Educational Information

Over the last several years the general public, as well as the members of the canine sporting community have been totally confused and perplexed with the multitude of names and name changes, all referring to the same breed of dog. Compounding the difficulty has been the recognition of the new Russell Terrier in both of the major American registries, the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club. This section of the web site lists the key registering bodies for the American Parson/Jack Russell Terrier and the Russell Terrier, as well as the respective breed standards for each. The brief explanation of the different breeds plus a listing of the respective breed standards, hopefully clarifies some of the confusion involved in an attempt to assist interested parties with understanding the differences in the names and the breeds of these two terriers.

The AKC Parson Russell Terrier, the UKC Jack Russell Terrier and the JRTCA Jack Russell Terrier are essentially the same breed but have slight variations within their respective standards. The primary differences are those of size ranges. The Russell Terrier, recognized by the United Kennel Club in the year 2000, is now entering into the AKC recognition process. Both the AKC and UKC registries have opted to use the world wide FCI Breed Standard as the standard of the breed within their respective registries. Please note that enthusiasts of the Russell Terrier have worked diligently to eliminate any infusion of Parson /Jack Russell Blood within their lines.

In the interest of further education, the BGPRTC has added the following link the UKC Earthworking Guide.  This presentation gives the basics involving traditional earthwork for both of these marvelous terrier breeds.  Perspective into the conformation required by both terriers in order to accomplish their utilitarian duties can be gleaned by studing the material.

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The AKC Parson Russell Terrier   

In the 1990's a group calling themselves the Breeders Association, formed within  the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA), an independent registry for the Jack Russell Terrier. Over time members of the Breeders Association (BA) became disgruntled with the politics and restrictions of the JRTCA registry, and became themselves another independent Registry for their style of Jack Russell Terrier. Over time it became apparent that the new BA group could not survive as an organization, so the American Kennel Club was petitioned to accept the Jack Russell Terrier as a new registrable breed.

In 2000 this quest was accomplished and the newly recognize Jack Russell Terrier began AKC Group competition. Prior to full admission into the world of dog show competition, however, it was soon discovered that many newly imported Jack Russell Terriers did not meet the AKC breed standard. Around that same time the "Mother Club", The Kennel Club of England, approved a name change for their own registered Jack Russell Terriers to that of Parson Russell Terrier. This move was to define the breed as the Parson Type, the long legged square style of the Terrier, making the breed distinctly separate from the shorter more rectangular bodied type of dog. Registries around the world had always recognized the Jack Russell Terrier as the "longer and lower" style of dog and the longer legged version was known worldwide as the Parson "Type" Russell Terrier. The AKC Breed Club followed suit and with approval from the AKC renamed its terrier the Parson Russell Terrier.

The AKC Breed Standard recognizes the long legged square body type or proportion measuring between 12"-15". It requires a three generation numbered pedigree certified by an acceptable foreign or domestic registry. The AKC is a closed registry, meaning that it registers dogs on lineage rather the type.

Click here to view the AKC Parson Russell Terrier Breed Standard.

Click here to view the AKC Parson Russell Terrier Amplified Guide for Judges and Breeders

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The UKC Parson Russell Terrier

The United Kennel Club recognized the Jack Russell Terrier as a breed in 1991. The UKC breed standard also defines the breed as a square body type or proportion, or the Parson Type. The UKC breed standard is is similar to that of the AKC, but allows for two height varieties, dogs measuring from 10"-12.5" and from 12.5"-15".  UKC has kept the name as The Jack Russell Terrier.  Many AKC registered Parsons Russell Terriers are also UKC registered Jack Russell Terriers and compete in both conformation and performance events within each respective venue.

The UKC is still considered an open registry as it qualifies registration more on type than on on lineage.. Should a dog apply for registration the pedigree is considered as apart of the registration process but no certification is required. Some breeds are required to furnish photographs with the application. Should the individual look more like a Russell Terrier it is added to that breed's database. Should it present a Jack Russell Terrier it is added to that database, regardless of what the pedigree may indicate.

Click here to view the UKC Parson Russell Terrier Breed Standard

Click here to view the UKC Parson Russell Terrier Amplified Guide for Judges and Breeders

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The AKC Russell Terrier

Historically, although breed from similar bloodlines of the Parson type, in the 1800s, enthusiasts infused very dissimilar strains of blood to develop a smaller version of fox working terrier that could be more easily transported in terrier bags and work in smaller earthen dens in more rugged terrain. Australia has been designated the country of development for this breed and the AKC breed standard reflects this influence.

Since 1995, The American Russell Terrier Club, Inc. has served the breed as the premier domestic registry for the purebred Russell Terrier. The ARTC ushered the Russell Terrier breed to AKC recognition in 2005 and in 2007 has been appointed the AKC Parent Club for the breed.. The American proponents of this newly recognized AKC breed have worked tirelessly to solidify the consistency of domestic breed type while eliminating any influence of the Parson/Jack Russell blood within their breeding lines. By selectively breeding the domestic foundation stock of the shorter legged and longer body type to quality purebred imports of the same breed, the members of the ARTC have effectively and very specifically eliminated "Parson or domestic Jack Russell" blood. The ARTC registry has solidified the purity of the American Russell Terrier.

The purebred Kennel Club registered Russell Terrier is not to be confused with the traditionally named Puddlin Dogs found in the English or Irish country sides. The traditional Puddlin Dog has benched legs and an extremely elongated body, with a pointed rounded head. The Puddlin is generally not noted for pleasant disposition nor has it been been bred for hunting or any utilitarian purpose.

Click here to view the AKC Russell Terrier Breed Standard

Click here to view the AKC Russell Terrier Amplified Breed Standard produced by the ARTC, Copyright 2007

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The JRTCA Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA), founded in 1976, is an independent,private and open registry of Jack Russell Terriers whose tenants are opposed to Kennel Club registration of the breed. Interestingly enough, most of the domestic breeding stock for the AKC Parson Russell Terriers and UKC Jack Russell Terriers are and were bred from individuals whose primary registry was originally the JRTCA. The respective Kennel Club breed standards are simply variations of the JRTCA breed standard. The UKC breed standard is the most similar to the JRTCA breed standard.

The JRTCA is an open registry, meaning that any Jack Russell looking dog applying for registration which meets the JRTCA registration requirements is either registered or recorded on its merit.  The JRTCA "registers" a dog, which closely meets the breed standard on looks (type) rather than a line of pure blood. It will register a dog whose parentage is of several different breeds of dogs, even as close as the parents. In other words should a mating between a Jack Russell and a Border Terrier occur, any puppies from that litter which look like a Jack Russell can be fully registered. The dog still must pass a vet check, have a pedigree, however the individual dog does not need to prove registration in any other Registry.

For many years the JRTCA has "recorded" dogs that do not meet all of its registration requirements, either failure to meet minimum vet certifications, absence of a pedigree or failure to meet the look dictated by the breed standard. In years past the JRTCA did fully register the longer bodied, shorted legged "Puddlin" type. But since the mid to late 80s, efforts were made to eliminate this style of dog as breeding stock and subsequent Puddlin types were merely recorded. In the JRTCA "recording" a dog means that the dog is restricted from all conformation classes intended for breeding stock but is allowed to participate in all performance events.

Click here to view the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America Breed Standard