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Description
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Jack Russell
terriers descend in most part from a dog named Trump, which was obtained by
the Parson John Russell of Devonshire, England, in the mid-1800s. John Russell
was a fox-hunting enthusiast, and he sought to develop a line of terriers
that could keep up with the horses and bolt and dispatch fox. His line was so
successful that it eventually carried his name: Jack Russell terrier.
Although John Russell eventually became extremely active in the English
Kennel Club, for some reason he declined to show his own breed in
conformation shows. Jack Russell terrier aficionados followed his example,
proving their dogs' mettle in the field rather than the show ring. This
tradition holds true even today, although some JRTs have now entered the show
ring. After heated debates in which most JRT fanciers objected to AKC
recognition, the breed was nonetheless admitted into the miscellaneous class
in 1998. In England, it was admitted into conformation
classes as the Parson Jack Russell terrier in 1991. Jack Russells have long
been popular with horse owners and are frequently seen around stables, but
the type of terrier more often seen there has short legs and a long body. The
term Parson was added to distinguish the traditional long-legged JRT. In the
1990s, the JRT became a popular media dog, and its exposure caused great
interest in the breed from pet owners. As a result, its numbers are growing
at an alarming rate. As irresistibly cute as this irascible scamp may be, it
is definitely not a breed for everyone.
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