The Russell Terrier breed is based on four essential elements.

       1. Country of origin

      2.  Country of development

      3.  History of the breed  

      4.  Purpose for which the breed originated

Without the four points mentioned above we would not be here today talking about the Russell Terrier as a legitimate breed recognized by any Kennel Club.

The Russell Terrier worked along side his human counterpart to eradicate vermin above and below ground. In the country of origin since the 1800's terriermen bred only the best workers to produce a superior hunting terrier. The Reverend John Russell was noted far and wide for his hunting fox working terriers and their abilities to hunt. The Reverend's fox working terriers evolved into two different breeds.  The first went to bench as the Kennel Club Fox Terrier. The other remained a working breed and evolved into the working Jack Russell Terrier.  The Reverend's type of fox working terriers never bred for bench later evolved into the Parson Russell Terrier and the Russell Terrier or Australian/FCI  Jack Russell Terrier as two distinct breeds due the difference in height and body proportions universally.  The Jack Russell Terrier was bred for work and crossed only on other strong working terrier types regardless of background. This contributed to a wide diverse background in blood and type. Still today their are many variances still seen within this old working terrier.  However, Kennel Club recognition has clearly defined the Parson Russell Terrier and the Russell Terrier. The Parson and the Russells are forever linked to the Reverend John Russell's fox working terriers sharing their insatiable instinct to hunt below and above ground as superior working terriers. The size of the quarry and terrain among other things determined the proportions and size of the terriers used. One unique characteristic equally considered paramount in the two breeds is the size, shape, depth, and flexibility of the chest. This single attribute separates it from all other terrier breeds and allows the terriers to work efficiently underground.  The chest is considered the stamp of the breed

The standard for the Russell Terrier clearly defines the history, purpose, and the characteristics needed for a working earth terrier. The purist form of the breed exhibits the characteristics well defined in the standard in appearance, structure, and the true terrier spirit. Not only must they have working terrier attributes, but they must possess the will to employ the purpose for which they were bred  in the truest sense of intrepretation.  Now in all of this, if breeders forsake history, purpose, and the physical characteristics  for the breed defined in the standard they have forsaken the Russell Terrier.  If the breeders don't breed to the standard and the judges don't judge to the standard only a mere imitation of the breed will evolve. That is a big responsibility for the breeders and the judges not to be taken lightly. It is not an art form subject to free expression of what an individual perceives it to be. The standard is a well defined blueprint of what a Russell Terrier is and should be.

The old traditional Jack Russell Terrier "JRT" or Russell Terrier in the US was first developed  in Australia. They have kept separate Stud books on the 10" to 12" JRT since 1962 with meticulous records. Their stock originated from the country of origin, England and was recognized by the the Australian National Kennel Council in 1991 as an official breed. The FCI countries followed Australia in recognizing the JRT as a separate breed from the Parson Russell Terrier. The old traditional Jack Russell Terrier stock in the US is the original stock from the American Russell Terrier Club that entered the UKC Russell Terrier as Foundation Stock for the breed. All of the stock from the ARTC was designated FS for the breed Russell Terrier and the only Russells to date who carry the FS prefix. Since 1995 the ARTC has maintained their stock as a separate breed from the Parsons.  The "ARTC" utilized imported working stock from some of the oldest working hunts in England such as the Beaufort Hunt which correlates with the history from the country of development for the breed.  The American Russell Terrier Club library is a resource maintained by the club to preserve the history of the Russell Terrier in the US and its evolution.  In 2001 the members of the ARTC began importing stock registered by the Australian National Kennel Council and FCI registered JRT's from Belgium, and the Netherlands to maintain their stock in the purist original form to go forward as the Russell Terrier.  In 2004 the American Kennel Club  accepted the American Russell Terrier Club stock as the AKC FSS Russell Terrier utilizing the Australian/FCI standard for the Jack Russell Terrier.