The Making of the
Parson Jack Russell Terrier

One of today's most popular dog breeds is the Parson Jack Russell Terrier (or Jack Russell Terrier) which originated with Parson Jack Russell who died in 1883 at the age of 88. Practically everyone you meet in the street has known one, seen a picture of one or even owned one at some time. Our featured book for this month tells us the whole story of its origins, its uses, its development and rapid rise in popularity.

The authors of this book, Jean and Frank Jackson, are known internationally as dog breeders of distinction and completion of this book followed the centenary of Parson Jack Russell's death and coincided with new attempts to persuade the Kennel Club to recognize the Parson Jack Russell Terrier as a separate breed. Today, the Parson Russell Terrier is a recognized breed standard.

Left: Cover design of The Making of the Parson
Jack Russell terrier.

Jack Russell was born on December 21, 1795 in Dartmouth ,a district already known for its working terriers. He inherited a love of hunting and started out with a small pack of hounds. With the co-operation of the local farmers, he set about making life more difficult for the local population of hares and foxes.

Jack Russell's first terrier was 'Trump' (below). She was purchased from a milkman during his student days in Oxford in 1815 and was the founder of his strain of Jack Russell Fox Terriers.

Left: 'Trump'.

Below right: Terrier at entrance to fox 'earth'.

By 1828, Jack Russell had freedom to hunt from the edges of Bodmin Moor to the edges of Exmoor and Dartmoor . This territory would severely test the stamina of his hounds and horses as well as Russell himself and his supporters. It also tested his terriers, specifically bred for going to ground to bolt foxes - 'terrier' comes from the latin word 'terra' meaning 'earth'. The dogs trotted behind, ran with the hounds during the day, dealt with their fox as and when necessary and then trotted home at the day's end.

To this day, the Jack Russell terrier is a sporting little dog, loving the open spaces and fields in the countryside. They love to dig and a open hole in the ground is an invitation to add a few more! They make equally charming house pets being loving, devoted & happy little bundles of fun.

This is a very brief overview of The Making of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier. This fascinating and informative book also contains a section on the diseases of probable hereditary origin which have been found in Parson Jack Russell Terriers and also relevant pedigrees.

Left: Jack Russell puppies.

Contributed by Sonia Bryant

Information taken from The Making of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier by Jean & Frank Jackson, All About the Jack Russell Terrier by Mona Huxham. Photos also taken from Jack Russell Terriers by Anna Katherine Nicholas (TFH publication). All three books on sale at time of writing.

To view our stock of Jack Russell Terrier books, please click here.

To see our stock of books about other breeds of Terrier, please click here.