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Jack Russell Terrier Facts & Worksheets

Lovable and energetic, Jack Russell terriers are small fox hunting dogs that originated in England, known for their spirited and clever temperament.

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Lovable and energetic, Jack Russell terriers are small fox hunting dogs that originated in England, known for their spirited and clever temperament. Little dogs with a big attitude, Jack Russells are also tenacious and stubborn breeds that can be a handful to train.

See the fact file below for more information on the Jack Russell terriers or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Jack Russell Terrier worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • Jack Russells are a type of working terriers; they are not solely bred in the sense of having an extensive genetic makeup or breed standard.
  • Since the start of the 1800s, they were bred rigidly for hunting, and thus, preserving their strain as a working breed ever since.
  • They got their name from the Reverend John Russell who developed one of the outstanding strains of terriers for hunting foxes in Devonshire, England during the latter parts of 1800.
  • Rev. Russell, aside from his church commitments, was an enthusiast in fox hunting, which led to his breeding of fox hunting dogs. Trump was his first terrier, and was said to be the foundation of John Russell’s type of working terriers.
  • Their minds are set and geared towards fox hunting, including coloring, conformation, personality, and intelligence. Their bodies are compact and well-proportioned, with small chests, clean shoulders, straight and sturdy legs. They are also completely flexible, letting them squeeze their bodies underground and in narrow paths.
  • Although they were initially bred for fox hunting, Jack Russells are skillful working dogs to a number of quarry, including red and grey fox, raccoon, and woodchuck.
  • During the late 1800s, fox terriers were acknowledged as a kennel club breed, and have undergone a lot of conformational changes brought about by the sudden ideas of some breeders, resulting in the modern fox terrier.
  • These changes include deep chests, long and narrow head structures, and totally straight shoulders, making it difficult for these modern-day fox terriers to follow a fox underground.
  • Rev. Russell kept his strain of fox terriers bred exclusively for working, and the modern Jack Terriers resemble the pre-1900 fox terriers. In 1873, Rev. Russell was among the original founders of England’s Kennel Club. A year later, he assessed fox terriers in the first Kennel Club sanctioned show in London.
  • Jack Russells have survived and thrived the changes that have happened in the modern-day fox terrier since they have been preserved by working terrier enthusiasts in England for over a hundred years.
  • These dogs turned out to be a favorite of most sportsmen, especially those who hunted on horseback.
  • By the 1930s, Jack Russells rose to popularity in the United States, and several breed clubs questioned and had different opinions about the dog’s features, working abilities, and whether they should join dog shows or remain a working canine.
  • The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America maintains an autonomous registry and believes they are solely a hunting dog. The Jack Russell Terrier Association of America (JRTCA), on the other hand, sought and was granted recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2000. The name of the AKC-recognized Jack Russells was changed to Parson Russell Terrier, with the Jack Russell Terrier Breeders Association rebranded as the Parson Russell Terrier Association of America.
  • The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) and the New Zealand Kennel Club (NZCK) are some of the associations that acknowledge both the Jack Russell terrier and the Parson Russell terrier.
  • In the United States, Jack Russells have been known as the
    Parson Russell terriers since the 1990s.

APPEARANCE

  • Jacks have diverse sizes; different strains were used for a variety of purposes and terrain. They range from 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder, and weigh around 13 to 17 pounds.
  • Those who stand 10 to 12 inches and are longer than they are tall are classified as Shorty Jacks, which display similarities to Corgis or Dachshunds. Those Jacks that are taller and look more balanced are the AKC-registered Parson Russell Terriers.
  • They predominantly have white coats (at least 51%) with black and/or brown and/or tan colorations. Common coat colors include (1) tricolor, (2) tan and white, (3) black and white, (4) sable tan and white, (5) lemon tan and white, (6) red tan and white, (7) sable tan, black and white tricolor, (8) lemon tan, black and white tricolor, and (9) red tan, black and white tricolor.
  • No two Jacks look exactly alike. Some of their common markings include: (1) a patch eye with tan or black marking on one eye, (2) a patch ear with a colored ear but white face, (3) a mask where the head is either tan or black, but with a white stripe found in the middle of the face, and (4) saddle patches where the Jack’s white body has colored markings around the back and sides.
  • Jacks can either have smooth, rough, or broken coats. Those with smooth coats do not have trace hair on the head, face, legs or body.
  • They have very short smooth fur that lies in only one direction; thus, making them more prone to feeling the cold during winter. Rough-coated Jacks have relatively long fur, which may appear wiry and rough in texture and may grow up to a couple of inches long in different directions. Broken coated Jacks, on the other hand, have coats which are a combination of both.

PERSONALITY

  • Jacks tend to be aggressive towards other dogs, especially those of the same sex. Their hunting history strongly influenced how determined they are to pursue a prey. When brought outside, they are prone to chase anything that moves. This behavior can be improved if owners expose their Jacks to early socialization.
  • Just like any other dog, they are very energetic, loyal, and affectionate dogs. Their high energy and drive makes them ideal for different dog sports, like flyball or agility. They can be great companions for kids, but require close supervision, as the breed may not allow any disrespect, annoyance, or pain; this behavior may lead to biting and yapping.
  • Jacks are known to be very intelligent breeds; owners need to have strong leadership skills to train their dogs to avoid behavioral problems in the future. These dogs need to see their owners as a determined disciplinarian and pack leader.
  • They tend to display what is commonly known as ‘small dog syndrome,’ a behavioral problem where the Jack thinks he is at the top of the pecking order.

HEALTH

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Diseases. This is a deformation of the ball of the hip joint, caused by wearing and arthritis.
  • Deafness. Most white coat color dogs are prone to this condition, and Jacks plagued with deafness can be detected from as early as four weeks old.
  • Patellar Luxation. Also referred to as “slipped stifles,” this condition is commonly found in small dogs, caused when the thigh bone, knee cap, and calf are not properly lined up; thus, causing lameness or an abnormal gait.
  • Glaucoma. A painful condition where the pressure is irregularly high in the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve, and leading to vision loss and blindness.
  • Lens Luxation. An eye condition which causes the lens to become displaced when the ligament attached to it weakens.

WELL-KNOWN JACK RUSSELL TERRIERS

  • Bothy was a Jack Russell who became part of the Transglobe Expedition in 1892. Owned by Ranulph and Ginny Fiennes, Bothy was the first dog to travel the north and south poles.
  • On April 29, 2007, a Jack Russell named George rescued five kids at a carnival in New Zealand from an attack by two pit bulls. He was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal two years later, and also has a statue built in Manaia, New Zealand, in memory of him.
  • The 1994 film The Mask featured a Jack Russell named Max, who played the role of Milo. Max also starred as the female dog Audrey in the 2000 film Mr. Accident.
  • The 2009 film Hotel for Dogs highlighted a Jack Russell named Cosmo, who played as Friday.

Jack Russell Terrier Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Jack Russell Terrier across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Jack Russell Terrier worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Jack Russell terriers which are small fox hunting dogs that originated in England, known for their spirited and clever temperament. Little dogs with a big attitude, Jack Russells are also tenacious and stubborn breeds that can be a handful to train.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Jack Russell Terrier Facts
  • Meet Jack
  • Breed Standards
  • Fetch Some Facts
  • Growing Up a Jack
  • Jack FAQs
  • Taking Care of Jack
  • Pros and Cons of Jack
  • Two Russell Terriers
  • Other Working Dogs
  • Secret Life of Pets

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Link will appear as Jack Russell Terrier Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 4, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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