ORIGIN: GREAT BRITAIN
COUNTRY OF DEVELOPMENT: AUSTRALIA
GENERAL APPEARANCE
A strong, active, lithe working Terrier of great character with flexible body of medium length. His smart movement matches his keen expression. Tail docking is optional and the coat may be smooth, rough or broken.
CHARACTERISTICS
A lively, alert and active Terrier with a keen, intelligent expression.
TEMPERAMENT
Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident.
HEAD AND SKULL
The skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually decreasing in width to the eyes and tapering to a wide muzzle with very strong jaws. There should be a well-defined stop but not over pronounced. The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter than from the stop to the occiput with the cheek muscles well developed. The nose should be black.
MOUTH
Deep wide and powerful jaws with tight-fitting pigmented lips and strong teeth closing to a scissor bite.
EYES
Small dark and with keen expression. Must not be prominent and eyelids should fit closely. The eyelid rims should be pigmented black. Almond shape.
EARS
Button or dropped of good texture and great mobility.
NECK
Strong and clean allowing head to be carried with poise.
BODY
Chest deep rather than wide, with good clearance and the brisket located at the height mid-way between the ground and the withers. The body should be proportioned marginally longer than tall, measuring slightly longer from the withers to the root of the tail than from the withers to the ground. Back level. Ribs should be well sprung from the spine, flattening on the side so that the girth behind the elbows can be spanned by two hands about 40 centimetres to 43 centimetres. The loins should be short, strong and deeply muscled.
TAIL
May droop at rest. When moving should be erect and if docked the tip should be on the same level as ears.
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders well sloped back and not heavily loaded with muscle. Forelegs straight in bone from the shoulder to the toes whether viewed from the front or the side and with sufficient length of upper arm to ensure elbows are set under the body with sternum clearly in front of shoulder blades.
HINDQUARTERS
Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder, hind legs parallel when viewed from behind while in freestanding position. Stifles well angulated and hocks low set.
FEET
Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, tuned neither in or out.
GAIT/MOVEMENT
True, free and springy.
COAT
May be smooth, broken or rough. Must be weatherproof, preferably unaltered.
COLOUR
White MUST predominate with black, tan or brown markings.
SIZE
Ideal is 25 centimetre (10 ins) to 30 centimetre (12 ins) in height with the weight in kg being equivalent of 1 kg to each 5 centimetre in height, i.e. a 25 cm high dog should weight approximately 5 kg and a 30 cm high dog should weight 6 kg.
FAULTS
Any departure from 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. However, the following weaknesses should be particularly penalized:
- a.Lack of true Terrier characteristics.
- b.Lack of balance, i.e. over exaggeration of any points.
- c.Sluggish or unsound movement.
- d.Faulty mouth.
NOTE
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
NOTE
On January the first 1991 Australia recognised the Jack Russell Terrier as an official breed. Since then 5 other countries have also officially recognised the Jack Russell Terrier. On august the first 1999 the Netherlands recognised the Jack Russell Terrier as an official breed. This official recognition has not yet been adopted by the F.C.I.