The PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER - a Working Terrier and Family Dog

Represented by the

PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER CLUB DEUTSCHLAND e.V. (PRTCD)

Breed enthusiasts, particularly those engaged in hunting and horse riding, founded the PRTCD in 1986. The club’s aim was to preserve and to promote the Reverend John Russell’s original type of tough little working terrier with a friendly and obedient temperament. In 1992 the PRTCD joined the JGHV, the German Association of Hunting Dogs, and in 1994 the club was accepted as a member of the VDH, the German Kennel Club, which is a member of the FCI. In July 2001 the breed was fully recognized by the FCI.

The Parson Russell Terrier was essentially a working terrier with the ability to go to ground and run with hounds. To be able to do this the terrier needs a good conformation with shoulders well laid back, a muscular neck of good length, a straight and strong back and well angulated hindquarters. Above all it must have a flexible body with a spannable chest, the overall length of the dog being slightly longer than the height from the withers to the ground. The dog’s coat should be harsh and dense, whether it is smooth, broken or rough, in order to protect the dog below or above ground and in all weathers. The body should be predominantly white, with either tan or tricolour head markings and/or tail spots. The ideal height for dogs is 36 cm, for bitches 33 cm, 2 cm above or below being acceptable.

The PRTCD has its own breed register, and every two years a breed record is published giving detailed information about the litters born during this period. The records also contain the results of breeding assessment shows and character tests as well as the results of field trials and working achievements, which a dog can obtain when it is hunting.

You will not find any „puppy farms” in the PRTCD because our strict club rules only permit each breeder to produce three litters a year. Stud dogs or brood bitches must attain at least the minimum evaluation of „good” at a breeding assessment show. Another requirement for breeding is the club’s character test, which must be passed successfully. If puppies are to be registered with the affix „bred from recognized and certified working lines”, both parents need to have a combination of at least three certificates of hunting trials and working achievements.

	"Junghundprüfung (JP)" hunting ability test for young dogs (incl. steady to shot, hare tracking and aptitude test for fox-earth)
	"Bauprüfung (BP)" aptitude test for adult dogs at the artificial fox-earth (incl. steady to shot)
	"Zuchtprüfung (ZP)" hunting ability test for adult dogs (incl. obedience tests, steady to shot, quartering search in thick cover and woods, hare tracking, retrieving of duck, winged game and rabbit)
	"Gebrauchsprüfung (GP)" hunting test for adult working dogs (incl. obedience tests, steady to shot, overnight blood tracking, dragged hare, quartering search in thick cover and woods, water work with ducks, quartering in rushes with and without ducks, retrieving of duck, winged game and rabbit)
	"Schweissprüfung (SwP)" overnight blood tracking over 1.000m (incl. steady to shot)
	"Verbandsschweissprüfung (VSwP)" overnight blood tracking (JGHV Trials) over 1.000 m, min. 24 hours or 40 hours old
	"Verbandsprüfung nach dem Schuss (VPS)" hunting trials for adult dogs for all works after the gunshot (JGHV Trials) (incl. obedience tests, steady to shot, blood tracking, water work with ducks, retrieving of winged game and rabbit, dragged hare)

The PRTCD is divided up into ten regional groups. These groups organize their own character tests, breeding assessment shows and field trials. There are also many other club activities such as summer fêtes, terrier racing, guided nature walks through shooting grounds, family walks, seminars for dog trainers and many more events which are very popular with our club members. The club magazine is published four times a year and sent to all the club members free of charge.

Anyone who intends to work his dogs should contact the PRTCD for a list of breeders with puppies from "recognized and certified working lines" (Jagdliche Leistungszucht). Those who are simply looking for a Parson Russell Terrier as a family dog and friendly companion will be reassured to know that puppies bred in our club will be of sound temperament and friendly disposition.

For any further information please contact:

PRTCD e.V.

E-Mail: info@prtcd.de

FCI-Standard N°339 / 28. 11. 2003 / GB

PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER

ORIGIN: Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 29.10.2003.

