Terrier (from Latin terra , 'earth') is a type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin . A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type , which are typically small, wiry, game , and fearless. There are five different groups of terrier, with each group having different shapes and sizes.
30-698: The Parson Russell Terrier is a breed of small white terrier that was the original Fox Terrier of the 18th century. The breed is named after the Reverend Jack Russell , credited with the creation of this type of dog. It is the recognised conformation show variety of the Jack Russell Terrier and was first recognised in 1990 in the United Kingdom as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier . In America, it
60-483: A Parson are deafness and patella luxation . An inherited form of ataxia has been recognised within the group of Russell terriers (Jack Russell Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, and Russell Terrier) for more than 50 years. Myokymia and seizures are often seen alongside the condition. A 2014 study identified the KCNJ10 gene as being responsible for the spinocerebellar ataxia accompanied by myokymia and/or seizures in
90-496: A range of breed-related health issues, mainly relating to eye disorders. This type of small white terrier dates back to the work of the Reverend John Russell, born in 1795. In 1819 he purchased a small white and tan terrier bitch named Trump from a milkman in the hamlet of Elmsford. She formed the basis for his breeding programme, and by the 1850s the dogs were recognised as a distinct type of Fox Terrier. In 1894,
120-411: A saddle and are often associated with a narrow chest, and low withers (known as "mutton withers") do not provide a ridge to help keep the saddle in place. More importantly, the dorsal spinal processes provide an attachment for the muscles that support the shoulder and neck. Horses do not have a clavicle , so the shoulder can freely rotate backwards. If the vertebrae of the withers are long front-to-back,
150-411: A smooth coat, but with some longer hair on the head, face, legs or body). The breed standard does not recognise a Parson Russell with a curly or rough coat. There is a clear outline with only a hint of eyebrows and beard should the dog be broken coated. They possess moderately thick small V-shaped drop ears with the tip pointed towards the eyes. The nose of the dog should be black. The normal range of sizes
180-415: Is 163 centimetres (16.0 hands; 5 ft 4 in), and ponies are up to 147 centimetres (14.2 hands; 4 ft 10 in). The withers of the horse are considered in evaluating conformation. Generally, a horse should have well-defined withers, as they are considered an important attachment point for the muscles of the torso. Withers of medium height are preferred, as high withers make it difficult to fit
210-556: Is between 13–14 inches (33–36 cm) tall at the withers, with a weight around 13–17 pounds (5.9–7.7 kg). The Parson Russell has a relatively square outline, with a body about as long as the dog is tall. Compared to the Jack Russell Terrier, the Parson Russell has a longer head and a larger chest along with overall a slightly larger body size. The Parson retains the flat skull but not the elongated shape of
240-695: The English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) , which weighs as little as 2.7 kg (6 lb), to the very large rough-coated Airedale Terriers , which can be up to 25 kg (56 lb) or more. As of 2004, the United Kennel Club recognized a new hairless breed of terrier derived from the Rat Terrier called the American Hairless Terrier . When competing in conformation shows , most kennel clubs including
270-561: The Fédération Cynologique Internationale group pedigree terrier breeds together in their own terrier group. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale grouped Terriers in Group 3. Withers Withers are the ridge between the shoulder blades of an animal, typically a quadruped . In many species, this ridge is the tallest point of the body. In horses and dogs, it is the standard place to measure
300-616: The 18th century in Britain, only two types of terriers were recognized, long- and short-legged. Today, terriers are often informally categorized by size or by function. Hunting-types are still used to find, track, or trail quarry, especially underground, and sometimes to bolt the quarry. Modern examples include the Jack Russell Terrier , the Jagdterrier , the Rat Terrier , and the Patterdale Terrier . There are also
330-555: The ANKC compared to 1073 Jack Russells. The Parson Russell Terrier is bred to conform to a conformation show standard . Unlike its close relative, the Jack Russell Terrier , Parson Russell Terriers have noticeably longer legs that are about as tall as the length of the Terrier's body. It is a predominantly white breed with black, tan, mustard or tricolour markings and an easy to groom coat which can be rough, smooth or broken (similar to
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#1732797805409360-621: The Devon and Somerset Badger Club was founded by Arthur Blake Heinemann who created the first breed standard for this type of terrier. The club was formed with the aim of promoting badger digging, rather than fox hunting. By the turn of the 20th century, the name of John Russell had become associated with this type of terrier. The Devon and Somerset Badger Club would go on to be renamed the Parson Jack Russell Terrier Club and continued until just before World War II when
390-487: The Fox Terrier, and with lower set ears. In addition, the Jack Russell Terrier has a greater variation in size, ranging between 10–15 inches (25–38 cm) in height at the withers . Two hands should be able to span the chest of the dog behind its elbows, with the thumbs at the withers. This is required in show judging, with the judge lifting the dog's front legs gently off the ground in this motion in order to measure
420-620: The Toy or Companion group. Included among these breeds are the English Toy Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier . While small, they retain true terrier character and are not submissive " lap dogs ". Other descendants of the bull and terrier types, such as the Asian Gull Terrier , are among the dogs still raised for dog-fighting. Terriers range greatly in appearance from very small, light bodied, smooth coated dogs such as
450-493: The animal's height. In contrast, cattle are often measured to the top of the hips. The term (pronounced / ˈ w ɪ ð . ər z / ) derives from Old English wither ("against'), because the withers are the part of a draft animal that pushes against a load . The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the 3rd through 11th thoracic vertebrae , which are unusually long in this area. Most horses have 18 thoracic vertebrae. The processes at
