greater than the depth of the torso.

Elbows: Close to the body, working freely on the sides.

Pasterns: Strong and flexible.

Feet: Compact, with firm pads, toes moderately arched, never flat or spread, turning neither in nor out.

HINDQUARTERS: Strong, muscular, with good angulation.

Knees: Well angulated, without exaggeration.

Legs: Well developed.

Hocks: Short.

Metatarsals: Parallel, giving a lot of propulsion.

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GAIT/MOVEMENT: Free strides; movement with good ground cover, without exaggeration. The steps must be of good reach, never forced or with high action strides of the limbs. Hindquarters providing good propulsion. Well coordinated; straight action from front and back.

SKIN: Thick and loose.

• COAT

Coat: Rough, broken or smooth, naturally hard, layered, straight, close and dense, with good undercoat. Weather resistant. Belly and underline covered with hair. The groomed (ie trimmed) coat should look natural, never clipped.

COLOR: Entirely or predominantly white with brown, lemon or black markings, or any combination of these colors. The color is preferably limited to the head and/or root of the tail, but some color on the body is acceptable.

SIZE : Males, ideal at the withers: 36 cm. Females, ideal at the withers: 33 cm.
 

• FAULTS  

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Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well being of the dog.  

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DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.

• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.

• Atypical dogs.

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