Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russell Terrier dog

Energetic British terrier developed for fox hunting with remarkable drive and stamina.

Size Weight Height Lifespan
Small 9 - 15 lbs 10 - 12 inches 12 - 14 years
(These are estimates and may vary.)

Origin: United Kingdom



Own a Jack Russell Terrier? Share what activities they enjoy to help other dog owners.

Running Digging Swimming Exploring Playing with Toys Obedience Training Tracking Herding Fetch Hiking Socializing Tug Of War Frisbee Chewing Agility Training Cuddling Guarding Hunting

Know a Jack Russell Terrier? Share their personality traits to help other dog owners.

Clever Protective Affectionate Stubborn Confident Fearless Friendly Docile Energetic Calm Patient Aggressive Gentle Sociable Adaptable Playful Independent Clever Agile Loyal

May be a good fit if you:

  • Want a dog that generally gets along well with other dogs.
  • Are a first-time dog owner looking for a relatively approachable breed.

Things to consider:

  • Regular shedding means you may need to be comfortable with loose hair around the home.
  • This breed may be less suited to smaller living spaces.

The Jack Russell Terrier traces its development to the Reverend John Russell, an English clergyman and enthusiastic fox hunter born in 1795. Russell wanted terriers capable of accompanying mounted hunts and entering fox dens to bolt the quarry without simply killing it underground. One of his early dogs, a white terrier named Trump, became associated with the foundation of his working strain. Russell selected primarily for hunting ability, stamina, courage, and a body flexible enough for earthwork rather than for a uniform show appearance. After his death, similar working fox terriers continued to be called Jack Russells, producing considerable variation in height and type. This eventually contributed to complicated breed naming. The longer-legged Parson Russell Terrier became standardized by major kennel clubs, while the shorter Jack Russell remained strongly associated with working-terrier registries for many years. The American Kennel Club recognizes the Russell Terrier as a related standardized breed, while other organizations use different classifications. Traditional Jack Russell enthusiasts have often emphasized working ability over conformation showing. That heritage explains the breed's enormous energy, prey drive, digging instinct, and confidence. Despite its small size, the Jack Russell was designed to keep pace with a hunt and confront quarry underground, making it a genuine high-drive working terrier.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier is not generally considered hypoallergenic. Individual allergy reactions can vary.

The Jack Russell Terrier tends to shed regularly, so loose hair and routine coat care should be expected.

The Jack Russell Terrier generally has relatively manageable grooming needs.

The Jack Russell Terrier is generally a high-energy breed that tends to enjoy an active routine.

The Jack Russell Terrier tends to need plenty of regular physical activity and mental stimulation.

The Jack Russell Terrier has moderate trainability and generally benefits from patient, consistent training.

The Jack Russell Terrier may do well with children with appropriate socialization and supervision.

The Jack Russell Terrier generally tends to get along well with other dogs when properly socialized.

The Jack Russell Terrier is generally considered relatively approachable for first-time dog owners.

The Jack Russell Terrier may be less suited to apartment living and may benefit from more space.