480-607: The breed as the Jack Russell Terrier effective 1 November 1997. On 1 August 1999, the PJRTC successfully petitioned the Kennel Club (UK) to change the name of the breed to the Parson Russell Terrier, with the name of the breed club following suit. The international kennel association, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale , recognised the Parson Russell Terrier on 4 June 2001. The American Kennel Club updated
510-535: The breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . The Parson Russell Terrier is one of the more commonly affected breeds for primary lens luxation which is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation of the ADAMTS17 gene. Other eye conditions which appear in the breed include cataracts in juveniles, corneal dystrophy , progressive retinal atrophy and posterior vitreous detachment . Non-eye breed related conditions which may affect
540-405: The breed. This condition also affects the closely related Jack Russell Terrier and Russell Terrier . Terrier Most terrier breeds were refined from the older purpose-bred dogs. The gameness of the early hunting terriers was exploited by using them in sporting contests. Initially, terriers competed in events such as clearing a pit of rats. The dog that was the fastest in killing all
570-627: The club folded. In 1983, the Parson Jack Russell Terrier Club (PJRTC) was reformed with the aim of seeking Kennel Club recognition for the breed. The initial application was turned down, but after several further rejections, the Parson Jack Russell Terrier was recognised on 9 January 1990 as a variant of the Fox Terrier , with the United Kennel Club following suit in 1991. The American Kennel Club recognised
600-439: The home. They can be suited to live with children but as they have a typical Terrier temperament, they will not tolerate rough handling. The AKC describes them as being single minded, tenacious and courageous when at work, while at home they can be exuberant, playful and affectionate. However, it is unusual for dogs of this breed to be involved in work, such as fox hunting, typical of a small white terrier, as they are more adapted to
630-555: The late 19th century were later refined into separate breeds that combined both terrier and bulldog qualities. Except for the Boston Terrier , they are generally included in kennel clubs' Terrier Group. Breeders have bred modern bull-type terrier breeds, such as the Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier , into suitable family dogs and show terriers. Toy terriers have been bred from larger terriers and are shown in
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#1732797805409660-416: The name of the recognised breed from Jack Russell Terrier on 1 April 2003. The United Kennel Club adopted the new name on 23 April 2008. The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), New Zealand Kennel Club and United Kennel Club (UKC) are the only three major kennel clubs to recognise both the Jack Russell Terrier and the Parson Russell Terrier separately. In 2009, there were 18 Parsons registered with
690-655: The rats won. In the eighteenth century some terriers were crossed with hounds to improve their hunting, and some with fighting dog breeds to "intensify tenacity and increase courage". Some of the crosses with fighting dogs, bull and terrier crosses, were used in the blood sport of dog-fighting. Modern pet breeds such as the Miniature Bull Terrier are listed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) under Bull type terriers. Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and family pets. They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners. In
720-845: The short-legged terriers such as the Cairn Terrier , the Scottish Terrier , and the West Highland White Terrier , which were also used to kill small vermin. The original hunting terriers include the Fell Terrier (developed in northern England to assist in the killing of foxes) and the Hunt Terrier (developed in southern England to locate, kill or bolt foxes during a traditional mounted fox hunt). The various combinations of bulldog and terrier that were used for bull-baiting and dog-fighting in
750-403: The shoulder is freer to move backwards. This allows for an increase of stride length. thus increasing the horse's speed. It is also important in jumping, as the shoulder must rotate back for the horse to bring its foreleg parallel to the ground, which will then raise the animal's knees upward and get the lower part of the forelegs out of the way. Therefore, the withers have a direct impact on one of
780-418: The show bench. They can be playful with other dogs, and get along with horses. The breed standard requires that shyness be treated as a fault, although it states that this should not be confused with submissiveness which is not treated as such. Overt aggression towards another dog is not accepted and is a criterion for disqualification in the show ring. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.8 years for
810-470: The show ring. These are for the height of the dog at the withers to be outside of the standard range, or for the dog to possess either pricked up ears, a liver or brown coloured nose, an overshot or undershot jawline or to have brindle markings. The Parson is a feisty and energetic type of Terrier. They can excel in dog sports such as flyball or agility and require vigorous exercise in order to prevent them from becoming bored and potentially destructive in
840-403: The size of the chest. The judges fingers should meet under the chest and the thumbs on top of the spine. The American Kennel Club describes this as a "significant factor and a critical part of the judging process." It is not done to measure the size of the chest, but rather to feel for the correct shape. Under the show standard, there are several physical points which would be treated as faults in
870-432: The withers can be more than 30 centimetres (12 in) long. Since they do not move relative to the ground as the horse's head does, the withers are used as the measuring point for the height of a horse. Horses are sometimes measured in hands – one hand is 4 inches (10.2 cm). Horse heights are extremely variable, from small pony breeds to large draft breeds. The height at the withers of an average thoroughbred
900-549: Was first recognised as the Jack Russell Terrier in 1997. The name was changed to its current form in 1999 in the UK and by 2008 all international kennel clubs recognised it under the new name. A mostly white breed with either a smooth, rough or broken coat , it conforms to a narrower range of sizes than the Jack Russell. It is a feisty, energetic terrier, suited to sports and able to get along with children and other animals. It has
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