UTILIZATION: Robust, tenacious working terrier, with special ability to go to ground.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.:

Group  3 Terriers.

Section 1 Large and medium sized Terriers.

With working trial.

 

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:  The promoter of this breed the Reverend John (Jack) Russell was born in 1795 in Dartmouth, Devon.  He became a clergyman and for most of his life served in the parish of Swimbridge, Devon.  An experienced horseman and great huntsman he became passionately involved in the breeding and selection of terriers.  In 1873 The Kennel Club was founded and he became one of its early members.  He died in 1883 at the great age of 87.  It was while studying at Oxford that he bought his first terrier, a white wirehaired bitch with head markings which closely resembled the standard of today.  Jack Russell undertook a number of crosses between different working terriers, self-coloured and parti-coloured types.  His intention was always to improve the aptitude for hunting without too much regard for a uniform type.  This tradition, crossing with other breeds of terriers continued later on.  He also attempted to cross the breed with other breeds but the progeny did not correspond to the ancestral type. These endeavours were disappointing and were abandoned.

From the end of the Second World War, this breed has enjoyed increasing popularity on the European continent, particularly with hunters and horsemen.  On 22nd January, 1990, The Kennel Club (Great Britain) recognized the breed and published an Official Interim Standard under the name of the Parson Jack Russell Terrier.  The F.C.I. in its turn accepted to add this breed to its provisional list on July 2nd 1990.

The current name of Parson Russell Terrier was given in 1999 by the (British) Kennel Club.  The breed was definitely recognized by the F.C.I. on June 4th 2001.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Workmanlike, active and agile; built for speed and endurance.  Overall picture of balance and flexibility.  Honourable scars permissible.

IMPORTANT PORPORTIONS: Well balanced.  Overall length of body slightly longer than height from withers to ground. Length from nose to stop slightly shorter than from stop to occiput.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Essentially a working terrier with ability and conformation to go to ground and run with hounds.  Bold and friendly.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION:

 

Skull: Flat, moderately broad, gradually narrowing to the eyes.

Stop: Shallow.

FACIAL REGION:

 

Nose: Black.

Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong , muscular.  Teeth with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Eyes: Almond shaped, fairly deep-set, dark, keen expression.

Ears: Small, V-shaped, dropping forward, carried close to head, tip of ear to reach corner of eye, fold not to appear above top of skull.  Leather of moderate thickness.

NECK: Clean, muscular, of good length, gradually widening to shoulders.

BODY: Well balanced.  Overall length slightly longer than height from withers to ground.

Back: Strong and straight.

Loin: Slightly arched.

Chest: Of moderate depth, not to come below point of elbow, capable of being spanned behind the shoulders by average size hands.  Ribs not over-sprung.

TAIL:  Customarily docked.

Docked: Length complementing the body while providing a good handhold.  Strong, straight, moderately high set, carried well up on the move. 

Undocked: Of moderated length and as straight as possible, giving a general balance to the dog, thick at the root and tapering towards the end.  Moderately high set, carried well up on the move.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS: Strong, must be straight with joints turning neither in nor out.

Shoulders: Long and sloping, well laid back, cleanly cut at withers.

Elbows: Close to body, working free of the sides.

 

HINDQUARTERS: Strong, muscular with good angulation.

Stifle: Good bend of stifle.

Hocks: Set low.

Rear Pasterns: Parallel, giving plenty of drive.

 

FEET: Compact with firm pads, turning neither in nor out.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Free-striding, well co-ordinated, straight action front and behind.   SKIN: Must be thick and loose.   COAT HAIR: Naturally harsh, close and dense, whether rough or smooth.  Belly and undersides coated.   COLOUR: Entirely white or predominantly white with tan, lemon or black markings, or any combination of these colours, preferably confined to head and/or root of tail.   SIZE: Dogs ideal height at withers 36 cm (14 ins). Bitches ideal height at withers 33 cm  (13 ins). 2 cm above or below is acceptable.

FAULTS: Any departure from the 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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

This amended breed standard will become effective from April 2004.

For any further information please contact:

PRTCD e.V.

E-Mail: info@prtcd.de